Small Ships Parade sails through NYC ahead of Sail4th 250 celebration

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Dozens of small vessels sailed down the East River on Friday as New York City got a preview of this weekend's major maritime celebration honoring America's 250th anniversary.

The Small Ships Parade serves as the lead-up to Saturday's "Sail4th 250" event, which is expected to draw large crowds to the city's waterfront.

Many of the participating vessels, known as Class B tall ships, have been arriving in New York Harbor over the past several days. While smaller than the tall ships featured in Saturday's main event, the vessels offered spectators an early look at the historic flotilla.

The parade traveled south along the East River on Friday, starting from the Hell Gate Bridge in Astoria, Queens, to the South Street Seaport Museum, before the larger celebration gets underway Saturday.

They looked like wooden titans waking from their harbor slumber, towering over the East River in a powerful demonstration of maritime might and pride.

"I've seen maybe seven or eight of them so far. All of them have the U.S. flags on them," one spectator said.

Saturday's Sail4th 250 parade is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., with ships sailing north on the Hudson River from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge.

Leading that event is America's Tall Ship, the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.

The larger ships are anchored near Sandy Hook as sailors from 20 nations prepare to sail up the Hudson.

The captain of the Tall Ship from Sweden, Peter Jeppsson, is honored to be a part of the festivities.

The captains gathered on land Friday to be welcomed by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill.

More than 100 aircraft will also fly in formation over the parade.

Military vessels positioned in New York Harbor will review the parade. The Vice President of the United States and the acting Secretary of the Navy are expected to observe the procession aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3).

The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators as New York joins the nationwide celebration of the nation's semi-quincentennial.

Officials say security checkpoints and screenings will be in place for designated viewing areas during Saturday's Sail4th 250 festivities along the Hudson River.