Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $24 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. small percussion.  On October 7-8, 2023 the museum hosted the Mystic Folkways Music Festival.

The Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival was a long-running event hosted by the museum, featuring many of the genre’s most respected maritime-themed musicians.  The festival was curated by a small number of traditionalists that closely limited the types of individuals and groups that were allowed to perform there.  (Some groups perceived as “costumed” were denied invitations.)  The event was held from 1979 through 2020, when the festival was canceled by the museum management, ostensibly because of the pandemic.  (The museum has gone on to host other musical events since shuttering the Sea Music Festival.)  The Port Jefferson Sea Shanty & Maritime Music Festival hired some of the performers that had entertained at Mystic, plus several “costumed” groups.  A core of the former event organizers from the museum went on to establish the Connecticut Sea Music Festival.