The Pete Davidson Colin Jost Staten Island Ferry story is taking another turn as the retired New York City vessel prepares for a one-night comedy event in September 2026. Davidson and Jost will host a live comedy show aboard the former ferry as part of a new Snapple promotion at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan.
The event will transform the retired John F. Kennedy ferry into a temporary comedy venue on September 17, 2026. The evening will feature Davidson and Jost alongside rising comedians, giving the vessel another high-profile use after years of attention surrounding its unusual ownership and proposed redevelopment.
The latest event does not mean the ferry is returning to passenger service. Instead, it is another entertainment use for the retired vessel, which Davidson and Jost acquired with comedy club owner and real estate investor Paul Italia in 2022.
Why Pete Davidson and Colin Jost Own a Staten Island Ferry
The ferry became part of Davidson and Jost’s public story after the comedians joined Italia in purchasing the retired vessel through a New York City auction.
The winning bid in January 2022 was $280,100. The boat was the John F. Kennedy, a former Staten Island Ferry that had spent years transporting passengers between Staten Island and Manhattan.
For Davidson and Jost, the purchase had a personal connection. Both comedians are from Staten Island, making the retired ferry an especially recognizable piece of their hometown’s history.
However, the purchase quickly became more than a business transaction.
The enormous vessel attracted considerable attention because of its size, its waterfront location and the ambitious plans associated with its future. Davidson and Jost envisioned using the ferry as an entertainment destination rather than allowing it to simply disappear from New York’s waterfront.
Their plans have evolved over time, and the project has faced financial and logistical complications.
That uncertainty has helped keep the ferry in the public conversation.
The John F. Kennedy Ferry Is Hosting Another Major Event
The newest confirmed development is the planned Snapple Island Ferry event.
On September 17, the retired John F. Kennedy will be used for a free comedy experience at Pier 17. The event is scheduled to take place at 89 South Street in Lower Manhattan.
Snapple is partnering with Davidson and Jost for the one-night activation.
The comedians will host the show, while the lineup will include rising comedy performers. The event is expected to last approximately one hour.
The schedule currently lists doors opening at 7 p.m. ET, with the comedy performance beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The event is specifically being presented as a one-night experience. It should not be confused with the launch of a permanent comedy club aboard the ferry.
Snapple Island Ferry at a glance
| Event detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event name | Snapple Island Ferry |
| Date | September 17, 2026 |
| Venue | Retired John F. Kennedy ferry |
| Location | Pier 17, 89 South Street, New York City |
| Doors open | 7 p.m. ET |
| Comedy begins | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Admission | Free |
| Hosts | Pete Davidson and Colin Jost |
| Performers | Rising comedians |
| Format | One-night comedy event |
Free ticket registration is scheduled to begin September 3. Ticket releases are planned daily at 3 p.m. ET through September 8.
Those interested in attending can register for a pair of tickets, with one pair permitted per person while supplies last.
The Event Is Not a Return to Staten Island Ferry Service
One point is especially important for people searching for the latest information about the vessel.
The ferry is not returning to its former commuter route.
The John F. Kennedy was retired from Staten Island Ferry operations before Davidson and Jost became involved with the vessel. Its upcoming appearance as a comedy venue is part of an entertainment event rather than a transportation service.
The September event will take place at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan.
That means people should not expect the boat to operate as a regular ferry between Staten Island and Manhattan.
Instead, its current identity is connected to private events, entertainment projects and potential redevelopment.
Davidson and Jost Have Been Planning an Entertainment Future
The idea of turning the retired ferry into an entertainment destination has existed since Davidson and Jost became owners.
The vessel’s enormous interior space makes it unusual real estate for New York City. Over the years, plans have included concepts involving restaurants, hospitality and entertainment.
Architectural proposals reported in 2024 showed a much larger vision for the ship, including a proposed hotel and entertainment complex. The concepts demonstrated how the former commuter vessel could potentially be repurposed rather than scrapped.
However, those plans have faced significant challenges.
A permanent redevelopment of a retired ferry is considerably more complicated than renovating a conventional building. Marine regulations, construction requirements, docking arrangements and financing all play a role.
As a result, the ferry’s future has remained a developing story.
The September comedy event offers something much more concrete: a confirmed use of the vessel for a specific public-facing event.
The Ferry Has Already Become an Entertainment Venue
The September comedy event is not the first time the retired ferry has been used for entertainment.
In September 2024, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger selected the vessel as the setting for a New York Fashion Week presentation connected to his spring 2025 collection.
That event gave the ferry another burst of attention.
It also demonstrated why the vessel continues to attract interest from entertainment and fashion companies. Its size, history and unusual appearance provide a setting that is difficult to replicate with a conventional event space.
The new Snapple event follows the same general concept but puts comedy at the center.
This time, the vessel’s celebrity owners will also appear as hosts.
The Ferry Has Been a Recurring Source of Comedy
The unusual purchase has provided Davidson and Jost with plenty of material over the years.
Both comedians have joked publicly about the decision to buy a retired ferry. Their involvement with the boat has even become part of the comedy surrounding their careers.
Soon after the purchase, the ferry became a subject on Saturday Night Live, where Davidson and Jost used the “Weekend Update” format to poke fun at their new acquisition.
The humor continued as the difficulties of redeveloping such a large vessel became clearer.
The jokes have often focused on the enormous costs associated with maintaining and transforming the boat.
Yet the latest event shows that the ferry is not merely a running gag.
It remains an active part of Davidson and Jost’s entertainment plans.
What Happened to the Ferry After the Purchase?
Davidson, Jost and Italia acquired the vessel in 2022 after it was auctioned following its retirement.
The purchase price was $280,100.
The group then began exploring ways to give the vessel a second life.
Rather than use the ship for transportation, the broader concept involved turning it into an entertainment-oriented destination.
The project attracted considerable public interest because of the contrast between the vessel’s original purpose and the proposed new role.
A Staten Island Ferry is normally associated with commuters, tourists and daily transportation. Davidson and Jost’s plans envisioned something completely different.
That transformation has proven difficult to complete.
Still, several events have demonstrated that the vessel can be used creatively while longer-term plans develop.
The Tommy Hilfiger fashion event was one example. The upcoming Snapple comedy night is another.
Colin Jost Has Continued to Discuss the Ferry
Jost has not treated the ferry as a forgotten investment.
During public appearances, he has discussed the vessel and the challenges associated with converting it into an entertainment property.
In 2026, Jost spoke about the ferry during an appearance connected to the SmartLess podcast. His comments reflected the continuing interest in developing the ship as a large waterfront property.
The central attraction remains its enormous amount of interior space.
New York City has limited waterfront real estate, which makes the idea of using a retired ferry as an entertainment destination particularly unusual.
At the same time, the scale of the vessel creates significant redevelopment challenges.
The project therefore remains a work in progress.
Pete Davidson Has Also Addressed the Ferry Project
Davidson has previously discussed the ferry’s future during television appearances.
During a 2025 appearance with Seth Meyers, he indicated that the project remained active and that additional plans involving the vessel were being considered.
His comments came after years of public jokes about the ferry.
The September 2026 event now provides another visible example of the vessel being used for entertainment.
Rather than sitting unused, the ferry is scheduled to host a live audience with Davidson and Jost at the center of the event.
How the September Comedy Show Fits Into the Bigger Story
The Snapple Island Ferry event is significant because it connects several parts of the vessel’s unusual history.
First, it uses the former Staten Island Ferry as an entertainment venue.
Second, Davidson and Jost are directly involved as hosts.
Third, the event demonstrates that the ferry can continue to attract commercial partnerships even while its long-term redevelopment remains unresolved.
For Snapple, the event provides an unusual New York setting for a brand activation.
For Davidson and Jost, it gives them another opportunity to use an asset that has become closely linked with their public identities.
For fans, the event offers a rare chance to see the retired vessel used in a completely different way from its original purpose.
Will the Ferry Become a Permanent Comedy Venue?
There is currently no confirmed announcement that the ferry will become a permanent comedy club.
The September event is being promoted as a one-night experience.
That means reports describing the event as the permanent transformation of the vessel would go beyond the confirmed information.
The broader redevelopment plans remain separate from the September event.
Davidson and Jost have discussed creating an entertainment destination aboard the ferry, but a completed permanent venue has not been confirmed as of September 1, 2026.
For now, the most definitive development is the Snapple partnership.
What Fans Should Know About the Tickets
People hoping to attend the September event should pay attention to the registration schedule.
Tickets will be free rather than sold as conventional paid admission.
Registration is scheduled to open September 3, with additional ticket releases planned each day through September 8.
The planned release time is 3 p.m. ET.
Each person can register for one pair of tickets.
Because the event has limited capacity, registering does not mean that every applicant will necessarily receive access if tickets are already claimed.
The show itself is scheduled for September 17 at Pier 17.
Doors are expected to open at 7 p.m., followed by the comedy performance at 8:30 p.m.
Why the Latest Ferry Update Matters
The latest development gives the retired vessel another concrete role in New York City’s entertainment scene.
The ferry has spent years surrounded by questions about its future. Davidson and Jost’s purchase attracted national attention, while the redevelopment plans generated both excitement and skepticism.
Now the boat has another confirmed event on its calendar.
The Snapple comedy show also fits naturally with the personalities of its owners.
Davidson is known for his stand-up career and his years on Saturday Night Live. Jost is one of the show’s longtime “Weekend Update” anchors and a prominent comedian and writer.
Having the two comedians host a comedy show aboard their own retired ferry gives the event a distinctive connection to the vessel’s history.
It also turns an unusual piece of New York infrastructure into the setting for a night of live entertainment.
Pete Davidson Colin Jost Staten Island Ferry: Latest Confirmed Status
As of September 1, 2026, the clearest confirmed update is that Pete Davidson and Colin Jost’s retired ferry is scheduled to host the Snapple Island Ferry comedy event on September 17.
The John F. Kennedy will be positioned at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan for the event.
Davidson and Jost will host the approximately 60-minute comedy show, which will include performances from rising comedians. Doors are scheduled to open at 7 p.m. ET, with the show beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Admission is free, but guests need to register for tickets. Registration is scheduled to begin September 3 and continue through September 8, with ticket releases planned at 3 p.m. ET each day.
The event does not represent the ferry’s return to transportation service. It also does not confirm that the vessel has become a permanent comedy venue.
Instead, it represents another chapter in the unusual story of a retired Staten Island Ferry that became a celebrity-owned entertainment property.
The vessel’s long-term future remains tied to the broader redevelopment efforts surrounding Davidson, Jost and their partners. For now, however, the September comedy event is the latest confirmed public use of the ship.
The ferry that once carried New Yorkers between Staten Island and Manhattan is preparing for a very different kind of passenger: a comedy audience.
What do you think about Pete Davidson and Colin Jost turning their famous ferry into a comedy venue for the night? Share your thoughts and follow the story for confirmed updates.