Fall is here and you know what that means – Pumpkin Sail!
Clearwater is excited to announce the return of Pumpkin Sail to the Hudson Valley with dockside events through the month of October. Join the Sloop
Clearwater at riverfront parks for a celebration of the harvest time and a tribute to river communities that will be fun for the whole family.
Each Pumpkin Sail venue offers deck tours and dockside programs for the community that will include pumpkin-themed activities. For $5, paint a mini pumpkin and get access to a digital download of our pumpkin-themed cookbook. The launch event will take place on October 1st, 2023 in the City of Hudson, NY at 4:00pm for an autumn celebration and Fish Fry hosted by the Hudson Sloop Club in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park.
Folk singer and Beacon, NY resident Pete Seeger spearheaded the effort to build the sloop, which first sailed into the Hudson River in 1969 as a platform of grassroots advocacy. Voyages transporting pumpkins from Albany to New York City, coupled with riverfront autumnal celebrations became known as “Pumpkin Sail,” in 1971.
These days, we’re leaving the sail freight to Sam Merrett and Schooner Apollonia. Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. remains focused on environmental advocacy in Hudson Valley communities that inspires lifelong stewardship of the living river.
See you down at the river on October 1st, in Hudson; October 7th in Piermont, October 14th, in Brooklyn, and October 21st in Poughkeepsie!
To support Pumpkin Sail, donate now!
Any donation of $5 or more also gives you exclusive access to a digital download of our pumpkin-themed cookbook,“Pumpkin Crazy,” originally released in 1972 with a handwritten foreword by Pete Seeger.
Creep It Real with limited edition Halloween merch!
Pumpkin Sail crafting, c. 1980’s, from the Clearwater archives
Pumpkin Sail Schedule
Pumpkin Sail Launch
When: Sunday, 10/1/23
Where: Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson, NY
What: Dockside activities, autumn celebration, and Fish Fry hosted by the Hudson Sloop Club and Clearwater in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park followed by a Pumpkin Sail on the Clearwater.
Time: Fish Fry is from 4pm-7pm, Pumpkin Sail is 6pm-7pm
Tickets: Get tickets for the Pumpkin Sail here! No tickets required for the Fish Fry.
Pumpkin Sail in Piermont
When: Sunday, 10/8/23
Where: Piermont Pier, Piermont, NY – park in Parking Lot D and then walk to the end of the pier!
What: Dockside activities and autumn celebration, plus 2 Pumpkin Sails on the Clearwater.
Time: Dockside activities are from 2:30pm-5pm, Pumpkin Sails are from 12:30pm-3pm and from 4pm-6:30pm
Tickets: Get tickets for the Pumpkin Sails here! No tickets required for the dockside activities.
Pumpkin Sail in Brooklyn
When: Saturday, 10/14/23
Where: One15 Marina, Brooklyn, NY
What: Dockside activities and autumn celebration, plus a Pumpkin Sail on the Clearwater – and our last public sail of the season out of NYC!.
Time: Dockside activities are from 2:00pm-5pm, Pumpkin Sail is from 4pm-6:00pm
Tickets: Get tickets for the Pumpkin Sail here! No tickets required for the dockside activities.
Pumpkin Sail in Poughkeepsie
When: Saturday, 10/21/23
Where: Waryas Park (for Pumpkin Sails) in Poughkeepsie, NY, and Walkway over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza (87 Haviland Road, Highland, NY, 12528)
What: Join us at Poughkeepsie’s Walktoberfest for farm-fresh products, food from local restaurants, and beer, wine, and spirits samples in a designated tasting area, and also art installations, locally made goods, a special area for children’s activities, and more, plus 2 Pumpkin Sails on the Clearwater.
Time: Walktoberfest is from 12pm-5pm are from 2:30pm-5pm, Pumpkin Sails are from 1:00pm-3:30pm and from 4:30pm-7:00pm
Tickets: Get tickets for the Pumpkin Sails here! Walktoberfest ticketholders will receive a discount with the code WALKTOBERFEST.