For those in and around New York harbor, the 25th Annual Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition, sponsored by the Working Harbor Committee, is coming up on Sunday, September 3rd. The Parade of Tugs starts on the Hudson River at 10 AM. Free viewing is available at  Pier 84 located at W. 44th Street & Hudson River Park. The tugs will proceed to the starting line at 70th Street. The race begins at 10:30 AM.  Nose-to-nose pushing contests and line-toss competitions will start around 11 AM.  At Noon the amateur line-toss and spinach-eating contests will commence followed by an 1 PM awards ceremony.

For an even better view of the parade of tugs and the tugboat race, there is also a Circle Line Spectator Boat available. Boarding begins at 9:00 AM and departure is at 9:30 AM from Pier 83. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for kids (3-12 years old.)  Tickets can be purchased online here.

In addition, there will be a raffle of a framed print, Schooner Pioneer at Sunset, by renowned seaport artist Naima Rauam. The raffle drawing will take place at the 25th Annual Tugboat Race & Competition on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. on Pier 84 located at West 44th St. & Hudson River Park in Manhattan. You don’t need to be present to win. Tickets are available here. 

The Pioneer, launched in 1885, hauled sand to iron foundries along the Delaware River and was the first of only two cargo-carrying sloops with wrought iron hulls built in this country. She was donated to the South Street Seaport Museum in 1970.