Community Corner

Blessing of the Fleet 2013 Starts Today!

Be on the lookout for runners and closed streets if you're traveling in Narragansett tonight.

The 42nd annual Blessing of the Fleet weekend starts today, with the annual 10-mile road race beginning from Narragansett Pier School (235 S Pier Rd.). 

According to the Narragansett Lions Club, more than 4,000 people hailing from all over New England, across the country and around the world, compete in the race each year. Walkers begin at 5 p.m., followed by wheelchairs at 5:45 p.m. and runners at 6 p.m. 

The scenic course, which winds its way through historic Narragansett, is officially sanctioned and listed as one of the top three races of its distance in New England. The race's finish line is by The Towers in Narragansett, immediately adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, site of the Blessing of the Fleet Seafood Festival

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If you’re racing, you can check-in as early as noon at Narragansett Pier School. A post entry fee of $35 will be charged to those interested in last-minute registration. Parking, shuttles and showers will be available and clearly marked, so keep an eye out. 

At approximately 8:30 p.m., an awards ceremony will take place at the gazebo located behind the Narragansett Post Office, and will feature prizes and awards for the top male and female finishers from various age groups, as well as the first Narragansett male and female finishers, top three male and female walkers, and top three male and female wheelchair finishers. 

Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a reminder, if you’re driving in Narragansett between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., watch out for heavy pedestrian traffic and closed roads.

A seafood festival accompanies the race, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. today and from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park. There will be a lobster dinner, beer tent, a variety of arts and crafts, and live music performed by Roger Cerisi’s All Starz tonight, Bobby Nelson from 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Steve Smith & the Nakeds on Saturday night. There is no admission fee to enter the festival.

The actual Blessing of the Fleet itself, with clergy and other local officials, occurs at noon on Saturday at Salty Brine Beach in Galilee. Hundreds of vessels normally participate in the Parade of Sail event, sailing and motoring past spectators watching from the shore.

The event’s main sponsor is Citizens Bank, and it is organized annually by the Narragansett Lions Club who will donate all profits from the event to local charities. 

Planning on attending this weekend? Send your photos and videos to lauren.costa@patch.com to share them with your neighbors on Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch!


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