Join us for the inaugural 2026 Little Red Lite Swim
Inspired by the spirit of the classic Little Red Lighthouse 10K marathon swim, a beloved event once hosted by NYC Swim, the inaugural Little Red Lite Swim offers a new opportunity to experience Manhattan’s iconic open-water scene.
This shorter, current-assisted swim follows a beautiful 6.4 km / 4 mi route along one of the most scenic stretches of the Hudson River. The swim begins at Inwood Canoe Club, just south of Dyckman Street and finishes at the Baylander, a former U.S. Navy vessel now docked at the West Harlem Piers near 125th Street and converted into a relaxed floating bar and restaurant.
Along the way, swimmers will cruise downriver along the Manhattan shoreline, passing under the George Washington Bridge and by the Little Red Lighthouse, Riverbank State Park, and the Hudson River Greenway before finishing at the Baylander.
The Little Red Lite Swim is a non-competitive, non-timed event designed for swimmers who may not be ready for a marathon-distance swim but still want the thrill of swimming in the beautiful Hudson River.
9:00 AM check-in, 10:30 AM splash
Historic New York: The Little Red Lighthouse
The Jeffrey’s Hook lighthouse, erected in 1880 and moved to its current site in 1921, has become widely known as the children’s literary landmark “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.” Rediscover the history of this unique landmark. Open access between 1:00pm and 2:45pm. Participants may need to queue for access due capacity limits inside of the structure. Enter park via overpass closest to Plaza Lafayette. (West 181st Street) and Riverside Drive.
Free — Registration not required.
Historic New York: The Little Red Lighthouse
The Jeffrey’s Hook lighthouse, erected in 1880 and moved to its current site in 1921, has become widely known as the children’s literary landmark “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.” Rediscover the history of this unique landmark. Open access between 1:00pm and 2:45pm. Participants may need to queue for access due capacity limits inside of the structure. Enter park via overpass closest to Plaza Lafayette. (West 181st Street) and Riverside Drive.
Free — Registration not required.
Historic New York: The Little Red Lighthouse
The Jeffrey’s Hook lighthouse, erected in 1880 and moved to its current site in 1921, has become widely known as the children’s literary landmark “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.” Rediscover the history of this unique landmark. Open access between 1:00pm and 2:45pm. Participants may need to queue for access due capacity limits inside of the structure. Enter park via overpass closest to Plaza Lafayette. (West 181st Street) and Riverside Drive.
Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with readings of the eponymous children’s book, live music, and activities for all ages!
As the Little Red Lighthouse is more than 140 years old and in need of care, it has been determined that the Lighthouse will again be only be open for a limited number of tours during this year’s Festival, led by the NYC Park Rangers! As in years past, tours will be first come, first served. To safely and comfortably accommodate visitors, we have reduced the total number of visitors we can accommodate, and tours are limited to the first 200 attendees.
- We highly recommend that visitors looking to tour the lighthouse earlier in the day arrive before noon.
- Tickets will be timed for a 40-minute window
- Ticketholders are asked to arrive on time for their scheduled tour.
