Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival

The CT Maritime Heritage Is a festival in September along the historic New London waterfront, promoting CT’s maritime heritage and spirit of innovation.

On September 6 & 7, 2025, we’ll host the America’s Navy 250 Celebration as part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival, a two-day waterfront event honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy.

This celebration will include:

A fun-filled Kids Zone with games, hands-on activities, and roaming characters

Public tours of Tall Ships and military vessels

Mermaids and Privateers Children’s Walking Parade

The dramatic Burning of Benedict Arnold on Saturday night

Eastern Connecticut’s first-ever Drone Show lighting up the evening sky

A spirited Military Skills Challenge on Sunday, featuring active-duty teams

Special JAWS Weekend Events –Get ready for a thrilling weekend celebrating the 50th anniversary of JAWS with a lineup of unforgettable experiences:

Screening of JAWS in 4d at the historic Garde Arts Center with a meet and greet of the boat builder, Michael Sterling, of the full-scale replica of the iconic ORCA boat

Author Talk & Book Signing with Christopher Shaw Myers, author of Robert Shaw: The Price of Success

Meet & Greet with Ryan Dacko, author of The Book of Quint — a bold literary tribute to one of cinema’s most iconic characters

Living Sharks Museum Pop-Up Exhibition – September 6 & 7

Explore a special JAWS Anniversary Exhibition featuring original 1975 artifacts and memorabilia. Curator Keith Cowley will be on-site, sharing insights about the film’s cultural impact and how our understanding of sharks has evolved over the past 50 years. Living Sharks Museum is America’s first shark history museum, located in downtown Westerly, RI. For more information, follow @livingsharksmuseum on Facebook & Instagram or visit livingsharks.org.

ORCA boat and now, for the first time ever in Connecticut, we’re bringing the legend to life, with the newly constructed, full-scale replica of the iconic ORCA boat, made in Florida and modeled after the vessel featured in the original film. This incredible exhibit will dock at New London’s City Pier and serve as the centerpiece of our celebration.

For more info and a full list events.http://www.ctmaritimefest.com