Big Happenings on Tribeca's Piers

Boat-racing, dancing and knot-tying classes are among the activities coming to Tribeca’s Piers 26 and 25 this summer.

The Hudson River Park Trust is kicking off the season at Pier 26, near Hubert Street, with a boat race on Sat., June 22. The Liberty Challenge Regatta, a traditional Polynesian competition between outrigger canoe teams from around the world, will begin at 10 a.m. that day.

The event takes place in the harbor but spectators on the pier can watch the boats cross the finish line.

A full day of skateboarding demos and contests, organized by skateboard manufacturer Zumiez, takes place on Tues., June 25, as part of a nine-city tour. The event, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Pier 26, will wrap up with a concert by rock band AWOLNATION at 7 p.m.

As part of Gay Pride Week 2013, Heritage of Pride is hosting giant events on Pier 26 during the weekend of  June 28-30, beginning with a free, opening rally that Friday night (7-10 p.m.). “Rapture on the River,” a dance event for women, is scheduled for Saturday, 3-10 p.m., and another dance is slated for Sunday, 3-10 p.m. The event organizers are expecting up to 2,000 participants at the opening rally, 3,000 on Saturday and close to 5,000 (the pier’s capacity) on Sunday.

The annual events have been moved from Pier 54 because of the structure’s deteriorated condition.

Heritage of Pride co-chair Alan Reiff sought to assure Community Board 1’s Tribeca Committee that the events would not be a nuisance to neighbors, saying that his organization has “an unparalleled relationship” with the NYPD and elected officials. “We’re proud of our record of responding to the miniscule amounts of community complaints that we get,” he said.

At Pier 25, just south of Pier 26, the North River Historic Ship Society is hosting its fifth annual festival on June 21-23. Free dockside or harbor tours (depending on the boat) will be available on the 106-year-old tugboat Pegasus, the retired fireboat John J. Harvey, the 99-year-old wooden barge Lehigh Valley No. 79 and the 173-foot Lilac, a former U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse tender.

The South Street Seaport Museum’s Pioneer, a cargo ship built in 1885, will also be a festival participant this year.

The ship tours will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Circus performances by rope artist Chris McDaniel and juggler Jen Slaw will take place at the pier on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., along with a concert by singer-songwriter Ilene Weiss. And, from 1 p.m. to 5 pm. that day, representatives from the River Project will demonstrate trap-based fishing and let the public touch seahorses, crabs, shrimp and other freshly caught animals from the Hudson. The Lilac crew will also give lessons on knot-tying.

Pop band concerts on Pier 26 begin in July, with The Specials on July 17, FUN. on July 22-23 (both sold out), Gas Light Anthem on July 26-28, OneRepublic on Aug. 10 and Passion Pit on Sept. 6-7.

For more information, including scheduling and ticket purchases, go to Hudson River Park Trust’s website at www.hudsonriverpark.orrg/events [1].