Happy 2019! With the holiday season behind us, it's time to look ahead and start planning a new year on the water.
The start of a new year means a clean slate: 365 days to explore more harbors, marinas, and boating events. If your resolution includes getting out on the water more, start today! Find a beach clean-up, boat show, or a polar plunge near you.
Jump to your region: East Coast | Florida & The Keys | Gulf Coast | Inland Waterways | The Great Lakes | West Coast | The Islands
Know of boating-related events near you in January or February? Get in touch: tweet at us, message us on Facebook, or email amanda.jones@dockwa.com.
Boston
January 1 - 31: Ice Skating on the Frog Pond. Bring your whole family for a fun afternoon of ice skating in Downtown Boston.
January 3 - 27: Historic Holiday Strolls. The festive atmosphere of the city, set against the unique backdrop of Boston's historic sites and the American Revolution, makes these merry 90-minute tours a perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
January 3 - 6: Downtown Boston Holiday Market. Browse, shop, and enjoy the holiday season in Downtown Crossing where numerous local vendors will be showcasing artisan products such as jewelry, woodcarvings, metal sculptures, food, candles, clothing, and much more.
January 6: Charles River Aquatics Masters 100 x 100 Memorial Marathon Swim. A fun, team-building events with simmers and triathletes from around New England + the nation.
January 26: Winter Wildlife Cruise. Grab your camera and join park rangers and local naturalists to observe animals who make their wintertime home in Boston Harbor and around the outer Harbor Islands.
Newport
January 5: Beach Cleanup at Fort Adams. Ring in the new year with a cleanup at one of Aquidneck Island's most historic sites.
January 19 - 25: Newport Wellness Week. A week-long celebration of mind, body and spirit. Featuring a diverse array of wellness events, special offers and deals throughout Newport County.
Mystic
January 5: Mystic Chantey Blast & Pub Sing. Blast away the winter blahs with Mystic Seaport chantey staff and many of the finest chantey singers in the Northeast.
January 25: Prosecco with Penguins. Unwind with beautiful underwater views as you sip, socialize and visit one of Mystic Aquarium's most popular animals - the Penguin.
January 26: Pizza with Penguins at the Mystic Aquarium. Enjoy pizza while viewing the Penguins that live in the Aquarium.
New York City
January 1 - 4: Luminaries. A mesmerizing holiday light installation. Visitors are immersed in the suspended canopy of glowing lanterns that change in color and intensity within the Winter Garden.
January 19: Fine Wine + Food Festival. Indulge in endless wines from the North Fork of Long Island and New York regions, New Jersey, and abroad. Taste gourmet foods from Long Island & NYC's best restaurants and food trucks.
January 21 - February 8: NYC Restaurant Week. Hundreds of restaurants throughout the City will be rolling our special prix-fixe menus for a limited time.
January 23 - 27: New York Boat Show.
January 26: Winter Jam. A free winter sports festival for New Yorkers of all ages in Central Park. Enjoy sledding, learn to ski or play in the snow field.
Annapolis
January 18 - 19: The 2019 Super Plunge. Be brave 24 times in 24 hours. Help benefit the Special Olympics Maryland by plunging into the water 24 times every hour during the 24-hour time period.
January 26: The 2019 Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park. Every January ~10,000 people plunge into the water all to benefit the Special Olympics Maryland.
Naples – January 17 - 20: Naples Boat Show. Go experience your dream boat in person!
Key Largo –
January 11: Lobster Festival. There will be lobster Bisque, regular Lobster, Key Lime Tarts, and alcohol. There will also be live music.
January 12: Stone Crab Eating Contest. Think you can crack and eat 25 stone crab claws the fastest? Find out at this family-fun event.
January 25 - 27: East Coast Winter Series Regatta hosted by the Upper Keys Sailing Club.
Miami –
January 12: Miami Wine Festival. Taste more than 100 wines from across the globe, a bubbly bar, gourmet food trucks, a live DJ, lawn games and much more.
January 27 - February 3: HEMPEL World Cup Series - Round 2.
NEW Fort Lauderdale –
January 12: The 8th Annual Riverwalk Stone Crab + Seafood Festival. This event is free to attend and open for all ages to enjoy.
January 19: Paddle Board Fitness and Yoga. A 90-minute workout class perfect for beginners as well as experienced Yogis.
January 22 - 23: The American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) 2019 Annual Meeting & Symposium will be taking place at Pier 66 Hotel + Marina.
January 23 - 25: The International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) is taking place at the Broward County Convention Center
Tampa –
January 5 - 6: The Davis Island j/70 Winter Series II at the Davis Island Yacht Club.
January 26: Shipwrecked Music Festival - Gasparilla Weekend in Tampa Bay is an indoor/outdoor Pirate Festival Production.
Port Charlotte – January 25 - 27: The Edge Sailing Midwinters Canam Series #3 at Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club.
NEW Stuart – January 11 - 13: The 45th Annual Stuart Boat Show.
Gulf Shores –
January 27: The Big Beach Marathon + Half Marathon. The marathon reveals beautiful scenery as it runs though the paved trail system of Gulf State Park before finishing the last mile on Beach Blvd with great views of the Gulf of Mexico.
New Orleans –
January 11: Starry Night on the River Gala.
January 22: The 2019 Porsche of New Orleans Leukemia Cup Regatta kickoff at the Southern Yacht Club.
Newport Beach –
January 5: First Saturday Beach Cleanup at Prospect Street.
January 12: Stand Up Paddleboard Class for beginners or the advanced.
January 12: Kayaking Class to help you learn the basic of paddling a kayak in a relaxed setting.
January 14 - 27: Newport Beach Restaurant Week.
January 26: OC Yoga Festival - Winter Edition. This is a one-day event that is open to all ages + yoga levels. There will be 1 hour yoga and meditation classes, live music, a DJ, a mini concert, healthy food, art, conscious vendors and sponsors as well as workshops.
Huntington Beach – January 6: Blue Wave Beach Clean-Up at Huntington Beach Pier.
Oakland – January 11 - 20: Oakland Restaurant Week.
San Francisco –
January 1 - 6: Holiday Lights at SF Conservatory.
January 19 - 20: 29th Anniversary of the Sea Lions' Arrival at Pier 39.
January 23 - 31: SF Restaurant Week. A celebration of San Francisco's world-class dining community. Nearly 130 restaurants around San Francisco offer special prix-fixe menus.
Los Angeles –
January 1 - 6: Los Angeles Zoo Lights. See glowing animals welcome you on a nighttime journey that includes giant illuminated snowflakes, a disco ball forest, a whimsical herd of animated elephants, and a twinkling tunnel filled with dynamic swirls of colors.
January 10 - 13: The Los Angeles Boat Show.
January 11 - 25: LA Restaurant Week.
Port Angeles – January 19: Introduction to the Navigational Rules of the Road. This course is a perfect refresher for salty dogs or a great introduction for new boaters. Learn the 38 rules - what you need to know to maneuver safely in the straight, in the sound and internationally. The course is free for all and is held at the Port Angeles Yacht Club.
Cleveland – January 17 - 21: Progressive Insurance Cleveland Boat Show.
Nashville – January 10 - 13: The 2019 Progressive Insurance Nashville Boat Show at the Music City Center.
Chicago –
January 9 - 13: The 2019 Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show happening at McCormick Place - South.
January 26: The 14th Annual Chili Cook-Off at the Columbia Yacht Club.
January 26: The 2019 Polar Plunge at Oak Street Beach.
Novi – January 10 - 13: The Ultimate Fishing Show featuring fishing boats, fishing seminars, Fish fry, and more.
Ann Arbor –
January 13 - 18: Ann Arbor Restaurant Week 2019.
January 25 - 26: The 42nd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival at Hill Auditorium.
Minneapolis – January 24 - 27: Progressive Insurance Minneapolis Boat Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The Bahamas –
January 1: The Bul' Reg Regatta.
January 1: The Staniel Cay Cruising Regatta.
January 1 - 2: The People's Rush & New Year's Junkanoo Parade. Celebrate the National Festival of The Bahamas.
January 4: Changing of the Guard. A Bahamas tradition since 1958, the Changing of the Guard ceremony features the world-renowned Royal Bahamas Police Force Marching Band and Royal Bahamas Defense Force Guards.
January 6: Jazz by the Sea. Music provided by a variety of local artists!
January 9 - 16: Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. The first gold tournament of the year on the Web.com tour.
January 11: New Year's Day Junkanoo Celebration: Inagua. This event blends the traditional Junkanoo music with local variants of this community.
January 17 - 23: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic. This is the third event on the 2019 tour schedule where 132 professional golfers will compete for a chance to earn their sport of the following season on the PGA tour.
January 19: Snow Birds Reception. This event welcomes back all of the homeowners who return to the island every year for sunshine, leaving the snow behind.
January 19 - 20: The Sunshine Insurance Marathon Bahamas Weekend. With a dawn start, runners take to the streets of Nassau running into history through downtown.
January 24 - 28: Devour the Beach 2019. The most acclaimed Food, Wine & Film Festival in Abaco featuring celebrity chefs flown in from Canada, the United States, and Bahamas.
January 26: The annual Reef Ball: Hope Town. This event is in support of the protection and sustainability of the environment.
The British Virgin Islands –
January 24 - 27: Summer in January. Here are a list of the events that are taking place during these days:
January 24: Hush Soiree. The official VIP welcome reception.
January 25: The All-White Beach Party. An upscale tropical dance party experience on the beach. The dress code is "all-white."
January 26: Reggae in the Ruins featuring Romain Virgo. A mystical night of live Reggae bands, featured local artist, local food, island-style bars, arts & crafts vendors and more.
January 27: The Powerboat Party. All ocean roads lead to Pirate's Bight (Norman Island, BVI) for a beach party with a live DJ.
Puerto Rico –
January 2 - 29: Winter Baseball Season. There are four teams from around the island playing in the league with 18 Round Robin games played throughout the month.
January 16 - 20: The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian. A big multi-street party where hundreds of thousands of people pour into Old San Juan for the celebration.
January 25 - 27: The 6th Annual Legend Surf Classic. A yearly event that celebrates the original surfers that started the sport in Puerto Rico.
Reminder: Share your event with us! Email amanda.jones@dockwa.com or post to our Facebook Group.
Post by Amanda Jones
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