The annual 24-hour reading of "Moby Dick" aboard the Charles W. Morgan will highlight Sea Story Weekend at Mystic Seaport this coming weekend.

It begins at noon Friday with the reading of the first of all 135 chapters of Herman Melville's classic. Visitors can sign up to read chapters throughout the marathon, except for chapter 1, "Loomings," and the Epilogue, both of which are read by an actor portraying Melville.

The readings continue overnight aboard the world's last surviving wooden whaleship, and conclude Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with a large white cake in honor of Melville's birthday.

The weekend continues Saturday and Sunday afternoon with stories, poems and songs of the sea and workshops. For information, go to www.mysticseaport.org/seastory.