Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration: Hudson River flotilla
June 20, 2026
12:30 pm
Hudson River, Yonkers to Newburgh
Location
Hudson River, Yonkers to Newburgh
Event type
Community
On Saturday, June 20, the invisible Serengeti-scale migration that passes through our region each year unnoticed will be made visible for all to see in the form of a flotilla of “fish boats” during the Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration. The four artist-designed boats will travel the course of the fish up the Hudson River— celebrating the annual migration of the fish species that call the River home.
A flotilla of migrating fish, led by a massive Atlantic sturgeon, will travel the route of the seasonal migration, north from the Atlantic Ocean into the streams of the Hudson. The fish flotilla will sail north — led by a larger-than-life sturgeon-themed boat designed by renowned artist Greg Corbino — upriver from Yonkers to Newburgh, spreading joy, raising awareness, and turning the waterway into a floating work of art.
The flotilla will begin its voyage from our Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration at the Yonkers Riverfront Summer Kickoff Festival at Habirshaw Park in Yonkers at 12:30pm and make its way upriver, arriving for our Welcoming of the Fish at Newburgh’s Unico Park from 5:00 - 800 pm. The boats will be visible from many popular riverfront parks and promenades along the eastern shore, including:
- Hastings-on-Hudson (approx. 12:55 - 1:15 pm)
- Dobbs Ferry (approx. 1:10 - 1:30 pm)
- Irvington (approx. 1:25 - 1:45 pm)
- Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow (approx. 1:50 - 2:10 pm)
- Peekskill (approx. 4:05 - 4:25 pm)
- Cold Spring (approx. 5:40 - 6:00 pm)
- Beacon (approx. 6:35 - 6:55 pm)
Viewing locations map >
This is an amazing opportunity to witness free public art in motion, celebrate the Hudson’s vital wildlife, and show support for a cleaner, healthier river that sustains both nature and our communities.
This is an amazing opportunity to witness free public art in motion, celebrate the Hudson’s vital wildlife, and show support for a cleaner, healthier river that sustains both nature and our communities.
Meet the boats
The Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration brings together five notable vessels that honor the spirit of the past, present, and future of the Hudson River.
R. Ian Fletcher (36’)
The R. Ian Fletcher is a key part of Riverkeeper’s on-the-water patrol program. Named after a passionate scientist and environmental advocate, this vessel patrols the Hudson and its tributaries, documenting pollution. As Riverkeeper’s eyes and ears on the water, it plays a critical role in protecting the health of the river and the communities that depend on it.
Bob Boyle (25’)
Named for Riverkeeper co-founder and pioneering conservationist Robert H. Boyle, the Bob Boyle honors his legacy by continuing the work he began in the 1960s — defending the Hudson from industrial and environmental threats. Equipped for water quality collection and testing, the boat helps enforce environmental laws and ensures the river remains swimmable, fishable, and drinkable for future generations.
Schooner Apollonia (64’)
The Schooner Apollonia is a modern cargo sailboat reviving the age-old practice of wind-powered shipping on the Hudson River. Launched in 2019 and meticulously restored from a 1946 steel-hulled schooner, the Apollonia is a floating symbol of sustainable commerce, delivering local goods like malt, coffee, and maple syrup using only renewable energy.
John J. Harvey (130’)
Built in 1931, the John J. Harvey is one of New York Harbor’s most storied vessels. Once among the most powerful fireboats in the world, it served the New York City Fire Department for decades and was brought out of retirement to help fight fires and evacuate people on 9/11. Today, the restored Harvey offers public educational trips and celebrates maritime heritage as a floating museum.
Many thanks to our sponsor:
Related campaigns
Saving Hudson River fish
Protecting iconic species vital to our local ecosystems
Protecting and restoring habitats
The Hudson River watershed is home to a breathtaking diversity of life. Protecting and restoring our aquatic habitats is critical for their renewal and for a healthy future for all life in the watershed
Dam removal
By removing old, obsolete dams, we are healing the ecosystem and restoring life to the Hudson and its tributaries
