Sturgeon Bay Hosts Maritime Week Aug. 1-12

Photo by Rachel Lukas.

A celebration of maritime heritage kicks off in Sturgeon Bay on Aug. 1. As the only official U.S. Coast Guard city in Wisconsin, Sturgeon Bay celebrates its maritime history each year with more than a week of events, ceremonies, visiting ships and fun Aug. 1-12. 

Throughout this period, visiting U.S. Coast Guard and training ships will host free, public deck tours. Check the Door County Maritime Museum’s Facebook page to see the ships’ arrival times and deck-tour details.

Take your crew, friends and family for boating and fun on Sturgeon Bay’s historical, working waterfront during the 32nd annual Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Show, set for Aug. 5-6. Admire beautiful vessels from professional builders and amateurs alike, ranging from canoes and kayaks to sailboats, fiberglass classics and mahogany runabouts. 

Boats are displayed on the Maritime Museum grounds, along the waterfront promenade and during the classic boat parade held between the Oregon and Michigan Street Bridges on Aug. 5, 6 pm. Registered boaters showcase their boats for the weekend and compete for awards and ribbons. 

The Classic & Wooden Boat Show also includes the hilarious and competitive Sikaflex Build-a-Boat Challenge. Watch as two-person teams work feverishly with limited materials on Aug. 5 to craft a one-of-a-kind boat that will float during the “sea trials” on Aug. 6.

Sunday is also the Bloody Marys, Brews and Bacon event at Sonny’s, 10 am – 1 pm. 

The public is invited to the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club on Aug. 7 for the annual Mariner Awards Dinner, which honors exceptional members of local Coast Guard detachments and mariners in the community.

On Aug. 8, the fun moves to Idlewild Golf Course for a golf fundraiser for local Coast Guard families, and the county will salute the Coast Guard and service members of all military branches on Aug. 9 during the opening night of the Door County Fair. 

Maritime Week finishes with a picnic for active-duty, reserve and retired U.S. Coast Guard members and their families.