OCCOQUAN — More than a hundred and fifty recreational boats are anticipated to take part in the area’s 19th annual Blessing of the Fleet.
Multiple activities are planned both on the water and land as part of “Discover Occoquan Day.”
A VIP boat with local dignitaries led by fireboats and first responders and followed by decorated recreational yachts will cruise to the Town of Occoquan and then proceed down the river past the Blessing Boat, Rhumb Line, to be blessed by clergy starting at 10:45 am.
From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Town of Occoquan will host Discover Occoquan in downtown Historic Occoquan.
A full day’s schedule of town activities, including a beer garden from 4 pm to 8 p.m., is posted on the town’s website.
Interested spectators can view the parade from the Town of Occoquan’s dock at Mamie Davis Park, as well as at marinas along the river. Food specials will be offered at the Electric Palm at Prince William Marina, at the new Harbour Grille at Occoquan Harbour Marina and at Tim’s Rivershore on the Potomac River.
ORMA was established in 1999 to assist business, yacht clubs and recreational boaters relating to navigation, ecology, environmental preservation, and boating safety/education. In addition to coordinating the annual Blessing of the Fleet, ORMA has played a role keeping the Occoquan River Channel navigable.
The Occoquan River Maritime Association (ORMA) is sponsoring the event in coordination with The Town of Occoquan, the Fairfax, Occoquan and Prince William Yacht Clubs, Belmont Bay homeowners association, Hoffmaster’s Marina, Holly Acres boat sales in Woodbridge, Occoquan Harbour and Prince William Marina, Tim’s Rivershore restaurant and with support from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Potomac Marine-Tow Boat/US and the Fairfax and Prince William public safety agencies. The Blessing of the Fleet is open to all boats in the area, drawing from a fleet of some 2500 boats on the Occoquan River and hundreds more in neighboring areas.
For more information on the Blessing of the Fleet, visit www.OccoquanBlessing.org.
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