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Regatta Day Festival Come to Gales Ferry on Saturday June 11th for a day of family fun and to partake in history! The 155th Yale-Harvard Regatta or Harvard-Yale Regatta depending on your persuasion, will be held on Saturday June 11, 2022, on the Thames River starting between the two Gold Star Bridge spans in New London and finishing up near Bartlett’s Cove opposite Gales Ferry. The Regatta Day Festival will be held that day starting at 11 am at Sweet Hill Farm (29 Military Highway, Gales Ferry) with food, family activities, local vendors, and a car rally to make the afternoon fun! Viewing stands and food at Erickson Park will be open from 3pm – 7:30pm or when the last race concludes. Parking will be at Ocean State Job Lot, RT !2 Gales Ferry, and a shuttle will be provided between all three locations. See the Festival details in the Parks & Rec section of this magazine. The oldest continuous sporting event in the country, the Regatta began in 1852 when the Yale Rowing Club challenged the Harvard Club to a race. Held on Lake Winnipesaukee in early August, Harvard won handily by 4 boat lengths. Spectating there was Gen. Franklin Pierce, Democratic nominee for President (he won later that fall). He was the first of three Presidents and other senior officials who have attended throughout its history. The event came to New London in 1878 when the Yale Coach Robert J. Cook suggested it to the Harvard Team Captain William A. Bancroft, and both agreed. The Regatta has been held here ever since. Latham Brown offered Yale the use of his home and property in what is now Gales Ferry Village and Charles Stoddard offered Harvard the use of his property on Military Highway in Gales Ferry. These have remained the homes of the respective teams ever since. In the early 20th Century close to 100,000 spectators would descend on the area to line the race-course and ride the observation trains alongside the Thames River to see the race. Come be part of history! The Festival will provide food and entertainment for your entire family from 11:00 am to 3 pm and offer you a place to see the races that start at 3:30 pm.