Wooden Boat Show Celebrates Georgetown’s Maritime Heritage

The Georgetown Wooden Boat show is always held on the third weekend in October and features one of the Southeast’s best wooden boat exhibits. This year, you can catch all the fun at the 35th Annual Wooden Boat Show on October 19 and 20, 2024!

More than 140 classic wooden boats are displayed both on land and in water, and the festival features everything from knot tying and maritime art to children’s model boat building, crafts, food, and live music. This popular event is a celebration of the Georgetown area’s strong maritime heritage, and the organizers do a fantastic job making it fun and educational for all ages attending.

A special attraction is Saturday’s Wooden Boat Challenge. Teams of two race to build a rowing skiff within a four-hour time limit and then test their boats in a rowing relay race along the Sampit River. On Sunday, festival attendees can expect a family-friendly day that includes a Cardboard Boat Regatta and Opti Pram Regatta. A full schedule of their festival events can be found on their website at www.woodenboatshow.com.

The Show is produced by the Harbor Historical Association, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All proceeds benefit the South Carolina Maritime Museum.  

I have several friends that attend this event each year, and they tell me the best way to enjoy the festival is to stay the weekend in scenic Georgetown. It provides plenty of time to explore not only the festival activities but the historic port city of Georgetown as well. So last minute fall getaway planners, here’s a perfect weekend with a built-in itinerary!