One of the longest running Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies in New England, every year on the last weekend in July the annual Stonington Harbor Blessing of the Fleet ceremony remembers Stonington’s fishermen, the last fishing fleet in Connecticut. 

This two-day celebration includes parades, bands, food, dancing on the docks and a Sunday Mass followed by the Blessing of the Fleet and the parade of boats. The boats sail to outer Stonington Harbor to place an anchor-shaped wreath in the water, to honor all local fishermen who lost their lives at sea.

This year’s Blessing is scheduled for July 31 starting at 10:30 a.m. with Mass at St. Mary Church in the Borough.