Sandy Hook Bay is packed with tall ships ahead of the big Sail4th 250

⛵ More than 30 tall ships are anchored in Sandy Hook Bay before this weekend's parade.

⚓ New Jersey offers an early look at the fleet ahead of America's 250th birthday celebration.

⭐ Public tours begin Sunday after the tall ships sail up the Hudson River on Saturday.

MIDDLETOWN — The largest fleet of tall ships in the world is docked in Sandy Hook Bay to kick off a historic Fourth of July weekend. 

New Jersey is hosting many events to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The brutal heatwave has postponed several fireworks events, but even triple-digit temps can't keep 20,000 sailors on 300-foot-tall ships from their boat parades.

Sail4th 250 begins with parades through New York Harbor

Sail4th 250 kicks off on Friday at 1 p.m. with a Small Ships Parade. These Class B Tall Ships will be visible from Manhattan and Brooklyn as they make their way south from Hell Gate Bridge.

The main event is Saturday. Dozens of tall ships will sail up the Hudson River from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and end at the George Washington Bridge. Up to 10 million spectators are expected to line the waterway. Public tours begin on Sunday.

America 250 tall ships - Tall ships are docked in Sandy Hook Bay on July 2, 2026. (Jackie Corley, Townsquare Media)

New Jersey offers an early look at the historic fleet

However, curious spectators in New Jersey can get an unofficial preview. New Jersey 101.5 has obtained video footage of more than 30 towering vessels in Sandy Hook Bay. They'll be there, waiting, until the parade of tall ships kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

New Jersey offers an early look at the historic fleet

Tall ships have sailed the route five times since 1976, when the United States Bicentennial was celebrated.

"My dad took us to see the tall ships in 1976. Today this is going to be bitter sweet. I will never see this again in my lifetime," said one man in the comments of the video on Instagram.

"We drove from central NJ to Staten Island. Found a cool hill on no one’s property & watched the ships then. It was beautiful. Never forget," another said.

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America 250 tall ships - Tall ships from around the world have docked in Sandy Hook Bay on July 2, 2026. (Jackie Corley, Townsquare Media)

The best places to watch from New Jersey

Other comments had suggestions on the best spots to see the ships in Sandy Hook Bay before the parade kicks off.

"Near the Fort Hancock chapel. There are also great views from Bayshore Waterfront Park," one woman said.

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