Full Sturgeon Moon Cruise Lights Up the Thames River
Full Sturgeon Moon Cruise Lights Up the Thames River on Thursday, August 27, setting the scene for a special evening cruise departing from City Pier in New London.
Presented by Thames River Heritage Park, the one-hour cruise leaves at 7:15 p.m., just as daylight begins fading from the river. Instead of exploring the Thames primarily for its history, this trip turns the attention upward, with the late-summer full moon becoming part of the landscape.
The cruise is open to all ages, and guests can bring their own snacks and beverages aboard.
Why Is It Called the Sturgeon Moon?
Long before calendars hung on kitchen walls, seasonal changes could be marked by what was happening in the natural world.
Traditional names associated with full moons reflected those rhythms.
The August full moon became known as the Sturgeon Moon because late summer was historically associated with plentiful catches of lake sturgeon, the enormous freshwater fish native to North America.
It’s a fitting name for a full moon viewed from the water.
See the Thames After Dark
The Thames River looks very different once the sun disappears.
New London’s waterfront gives way to a river lined with maritime landmarks, working waterfronts and generations of naval history. As darkness settles in, lights along the shoreline begin reflecting across the water while the moon rises above the river.
That’s the experience this cruise is built around.
Rather than a traditional daytime sightseeing trip, the Sturgeon Moon Cruise combines the maritime setting with the changing evening sky.
The result depends a little on nature cooperating.
Evening cruises are weather dependent, and guests should check for updated information before heading to City Pier if conditions are questionable.
A River Filled With History
The moon may be the attraction overhead, but there’s plenty surrounding the boat.
The Thames passes through one of the most historically significant maritime corridors in Connecticut.
New London developed into an important colonial seaport and later became closely associated with whaling. Across the river, Groton’s identity became increasingly connected to shipbuilding, submarines and the U.S. Navy.
Today, Thames River Heritage Park connects many of those stories through historic sites and experiences on both sides of the river.
The organization also operates seasonal boat tours that allow visitors to experience the region from the perspective that shaped so much of its history: the water.
Bring Something for the Ride
This is a casual evening excursion.
Guests are welcome to pack a cooler with their favorite beverages and snacks and bring them aboard for the cruise.
That makes the hour less like a formal narrated tour and more like an opportunity to settle in, watch the shoreline pass and enjoy the full moon from the river.
Families are welcome, too.
Tickets are $50 for adults 18 and older and $35 for children ages 4 through 17. Infants and children age 3 and younger ride free.
Two Nights Under the Sturgeon Moon
There are actually two opportunities to take the cruise.
Thames River Heritage Park has scheduled Sturgeon Moon cruises for Thursday, August 27, and Friday, August 28, both departing at 7:15 p.m.
Each excursion lasts approximately one hour.
The Thursday cruise departs from City Pier at 1 Waterfront Park in downtown New London.
With August nearing its end, the timing catches one of those brief stretches when summer evenings are still warm but darkness is beginning to arrive a little earlier.
Add a full moon over the Thames, and the river gets to put on the show.
Event Details
Event: Full Sturgeon Moon Cruise
Dates: Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:15–8:15 p.m.
Departure: City Pier
Address: 1 Waterfront Park, New London, CT 06320
Presented by: Thames River Heritage Park
Adults 18+: $50
Children ages 4–17: $35
Children ages 0–3: Free
Ages: All ages
Food and Beverages: Guests may bring a cooler with snacks and beverages
Weather: Evening cruises are weather dependent
The Full Sturgeon Moon Cruise offers a one-hour evening trip along the historic Thames River as the August full moon rises over the water.
More information is available at the Event Website link below.
To purchase tickets, click the Event Ticketing link below.
Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.
