Countdown to Maritime Mania: 37th Annual Wooden Boat Show has something for everyone

By Karen Owens
Publisher

Soon, the distinctive lines of handcrafted vessels will transform Georgetown’s waterfront into a celebration of skill, history and community. The Wooden Boat Show is only four weeks away, promising a lively weekend of exhibits and activities as thousands of residents and visitors gather along the Harborwalk and Front Street to honor the city’s rich maritime heritage.

Initially started as a way to boost business activity in the fall for downtown merchants, after the slowdown of a busy summer tourist season, the event also raised significant funds to preserve Georgetown’s maritime past and future. Its enduring success has enabled the Harbor Historical Association, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that oversees the festival, to open the South Carolina Maritime Museum in 2011.

The museum, which is located on the waterfront in an old dry-goods store that dates back to the 1800s, features a variety of exhibits, including the Fresnel lens of the old North Island lighthouse and an American flag on loan from Patriots Point that once flew over the USS South Carolina. As one walks through the two-story building, you can get a wealth of the information about how the sea, ships and the port transformed early life in our community. 

Yet just as important as the exhibits who share stories of our past, the museum is full of programs and activities that instill a love of the water and sailing for our future generations, creating an environment that keeps our maritime heritage a living state, not just something to once be remembered. Hundreds of youth participate in summer sailing and boat building camps, creating new connections that will keep this devotion to our nautical ways an ongoing tradition.

The festival always takes place on the third weekend of October, which this year means October 16-18. The Goat Island Yacht Club Regatta serves as the opening event on Friday evening. According to South Carolina Maritime Museum Executive Director Hope McFadden, there is no actual sailing event, but a wonderful party and silent auction that raises crucial funds for the museum’s ongoing activities. It also serves as a reception for the 100 wooden boat exhibitors who flock to Georgetown to show off their beautiful and unique vessels.

“Goat Island Yacht Club is more a ‘state of mind’ than an actual place,” McFadden shared, “The goats with the burpee have been a great marketing tool over the years as sponsors love to secure the Goat Island stickers and hats, which are prominently seen around town throughout the year.”

Tickets are still available for the Friday night cocktail party and auction at $100 per person (a discounted rate is available for Wooden Boat Show sponsors). Individuals may purchase their tickets online.

On Saturday, with blocks of Front Street closed to vehicular traffic, festival-goers can enjoy seeing the wide array of boats on display, with some located in the water along the Harborwalk. There are also 40 different commercial vendors selling nautical inspired items, ranging from jewelry and artwork to salvaged ship pieces that have been transformed into home décor. Throw in two boating building competitions, sailing races, live music, knot tying demonstrations and even a Nauti Dog Parade, and you have a recipe for a weekend of fun entertainment.

And new this year is a Maritime Mahjong Regatta on Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.  Players will gather under the Maritime tent for fun, some relaxed Mahjong, prizes, a mimosa bar and catered box lunch. You can register as an individual for $75 or secure a table of four for $300.

“While the Wooden Boat Show draws people from all over the southeast and beyond, it’s also very much a community event. I encourage residents to think of the Wooden Boat Show as a way to play tourist in their own town,” McFadden explained. “It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the history of our maritime community while enjoying a festival atmosphere that is second to none.”

The Wooden Boat Show has become a strong economic driver for Georgetown as well, with more than 20,000 people expected to attend the annual event which is entering its 37^th year.

“The average lifespan of a festival is seven to eight years,” said Johnny Weaver, who serves as the president of the museum’s board of directors. “We’re very proud of what we have been able to build here in Georgetown through the Wooden Boat Show and its lasting impact on our community.”

So mark your calendar, bring your family and friends, and head downtown to experience the craftsmanship, history and community spirit that make the Wooden Boat Show such a beloved Georgetown tradition. Whether you admire the boats, join a competition, browse the vendors or simply soak up the waterfront atmosphere, there is a place for everyone to participate—and plenty of fun waiting for you.