Festivals & Events

Adventure and outdoor fun, maritime history, and cultural events—the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation has it all. Our annual community events offer family-friendly activities and hands-on discovery. Our tall ship and facilities provide a one-of-a-kind year-round riverfront venue for private parties and rentals, on ship and shore.

We host a range of events that are open and accessible to our local and regional community and designed for people of all ages. Our ship’s history and Swedish connection also supports the work of preserving and promoting the cultural and maritime heritage of the Delaware Valley. The Copeland Maritime Center offers a unique riverfront venue for any occasion including private celebrations.


Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our upcoming events schedule and the latest updates from the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.

Upcoming Sails

Greenport, NY • July 20 – 27

New Castle, DE • August 2 – 8

New London, CT • August 14 – 16

Wilmington, DE • Saturdays, October 3 – 24


Schedule & Tickets

Second Saturday

Lions, Sea Serpents & Mermaids...Oh My!

Saturday, August 8, 1 – 4pm

Find us at Fort Christina State Park for “Lions, Sea Serpents, and Mermaids …Oh My!” to explore sailors’ and sailing ships' folklore and use of sea monsters and other mythical creatures. Visitors will be invited to create their own racing, scary sea serpents! Admission to the park is free.

  • Free parking at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation lot across the road from the Park.
  • Museum admission is $10/Adult, $5/Ages 3-12, and under 3 is free.
  • Second Saturdays continue on October 10,  and November 14. Note: September 12 will be SCOUT DAY for registered Troops only.

Location: Fort Christina Park, 1110 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801



Second Saturday

Unmasking Halloween

Saturday, October 10, 1 – 4pm

This fun and educational family program uncovers the spooky and mysterious history of Halloween and our favorite Halloween traditions like Jack-O-Lanterns and Trick or Treating. Afterwards, visitors will be invited to create their own scary masks!

  • Museum admission: $10/Adult, $5/Ages 3-12, and under 3 is free.  Don’t miss our final 2026 Second Saturday on November 14.

Location:  Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE  19801

Maritime Center

LEGO Shipbuilding Day

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Our 11th annual LEGO Shipbuilding Day is coming! Learn to build model ship kits at all skill levels. And discover your inner LEGO spirit in our free build spaces. Enter our prize drawings for Home-Built and/or Maritime Center-Built ships by age groups. Check out the new format and details on the link below.



Location: Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Get Details

Halloween Ghost Ship

Saturday, October 17 from Noon – 4pm

Join us for a spooky, not scary, afternoon of pumpkin painting, tours of our indoor Ghost Ship, and deck tours of the real Kalmar Nyckel (outdoors), plus crafts and activities.  Check back for details.


Location:  Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE  19801

Save the Date

Second Saturday

Foods We’re Thankful For

Saturday, November 14, 1 – 4pm

This program explores the traditional foods and foodways of the native Lenape and the Swedes/Finns. After learning this culinary history, visitors will be invited to make corn husk dolls, a frontier favorite of both Europeans and Natives as well as reusing a byproduct of food!

  • Museum admission: $10/Adult, $5/Ages 3-12, and under 3 is free. This is our final 2026 Second Saturday.

Location:  Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE  19801

Plan Your Visit

Fort Christina Park