NYC's old 'Street of Ships' transforms into a four-day reggae beach festival during Labor Day weekend
South Street Seaport has worked for centuries to earn its old nickname, the "Street of Ships," when it was still the busiest port on the entire East Coast.
Nowadays, the ships have largely made way for tour boats and cocktails by the waterfront, but this Labor Day weekend, one pier on the edge of that historic waterfront is trading its usual quiet sunset crowd for something a lot louder.
Watermark at Pier 15, the waterfront bar on the East River with an unobstructed view of the Brooklyn Bridge, is organizing a four-day Reggae & Reggaeton Beach Festival from Thursday, September 3 to Sunday, September 6.
Expect after-work partying, late nights on the pier under the stars, and a crowd of 21 and over wanting to go wild one last time before summer officially comes to an end.
Here you will find all the details, and how you can still get a ticket at the last minute.
What the weekend actually looks like
Watermark Beach didn't just put some speakers on a pier and call it a festival.
The entire terrace has been transformed into a true beach paradise, with palm trees, a tiki-style photo wall complete with surfboards and captain's hats, and cabanas here and there for those seeking a quiet spot between dance sets.
Giant Jenga and Connect Four games are ready for anyone who wants to take a break from the dance floor, and there is a raw bar where oysters are shucked to order for anyone who sees this as a real night out instead of just a party.
On paper, the music revolves mainly around reggae and reggaeton, but during previous editions of Watermark’s “Perreo on the Pier” nights, salsa, bachata, dembow, and Latin trap were also played, so the actual playlist is much more varied than the name suggests.
This is not a brand-new experiment either. Watermark has already organized this same beach club concept on most Friday and Saturday nights throughout the season, which means that the Labor Day festival is essentially the enlarged, spectacular version of a party that already has a proven audience.
What is on the program?
No one can keep it up for four days just dancing to the vibes.
Watermark's kitchen supplies the terrace with grilled tacos, truffle fries, coconut shrimp, tuna tartare, and smashburgers, alongside that bar with raw oysters.
As for the drinks, the Don Rita is the absolute highlight: a margarita served with a mini bottle of Don Julio standing upside down in the glass, alongside an extensive cocktail menu curated for sipping in between.
Why this particular pier is such a good choice
Pier 15 is not just a waterfront bar; it is a two-tiered public esplanade designed specifically for panoramic views, featuring tiered grass terraces and an unobstructed view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
Watermark has transformed that location into what regulars now call one of the hippest waterfront meeting places in the city: a 10,000-square-foot open-air bar and restaurant that already has its own beach club program running until the end of September.
Add a whole weekend full of reggae and reggaeton to that, and you get something that feels less like a typical night at the bar and also less like a typical festival, but more like a beach party that happens to be surrounded by four centuries of maritime history.
How do you get there from the city?
Watermark is located at 78 South Street, right by Pier 15, in the Financial District, making it one of the most accessible festival locations of the year.
The 2 and 3 trains stop at Wall Street, the R and W trains stop nearby, and the J and Z trains stop at Broad Street; all within a short walking distance of the pier.
For everyone from Brooklyn, the ferry drops you off practically at the doorstep – a fitting way to arrive at a festival where you can stare at your own neighborhood's skyline right across the water for four days.
Also check out the other events in the city during Labor Day weekend, so you can start making plans early this week.