Did you know 97% of Atlantic Sturgeon spawn in the exact same river they were born in? Would you also be surprised to find out that they navigate their way back to their home rivers by using their sense of smell! Come join us here at Nauticus for “Smell Like A Sturgeon”, an interactive floor program that tests your sense of smell to see if you have what it takes to sniff your way home like the Atlantic Sturgeon.
Smell Like A Sturgeon activity is included in general admission.
Offered once a month, Toddler Time provides parents with children ages 2-3 years old, fun and educational content that will engage your youngsters’ mind. Admission to Toddler Time includes an instructor-led program + access to the Battleship Wisconsin following the program.
As always, kids 2 and under are FREE to Nauticus every day but registration is required for all members in your party.
Members are FREE. Not a member? Join today!
Offered once a month, Toddler Time provides parents with children ages 2-3 years old, fun and educational content that will engage your youngsters’ mind. Admission to Toddler Time includes an instructor-led program + access to the Battleship Wisconsin following the program.
As always, kids 2 and under are FREE to Nauticus every day but registration is required for all members in your party.
Members are FREE. Not a member? Join today!
Profiles of Visionaries: America’s First Aircraft Carrier USS LANGLEY and the Dawn of US Naval Aviation
Wednesday, July 10 | 12:00PM
📍 Shipshape Showdown Theater at Nauticus | Included with General Admission
Spend your lunch break with us at Nauticus for a fascinating EdTalk featuring Dr. David F. Winkler, USNR (Ret.)—renowned naval historian, author, and Smithsonian scholar. Learn how a converted coal ship named USS LANGLEY launched America into the era of naval aviation and changed the course of military history.
This special talk is included with general admission, but reservations are required in advance. Space is limited!
🎙️ About the Speaker:
Dr. David F. Winkler is a retired Navy commander and award-winning author who has spent his career preserving and interpreting maritime history. With a Ph.D. from American University, he has taught at the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval War College, served as historian at the Naval Historical Foundation, and was the Charles Lindbergh Chair at the Smithsonian. His most recent book, America’s First Aircraft Carrier, was published by the Naval Institute Press in 2024.
Join us for an exclusive members-only event for harborfest 2025!
This event is currently sold out.
To join the waitlist, please email membership@nauticus.org with the number of tickets you’re requesting. We’ll be in touch if space becomes available.
Celebrate Harborfest like never before with a members-only evening aboard the Schooner Virginia! Join us on Friday, June 6, from 8:30-10PM for a special Drone Show Watch Party right from the deck of this historic tall ship.
This event is free and exclusive to Nauticus and Sail Nauticus Members, but advance reservation is required. Space is very limited and this event will sell out quickly—secure your spot soon!
All ages are welcome. You’re welcome to bring festival food and drinks to enjoy onboard during the show.
Please Note: The drone show is weather permitting. There are no reschedules or alternate dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend this event?
This event is open exclusively to Nauticus and Sail Nauticus members. All ages are welcome.
Is the event free?
Yes! This event is free for members, but reservations are required due to limited space.
Do I need to register in advance?
Yes, all attendees must be registered in advance. Space is limited and this event is expected to sell out. To register, you must have an online member account (Click Here to create an account) which you will sign in to reserve tickets.
Can I bring guests?
This is a members-only event. You can bring the total number of people included in your membership (ex. Six people total can attend with a Nauticus 6 level membership).
Can Member Swap participants register?
No, this event is closed to Sail Nauticus and Nauticus members. We invite any Member Swap participants from the Children’s Museum of Virginia to become a Nauticus member for this added perk!
Can I bring food and drinks?
Yes! You are welcome to bring food and beverages purchased from the HarborFest vendors to enjoy onboard during the event.
What time should I arrive?
Boarding begins at 8:30PM. The drone show begins at approximately 9:30PM, and the event concludes at 10:00PM.
Is the drone show guaranteed to happen?
The drone show is weather permitting and may be canceled due to weather conditions. There are no reschedules or alternate dates for this event.
Where do I go to board the Schooner Virginia?
Specific boarding details and instructions will be sent to all registered attendees via email closer to the event date.
Join us for a Member Swap with the children’s museum of virginia from June 1-30!
Welcome, Children’s Museum of Virginia Members! We look forward to you visiting soon and exploring our newest exhibits and the Battleship Wisconsin.
Nauticus admission tickets must be reserved online in advance, full details and exclusive link are included below. Member Swap includes general admission only; other add-ons or events must be purchased. If no admission tickets are available online, we hope you can join us on another day as space is limited!
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA MEMBERS:
NAUTICUS MEMBERS:
Visit the Children’s Museum of Virginia with your Nauticus membership card to enjoy the following from June 1-30:
Click here for Children’s Museum of Virginia hours and information.
Walker Babington’s Burden of the Beast Opening Celebration
Friday, June 6, 2025
Hermitage Members Early Access: 6:00pm-6:30pm
General Admission: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Join the Hermitage Museum & Gardens for an evening of enchantment as we welcome our special exhibition, Burden of the Beast by Walker Babington. Take the opportunity to meet the featured artist and be among the first to explore the exhibition while indulging in a multi-sensory celebration!
LEARN MORE: https://thehermitagemuseum.org/burdenofthebeast/Ali Siddiq is a stand-up comedian and public speaker out of Houston, TX. In 2024, Vulture called him stand-up comedy’s most prolific storyteller. Ali’s unique style of stand-up originated behind the walls of incarceration, an incubator for interesting experiences and good stories. He is the first comedian to ever release a 4-part series of comedy specials, The Domino Effect 1-4, which has over 40 million views combined on YouTube. In 2022, Ali released two new hour specials… THE DOMINO EFFECT on YouTube and UNPROTECTED SETS on EPIX. To date, THE DOMINO EFFECT has over 15 million views, ranking it in the top 5 most watched comedy specials of 2022. In May 2023, Ali released THE DOMINO EFFECT part 2: LOSS, the sequel to his viral stand-up special, which already has over 7 million views. In 2024, Ali released two more specials in the series. THE DOMINO EFFECT part 3: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL premiered on YouTube in May with over 6 million views , and THE DOMINO EFFECT part 4: PINS & NEEDLES premiered on YouTube in June with over 6 million views to date. In 2025, Ali will be releasing four more specials and Executive Produced a 5th. Ali Siddiq presents Marcus D. Wiley: Marriage is Major Surgery premiered on YouTube Feb 12 with over 2.5 million views currently. MY TWO SONS premiered on YouTube May 11th and RUGGED premiered on YouTube June 15th.
People received their first taste of Ali Siddiq when he appeared on HBO’s DEF COMEDY JAM and LIVE FROM GOTHAM, and in 2013 he was named Comedy Central’s “#1 Comic to Watch”. In 2014, Ali impressed comedy enthusiasts by displaying his ability to captivate an audience with his “Mexicans Got On Boots” tale, a descriptive storytelling, with over 16 million views, of a prison riot on THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, the first of three appearances. His stories continued with his HALF HOUR special, which premiered on Comedy Central in the Fall of 2016. Immediately following the premier of that special, Comedy Central offered Ali an hour-special where he performed for inmates live in a Texas jail, sending Ali back to where it all started. The hour special, Ali Siddiq: It’s Bigger Than These Bars, premiered in February 2018 on Comedy Central and has over 3.5 million views on YouTube. In 2019, Ali was a top 5 finalist on NBC’s BRING THE FUNNY. He also appeared as a regular cast member on the reboot of PUNK’D for Quibi.
Additionally, Ali has appeared on several popular podcasts and TV shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, Club Shay Shay, The Breakfast Club, 85 South, Kill Tony, VladTV, Good Morning America, Uncle Joey’s Joint with Joey Diaz, Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank, Bertcast, Are You Garbage, Your Mom’s House and many others.
In partnership with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Elizabeth River Project, this relaxed walking tour offers a unique chance to explore and learn about the incredible biodiversity of the Elizabeth River.
As we stroll the trail, Troy Tuckey, Research Scientist at VIMS, will share the fascinating world of fish that call the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries home. Learn how these waters serve as vital nurseries for juvenile fish and important feeding grounds for adults. Learn how VIMS’s ongoing fish sampling in the Elizabeth River helps inform conservation efforts and guide decisions to protect vulnerable species.
