2026 Regatta Festival in Gales Ferry

The 2026 Regatta Festival returns to Gales Ferry on Saturday, June 6, celebrating one of the most storied traditions in American sports. Held from noon to 4 p.m. at Erickson Park, this free community festival coincides with the 159th running of the Harvard-Yale Regatta, the nation’s oldest intercollegiate athletic competition. Visitors can gather along the Thames River to enjoy food, family activities, and a live-streamed broadcast of the races while soaking in a tradition that has connected Gales Ferry to collegiate rowing for nearly 150 years.

More than just a sporting event, the Harvard-Yale Regatta has long been woven into the identity of Gales Ferry. Since the race moved to the Thames River in 1878, generations of rowing legends, spectators, and even U.S. presidents have gathered here to witness the competition. At its peak, the regatta attracted crowds approaching 100,000 spectators, fleets of yachts, observation trains, and national attention. Today, the event remains one of the shoreline’s most unique sporting traditions, bringing Harvard and Yale crews back to the same waters where they have competed for nearly a century and a half.

Festival attendees can watch the regatta broadcast, meet personnel from SUBASE New London during a Touch-a-Truck experience, enjoy lawn games and a cornhole tournament hosted by Ledyard Parks and Recreation, and relax on the grounds with food from local vendors. Capt. Scott’s Lobster Truck, Rustic Boutique Catering, Kona Ice, and Board & Boujee will all be serving food and treats throughout the afternoon, making the festival an ideal way for families and history buffs alike to experience a uniquely Connecticut tradition.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
• Time: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Location: Erickson Park, 144 Military Highway, Gales Ferry, CT
• Regatta Races: Begin at 1:15 p.m. and will be livestreamed at the festival

Festival Highlights

• Live viewing of the Harvard-Yale Regatta
• Touch-a-Truck with SUBASE New London Police and Fire Department
• Cornhole tournament hosted by Ledyard Parks and Recreation
• Yard games and family activities
• Picnic-friendly lawn seating

Food Vendors

• Capt. Scott’s Lobster Truck
• Rustic Boutique Catering
• Kona Ice
• Board & Boujee