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Full Harvest Moon Cruise Puts New London’s Waterfront Under the September Moon
Full Harvest Moon Cruise Puts New London’s Waterfront Under the September Moon Sept. 25 and 26, taking passengers onto the Thames River just as daylight begins fading and one of early autumn’s most recognizable full moons rises over southeastern Connecticut.
The one-hour cruise departs New London City Pier at 5:45 p.m., timed for that transition when the waterfront begins losing its daylight colors and reflections become more prominent across the river.
There is no formal dinner, no complicated itinerary and no lengthy historical program attached to this one. Guests can pack their own drinks and snacks, board one of Thames River Heritage Park’s boats and spend an hour on the water.
The moon provides the main attraction.
Why It’s Called the Harvest Moon
“Harvest Moon” doesn’t identify one particular month’s full moon.
Instead, it is the name traditionally given to the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox. Depending on the year, that can make it either September’s or October’s full moon.
The name has a practical origin.
Around the autumn equinox, successive moonrises occur unusually close together in time. Before tractors carried powerful headlights into agricultural fields, the bright moon rising shortly after sunset provided farmers with additional natural light during one of the busiest periods of the agricultural year.
That connection between moonlight and the harvest eventually gave the moon its familiar name.
The September full moon is also traditionally called the Corn Moon, reflecting the time of year when corn and other crops reached harvest.
Thames River Heritage Park combines both names for its September cruise.
The Thames Looks Different From the Water
The route also puts passengers in the middle of one of Connecticut’s most historically dense waterways.
New London and Groton rise on opposite sides of the Thames, a river corridor shaped by centuries of maritime trade, military activity and shipbuilding.
From the water, the landscape includes working waterfronts and naval infrastructure alongside historic sites such as Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold, with the river opening toward Long Island Sound.
The cruise is operated by Thames River Heritage Park, an organization that treats the river itself as the connecting corridor between historic and cultural sites on both shores.
And the boats have some history of their own.
The Heritage Park uses refurbished former U.S. Navy utility boats that once transported sailors between ships and shore. Their second career now involves carrying visitors through the same river that remains closely associated with the Navy and the region’s submarine industry.
Bring Your Own Drinks and Snacks
This is also one of the more informal specialty cruises on the Thames.
Guests are invited to bring a cooler with their favorite beverages and snacks, making it possible to turn the hour into a floating picnic.
All ages are welcome.
Tickets are $50 for adults 18 and older, $35 for children ages 4–17 and free for children 3 and younger.
The cruise leaves from City Pier at New London Waterfront Park and runs from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
There are departures on both Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26.
An Autumn Cruise With One Uncontrollable Guest
Of course, putting the moon at the center of an event comes with one obvious complication.
The sky has to cooperate.
Cloud cover can determine whether the moon dominates the evening or remains hidden, while wind and other marine conditions can affect whether the boat sails at all.
Thames River Heritage Park notes that its evening cruises are weather dependent and advises ticket holders to check its website and social media for the latest schedule information.
But even before the moon takes over, the departure time provides another reason to be on the river.
At 5:45 on a late-September evening, the cruise catches the Thames during the transition toward sunset, turning what is normally a familiar New London and Groton waterfront into an hour framed by fading daylight, autumn air and the approaching night.
More information is available at the Event Website link below.
To purchase tickets, click the Event Ticketing link below.
Details
Event: Full “Corn or Harvest” Moon Cruise
Dates: Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Time: 5:45–6:45 p.m.
Departure: New London City Pier / Waterfront Park
Address: 1 Waterfront Park, New London, CT 06320
Operator: Thames River Heritage Park
Adult Admission (18+): $50
Children (4–17): $35
Children 3 and Younger: Free
Age: All ages welcome
Food & Drinks: Guests may bring a cooler with beverages and snacks
Length: Approximately one hour
Weather: Evening cruises are weather dependent; check for schedule updates before departure
Questions: 860-333-6706
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Reference Links
https://business.mysticchamber.org/ap/Events/Register/wZFlBmGIeCxCw
https://www.thamesriverheritagepark.org/
https://ctvisit.com/events/full-corn-or-harvest-moon-cruise
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