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Read the press release here.

Historic Ship Festival Sails into TriBeCa

The Lilac historic steamship docks at TriBeCa's Pier 25.
The Lilac historic steamship docks at TriBeCa's Pier 25.
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DNAinfo/Julie Shapiro

TRIBECA — Historic boats are sailing into TriBeCa for a weekend packed with free and inexpensive events.

The Fourth Annual North River Historic Ship Festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday at TriBeCa's Pier 25, features vintage ships including a tugboat, a fireboat and a historic lighthouse tender, all offering free tours and other family-friendly adventures.

The vessels include 105-year-old tugboat Pegasus, retired fireboat John J. Harvey, historic steamship Lilac and the wooden Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79, the oldest of its kind in the country.

The festival will kick off Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with a gala aboard the Lehigh Valley No. 79, honoring waterfront advocates Norman Brouwer and Lee Gruzen. Tickets range from $50 to $250 and cover wine, beer and refreshments. The money raised will help cover the costs of the festival.

The Lehigh, Pegasus and Lilac will be open for free tours Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., and the Lehigh and Lilac will give more tours on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, the John J. Harvey and Pegasus will offer free 45-minute trips out into New York Harbor. Advance online registration is recommended.

On Sunday, the Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79 will host a Showboat Circus, with comedians, jugglers and trapeze artists. Advance tickets cost $13 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, while tickets sold at the door cost $15 for adults and $12 for children.

All boats will dock at Pier 25, at North Moore Street and the Hudson River, from June 28 through July 1.