Be advised, it is suggested if you are arriving for the fireworks to arrive extremely early as this display is one of the largest on the East Coast and attracts high volumes of traffic!
GPS INFORMATION
If you plan to use GPS to find our event, please enter the following address that will take you to the start of the event: 24 Eugene O’Neill Drive, New London CT, 06320
DRIVING FROM NEW HAVEN
I 95 North, Exit 83 (Downtown New London). Go straight through light at end of the ramp onto Huntington Street. At 2nd light turn left onto Gov Winthrop Blvd. Parking garage on right or continue to 2nd light and turn right on to Eugene O’Neill Dr. Parking garage on left. Or continue straight 2 blocks to municipal parking lots.
DRIVING FROM RHODE ISLAND
I 95 South exit 84s (Downtown New London) follow expressway as it turns into Eugene O’Neill Drive at the NL Police Station. Turn right at Police Station for Gov Winthrop Parking Garage. Or continue straight on Eugene O’Neill Drive and the Water Street Garage is on the left. Or continue straight on Eugene O’Neill Drive to municipal parking lots on left.
DRIVING FROM HARTFORD
Route 2 East to Route 11 South until it ends. Turn left onto Rt. 82 to first traffic light. Turn right onto Rt. 85 south. Take I 95 North, Exit 83 (Downtown New London). Go straight through light at end of the ramp onto Huntington Street. At 2nd light turn left onto Gov Winthrop Blvd. Parking garage on right or continue to 2nd light and turn right on to Eugene O’Neill Dr. Parking garage on left. Or continue straight 2 blocks to municipal parking lots.
STREET CLOSURE
Sailfest 2023 / Street Closure Itinerary
City of New London
TIME: Various
INCIDENT SUMMARY:
In order to accommodate Sailfest 2023, the following parking ban, street closures and associated time schedules shall be enforced by New London Police Department. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Be well and always safe!
On Saturday July 8, 2023 beginning at 4 am, vehicles parked in the following locations will be issued parking tickets and towed:
1. Bank Street from Tilley Street to State Street
2. South Water Street (entire length)
3. State Street from S. Water Street to Eugene O’Neill Drive
4. Atlantic Street (entire length)
5. Bank Street Connector
6. Bank Street between Blinman Street and Woviotis Place
7. Blinman Street between Bank Street and Brewer Street (both sides) [UAC parking only]
On Saturday July 8, 2023 beginning at 6 am, the following streets shall be closed to traffic:
1. State Street between Eugene O’Neill Drive and Bank Street
2. South Water Street, (except as noted below)
3. Bank Street between Tilley Street and State Street
Note: The above streets will remain closed overnight
4. Eugene O’Neill Dr. between Gov. Winthrop Boulevard and Green Street (approx. 4 pm – until determined safe by police)
5. Bank Street –Northbound @ Howard Street (approx. 4 pm – until determined by police)
On Saturday, July 8, 2023 beginning at 6 am, Water Street between Atlantic Street and State Street and the entire length of South Water Street will be open to two-way traffic northbound and southbound. Alleyways will be blocked. There will be no parking on South Water Street.
* Access to South Water Street will be made via Atlantic Street to Water Street to South Water Street.
A control point will be established at the intersection of Water Street and Atlantic Street to control access to South Water Street. Traffic will be limited to:
o Fishers Island Ferry–employees & families and customers (No permit required)
o Emergency Vehicles
o Vendors (setup only)
o Entertainers going to City Dock Restaurant (drop off)
o Businesses / Residents on the east side of Bank Street.
o Vehicles that have parking passes to park in the private lots off of South Water St.
Note: Access to Bank Street at Tilley Street will be closed to all traffic except police, fire, and EMS personnel.
On Sunday July 9, 2023, the following streets shall be closed to traffic as follows:
1. State Street between Eugene O’Neill Drive and Bank Street until festival ends.
2. South Water Street until festival ends.
3. Bank Street between Tilley Street and State Street closed until festival ends.
4. 9 am – 9:15 am, Eugene O’Neill Drive will be closed from Masonic Street to State Street for the staging of the road race.
* Street closing times are estimates. Some streets may be closed earlier if pedestrian safety dictates.
Sunday July 9th – Sailfest 2023 Dime Bank – 5K Road Race:
Sunday, July 9th at 0900 hrs., the 5K road race will start at the intersection of State Street and Bank Street and will cover several city streets. The dayshift street supervisor will coordinate with race personnel and will utilize venue / day shift officers and Waterford Fire Police (to cover intersections.
Route: Start at the intersection of State Street and Bank Street; State Street to Eugene O’Neill Drive, turn left on Eugene O’Neill Drive, continued on Eugene O’Neill Drive to Green Street, Green Street to Tilley Street, left onto Tilley Street and right turn onto Bank St; Turn left onto Howard St; Continue on Howard Street to the Rotary at Willetts Avenue. Turn onto Pequot Avenue and continue to just past the intersection of Converse Place. Turning around at this location and traveling North on Pequot Avenue to the rotary, back onto Howard Street to Bank, right on Bank Street, Bank Street to Tilley Street, left on Tilley Street, right on Green Street, follow to Eugene O’Neill Drive to State Street, right on State Street to the finish line at Bank Street.
The following traffic considerations will be in place for the Fishers Island Ferry arrival and departures:
1. The last ferry leaving New London on Saturday will be at approx. 4:00 pm
2. The last ferry arriving from Fishers Island on Saturday will be at approx. 6:00 pm
3. A checkpoint will be established at Water Street and Atlantic Street during festival hours to allow access to the terminal.
DRIVING FROM WORCESTER/NORWICH
Route 395 South to Exit 78 (Route 32 South). Continue on Route 32 as expressway ends in downtown and turns in to Eugene O’Neill Drive. Parking garage and lots ahead on the left.
Alternate route from Route 1 (Waterford) eastbound – Boston Post Road to Bank Street in New London. Follow Bank St East into Downtown.
TRAVEL BY TRAIN
Enjoy Sailfest car-free by taking public transportation! For train information go toShoreLineEast.com.”
Take Shore Line East, Connecticut’s commuter rail service, to Sailfest and leave I-95 traffic behind. No-hassle, affordable train travel means your entire family can enjoy one the region’s biggest summer events – SailFest – without the headaches of I-95 traffic. Shore Line East’s NEW weekend service to New London includes 14 conveniently scheduled trains, with departures from New Haven starting at 7 am. Smiles guaranteed the moment you sit down – and some pretty spectacular views. Trains every two hours or less. Discounts for seniors/disabled. Kids under 11 ride free. See the schedule at www.shorelineeast.com. Schedules are also available at any Shore Line East train station.
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Sailfest Trains from New Haven
Below are the best train travel times for Sailfest on Saturday, July 8th:
Train 3034 departs New Haven Union Station at 4:50 p.m. and arrives in New London at 6:00 p.m.
Train 3638 departs New Haven Union Station at 5:42 p.m. and arrives in New London at 6:49 p.m
Leaving Sailfest
Train 3699 leaves New London at 10:50 pm (Best train ride home after the fireworks)
Full train schedule details and an online trip planner can also be found here: Schedules
DOCKING & MOORING
Mooring are reserved in advance. Please contact Crockers Boat Yard for transit docking. 860-443-6304 There will be no docking at any of the waterfront piers during Sailfest for security reasons. The floating docks can be used as dingy docks.
to cover intersections.