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Classic & Wooden Boat Festival Celebrates 26 Years

The Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival marks its 26th year with a new look. There will still be plenty of classic vessels and the Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition, but new this year is an art exhibition, ArtMart, featuring some of the county’s most accomplished artists.

This year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 12-13. The festival gets underway Friday evening at 4 pm with the building portion of the Sikaflex Challenge. Live music from Dr. Bombay will fill the museum grounds from 5 – 9 pm. Attendees will also get a chance to see some of the classic vessels that arrive early. Awards will be presented to the boats based on people’s choice voting.

The not-so-aesthetically pleasing, but still oh-so fun and colorful Sikaflex vessels always draw a crowd, especially on Saturday when the final decorating work will be completed before they hit the water for the sea trials at 3 pm.

ArtMart artwork will be located under the big tent. Some artists will be working on plein air pieces around the grounds. Half the proceeds from the sale of the art will benefit the museum.

There will also be the following: tours of the 41-foot Coast Guard utility boat; children’s activities; demonstrations by one of the few remaining amphicars in the United States; Boathouse Sale; demonstrations of a Kahlenberg engine; and deck tours of the tug John Purves.

Special boat excursions will be offered Saturday with the Chicago Fireboat making its scheduled tours and Door County’s tall ship, the Edith M. Becker, will offer three tours, capped by an evening sunset tour. Visit ridethefireboat.com or saildoorcounty.com for more information.

Boat registrations are taken up to Saturday morning at 9 am. Call 920.743.5958 or visit dcmm.org for more information or to register a boat.

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