Norwalk Seaport Association Is Ready to Cruise Summer 2023

Norwalk Seaport Association's cruise to Sheffield Island Lighthouse off the coast of Norwalk is one of Connecticut's most popular seasonal activities. It gives passengers the thrill of an on-the-water adventure passing a myriad of islands in Long Island Sound only seen from the water, the chance to tour a historic lighthouse on Sheffield Island, and time to explore a private island and nature sanctuary.

Our 2023 Cruise and Event Schedule is as follows 

Docktails and Oysters @ Norm Bloom and Sons – June 3 

Birding Cruises run Sundays from May 28- June 18  

Weekend Cruises to Sheffield Island run May 27 -Aug 27 

Weekday Cruises to Sheffield Island run June 27 -Aug 31  

Sunset Harbor Cruises run May 24 -Sept 17 

 Clambakes on Sheffield Island are offered on Tuesdays. July 11- Aug 29 

 Pirates Weekend – July 22 and 23

Sheffield Island – Picture Perfect & Picnic Ready 

Family Fun on Sheffield Island

Many visitors comment on how beautifully the island is maintained and how it enhances the experience of visiting. There is a large timber frame pavilion with picnic tables that face the water, shell-strewn pathways through the Nature Preserve colorful island-inspired flowers and landscaping, an antique telescope; wildlife, marine life, ecosystem interpretative signage along the seawalls, and large shade trees, making it an ideal picnic spot. 

Clambakes and picnics in our Pavilion

The volunteers of the Norwalk Seaport Association take great pride in cleaning up Sheffield Island each spring, making it picture-perfect for visitors. Linda Cappello, a Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Norwalk Seaport Association organizes these spring pilgrimages annually. "It is my passion. I have cruised the waters of Long Island Sound and the Norwalk Islands for as long as I can remember. My father introduced me to the Sound when I was a child, and I have loved it ever since! If I could live on the Island I would! As for our volunteers, we always welcome help, just contact us. Being a Seaport Volunteer offers a unique reward unique for a good cause, especially if they have a love for Norwalk's maritime history and Long Island Sound,” Cappello concluded. 

A big thank you to all our volunteers!

Island maintenance doesn't end in the spring. Throughout the summer season, there are many chores to attend to from mowing the lawn, to maintaining the shells on the pathways, and cleaning the lighthouse itself, to name a few of what it takes to keep the island ready for visitors. 

For Tickets and More Information 

 For tickets and more information http://www.seaport.org. The vessel leaves from the Seaport Dock on 4 North Water Street in Norwalk. The dock is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and North Water Streets in South Norwalk. Parking is available at the adjacent lot or at the Maritime Center Parking Garage across the street from the dock. Tickets are available online in advance by clicking here. 

Cruising is fun any time of day!

About the Norwalk Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Celebrate Long Island Sound's Bounty @ Docktails and Oysters June 3, 2023

 Docktails and Oysters, a signature special fundraising event hosted by Norm Bloom and Sons, a fourth-generation oyster farm in Norwalk, on behalf of the Norwalk Seaport Association are back again this year, by popular demand on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event sells out every year, so it is important to get your tickets early as they are limited. 

This island-inspired party will get you in an “aloha state of mind” as you see folks in brightly colored Hawaiian shirts, listening to live music, sipping cocktails, and slurping the freshest oysters you will ever taste! “It’s a chance for people to celebrate the Seaport Association’s mission of preserving the Sheffield Island Lighthouse for future generations and have a little fun at an authentic oyster farm,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. 

Oysters have a long history in Norwalk that started with the Native Americans. Today, the techniques and processes used to farm Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom and Sons have been used for centuries, making them an extra special treat. If you have never had oysters, literally fresh off the boat this is your chance to eat your fill of them - so make sure you come hungry! It's fun to watch the pros shuck the oysters right before your eyes (they make it look so easy) and set them on trays with lemons and an assortment of delicious sauces. The food and fun doesn't stop there, as guests can snack on passed and tabled appetizers such as citrus grilled shrimp, house-smoked pork sliders, and blackened swordfish tacos with pineapple salsa, vegetable spring rolls, and black bean and corn salad, in keeping with the island vibe. 

A highlight of the event is its location itself - the dock at Norm Bloom & Sons Copps Island Oysters, one of the few remaining traditional oyster farms in the United States. An added bonus is to learn how oysters are grown and harvested here and then shipped all over the world. The oyster beds are actually incubated under the dock where this event takes place. Part of the charm is to see how small oysters actually are when they start out! As soon as they are big enough, the oysters are "planted" on the sandy bottom of the Sound that surrounds the docks. This time-honored system of growing oysters makes them some of the best that you will ever taste, making it no surprise that Copps Island oysters are prized the world over for their sweet briny flavor and plump meat. Best of all, this is your chance to eat your fill of them for a good cause! 

Tickets to this event are limited to 200 people and are $80 online and $90 at the gate if tickets are available. It is highly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance because this popular event sells out every year and there may not be tickets available the day of the event. For tickets click here, if you have questions, please call 203-838-9444. 

About the Norwalk Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Join the Flock - Go On A Birding Safari with the Norwalk Seaport Association

 

There is nothing that says summer like a birding safari with the Norwalk Seaport Association. Birding cruises are one of the most popular excursions operated by the Seaport Association because it brings adults and children up close to birds in their maritime natural habitat. Adding to the fun is the fact that Long Island Sound is a birding hot spot in Connecticut, a state that is rich in birdlife with more than 430 different species to spot.

photo courtesy Micheal Brinkley

Regardless if you are a veteran or novice birding enthusiast this cruise is an ideal way to add seabirds to your list. This year, the Seaport's vessel, the C.J. Toth, a 49- passenger vessel will head out at 8 a.m. and return to the dock at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, and Sunday, June 4, 11, and 18. This guided bird cruise is ideal for adults and children because it is a fun and educational way to experience nature.

Passengers on this eco-styled guided bird cruise are being led by birding enthusiast, James Leone, who has been birding for six-plus years. Leone is extremely knowledgeable about the identification status and distribution of birds in Connecticut and, specifically in Long Island Sound. "I am looking forward to helping people spot as many birds as they can and sharing my knowledge about their habitat, needs, and importance to the eco-system. I have identified 330 species of birds in Connecticut, and 300  in Fairfield County alone," says Leone. It is exciting to be out on the water this time of year because you never know what will fly by - which makes every cruise different and exciting at the same time," Leone added. In addition to birding in Connecticut, Leone has birded in Thailand and Costa Rica as well as all over the United States, spotting more than 1,200 birds. He has attended the prestigious birding program at Arizona's Camp Chiricahua, where he developed a greater understanding of birds and their habitat, which he will be sharing with the lucky passengers on this cruise. 

photo courtesy Micheal Brinkley

A  special highlight of this cruise is the chance to spot birds at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge on Sheffield Island. Because of the shape of the boat, you can really get close to the shoreline. Here you will see a variety of habitats that support nesting and wading birds. This spot is known for its small population of herring and great black-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield Island's rocky shoreline. 

The importance of the Norwalk Islands to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and the special Bird Cruises hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association give nature enthusiasts the chance to spot these magnificent seabirds up close with the added benefit of a knowledgeable guide. 

photo courtesy Micheal Brinkley

Passengers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the 8 a.m. departure. The vessel leaves from the Seaport Dock located on 4 North Water Street adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk. Parking is available at the adjacent lot or at the Maritime Center Parking Garage. 

Tickets are available online in advance by clicking here and are $25 for children and $35 for adults. The Seaport Association advises reserving your Bird Cruise early because these popular excursions sell out. Make sure you include your email when reserving your ticket. If the tour is canceled due to inclement weather the Norwalk Seaport Association will contact you via your email. 

photo courtesy Micheal Brinkley

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.