The Schedule
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Advance registration is much appreciated for our planning.
alumni day at mystic seaport
saturday, september 21
A printable version of the schedule is available here — and includes the regular scheduled activities at Mystic Seaport.
explore Mystic seaport
10am-6pm (exhibits close at 5pm)
Registered guests receive free admission at the Museum’s South Entrance (near the tugboat, AKA the ‘old’ entrance you remember.)
Special highlights include:
Entwined: Freedom, Sovereignty, and the Sea — this is the exhibit that was generously funded by the Just Futures Initiative of the Mellon Foundation and was created in partnership with Williams-Mystic, Mystic Seaport, Brown University, and Williams College
Spineless: A Glass Menagerie of Blaschka Marine Invertebrates — brilliantly curated by Krystal Rose and James T. Carlton
Live programs and demonstrations all day
Free 30-minute rides on Sabino* (see the full Seaport schedule for times)
Free boat rentals at the Boathouse; swing by and relive your glory days sailing on the Mystic River
Free Planetarium shows* (“Zoo in the Sky” at 12pm, which is great for families with very young children, and is a bit shorter than the other shows, and “Harvest Lights” at 1pm and 3pm, which is the traditional current night sky show)
September 21 is also Member Appreciation Night at Mystic Seaport! Members have after hours access to select exhibits, free Sabino rides, free toy boat activities, special tours, live music, and more! If you haven't renewed your Museum membership, sign up online or stop in the member building on Saturday!
* To receive free Planetarium and 30 minute Sabino tickets, you must be wearing your WM nametag.
Morning coffee + tea
10:00-11am, Carlton Marine Science Center (at the back of the Seaport’s South Lot; 50 Greenmanville Avenue)
Arrive for check-in, coffee, and greetings with shipmates.
before the mast in 2024: teaching climate change & coastal resilience
"Before the Mast in 2024: Teaching Climate Change & Coastal Resilience"
11:00am-12:30pm, Carlton Marine Science Center
WM faculty discuss hurricanes and our changing climate as an example of their interdisciplinary teaching approach.
byo lunch on the green
12:30-1:30pm, Mystic Seaport Green (Rain location: Carlton Marine Science Center)
Bring a lunch or buy one at Mystic Seaport to meet & eat with other alums.
alumni whaleboat races
1:30-3:00pm, Mystic Seaport Middle Wharf
Feel the wind in your hair and the blisters on your hands as you and your crew race down the Mystic River. Two of the Seaport’s finest, Mary K Bercaw Edwards and Jim Mortimer will captain the battling boats to glory.
No experience necessary or encouraged, first come-first served. Show up and row!
how we got here & where we’re going: WM director’s program update
3:00-4:00pm, Mystic Seaport Boatshed
Tom Van Winkle will update Alums on the latest news regarding the future of the WM Program, and the work ahead as we approach our 50th anniversary! This session and the celebration to follow will provide an opportunity for the WM community to come together (as it has ably done so in the past) in support of a program that is near and dear to all of us, so don’t miss it!
Celebration reception
4:00-6:00pm, Mystic Seaport Boatshed
Join us for a delightful cocktail and crudité swizzle, featuring a cash bar and light refreshments. It's the perfect opportunity to reconnect, socialize, and network with fellow Williams-Mystic alumni!
fair winds!
6:00pm
Thank you for joining us in Mystic! Enjoy dinner on your own with friends old and new, or travel safely home. Here is a list of alumni-recommended Mystic dining suggestions.
camping on the green
Saturday, 8:00pm - Sunday, 9:00am
Need a place to stay overnight? WM alumni are invited to pitch tents on the Mystic Seaport Green, if indicated on your registration. All tents and their inhabitants must be vacated from the Green before 9am on Sunday morning. Restroom access provided.