Riverkeeper announces 2026 Fish Migration Celebration on the Hudson River
Flotilla of “fish boats” will trace the migratory path of fish upriver from Yonkers to Newburgh with festivities celebrating the Hudson’s iconic species
June 8, 2026
Riverkeeper Team
Ossining, NY – Riverkeeper today announced the 2026 Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026, a daylong series of events that will bring attention to one of the region’s most remarkable (and largely invisible) phenomena: the seasonal migration of fish through the Hudson River.
Each spring, millions of fish — including the ancient Atlantic sturgeon, American eel, striped bass, American shad, and river herring — return from the ocean to spawn in the Hudson, retracing a journey that has continued for thousands of years.
Despite its scale, this underwater spectacle goes almost entirely unnoticed. This annual celebration aims to change that, making the invisible visible through a combination of community events, artistic spectacle, and on-the-water action stretching from Yonkers to Newburgh.
“The Hudson River’s fish migration is a Serengeti-scale natural wonder happening right in our backyard, and most people have no idea it exists,” says Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown. “The Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration is our way of inviting everyone — families, river lovers, clean water advocates — to celebrate this miracle, honor what we’ve collectively fought to protect, and recommit to the work still ahead.”
Schedule of events:
Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Habirshaw Park, Yonkers
The day kicks off at the Yonkers Riverfront Summer Kickoff Festival, where Riverkeeper will join the festivities to celebrate the river and the annual return of its fish. Events include a ceremonial welcome from Owl Smith of the Ramapo Munsee Nation; music and a puppet performance led by artists Rhiannon Catalyst, Big Nazo, and the Honk Family Band; a public-participatory Parade of the Fish; and a fish-themed flotilla featuring a golden sturgeon Schooner Apollonia designed by artist Greg Corbino, schooling fish on the fireboat John J. Harvey, and a call to action from Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown.
Time: 12:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Hudson River — Habirshaw Park, Yonkers to Newburgh
The centerpiece of the day is a flotilla of four fish-themed boats traveling northward from Yonkers to Newburgh — tracing the very route the migrating fish follow on their journey from the Atlantic Ocean into the Hudson. Led by a massive “Atlantic sturgeon” schooner, the fleet of fish boats will make the seasonal migration visible to communities along the river's banks, honoring the fish and the wild spectacle they represent.
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Unico Park, Newburgh
The day concludes at Unico Park in Newburgh with a festive community gathering where the public is invited to welcome the fish home with live music, a puppet performance and participatory fish parade, food carts, and community art-building (make your own fish costume!) A school of fishy kayakers will launch from the Newburgh Waterways Center, joining the final leg of the migration flotilla. Together, participants will mark the close of the flotilla's journey and celebrate the Hudson's remarkable ecological recovery, a direct result of decades of advocacy, legal action, and community stewardship.
More information and registration details are available at riverkeeper.org.
ABOUT RIVERKEEPER
Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River, and safeguards drinking water supplies through community partnerships, science, and law. Our core programs improve water quality, restore habitat for an abundance of life, and address the impact of climate change on our waterways. Founded in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, Riverkeeper became the model for more than 320 Waterkeeper organizations around the world and helped establish globally-recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection. We continue to work toward the goal of a swimmable, fishable, and drinkable Hudson River for all. Learn more, get updates, and support our work by visiting riverkeeper.org.
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
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