The 22nd annual running of the Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition is coming up on Labor Day off Pier 84, which is at West 44th Street and the Hudson River in Manhattan.  The race is sponsored by the Working Harbor Committee & Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.  You can watch the race from shore, or for an even closer view, tickets are available on the Circle Line Spectator boat.  If you are anywhere near New York harbor, do stop by. It is the best show around.

The festivities will begin at 10:00 AM with a parade of tugs from Pier 84 to the start line.  The race starts at 10:30 AM from south of the 79th Street Boat Basin to Pier 84.  Following the race, at around 11 AM, there will be nose-to-nose tug pushing contests as well as a line throwing competition.  The tugs will tie up around noon. There will be exhibits, an amateur line toss, and a spinach eating contact for would-be Popeyes of all ages.  The award ceremony will be at 1 PM with the tugs departing around 2 PM.

A short video of the race from a few years ago.

17th Annual North River Tugboat Challenge from Rick Spilman on Vimeo.