Wooden Boat Show recap: Thousands flock to Georgetown for maritime festivities and fun

A light, misty rain Saturday didn’t dampen the spirits of locals and visitors attending the 37^th Annual Wooden Boat Show in downtown Georgetown. Sunday’s sunny skies kept the festivities going as more visitors viewed the 100 boats on exhibit, shopped with local vendors and watched costumed canine participants in the annual Nauti Dog Parade.

The Wooden Boat Show is a major fundraiser for the South Carolina Maritime Museum, which preserves Georgetown’s rich maritime heritage while fostering a love of the water among new generations of boating and sailing enthusiasts. The weekend features the Goat Island Yacht Club Regatta on Friday evening, with silent and live auctions; wooden and cardboard boat-building contests; youth sailing competitions; educational exhibits; maritime arts and crafts; live entertainment; food trucks; and more. 

The festival generates more than $280,000 through sponsorships at various levels, with more than 300 local businesses and individuals supporting this major economic driver for the state’s third-oldest port city.

One of this year’s fundraisers was a raffle for a 1979 22-foot Chris-Craft Tournament Fisherman boat, with proceeds benefiting the South Carolina Maritime Museum Youth Sailing Program. Thomas Blackburn was announced Sunday as the lucky winner.

New this year, the Spirit of South Carolina visited Georgetown as part of the festival, giving visitors the opportunity to take on-deck tours, see the vessel up close and participate in special craft-cocktail events during its stay in the harbor. Sunday’s inaugural Maritime Mahjong Regatta drew about 60 participants for social play and a competitive table-decorating contest.

As always, the festival offered something for everyone, strengthening the community’s connection to Georgetown’s rich maritime heritage while providing a weekend of enjoyment for all who attended.