Lakeside Wooden Boat Show & Plein Air Art Festival

Fun for the whole family, celebrate the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional wooden boatbuilding and the artistic expression of plein air painting at one of Lakeside’s most unique weekends of the summer from July 15-17.

After a weekend of plein air painting, Lakeside’s waterfront will transform into an outdoor showroom of classic wooden boats for the 19th Annual Lakeside Wooden Boat Show from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, July 17.

As one of Lake Erie’s largest wooden boat exhibits, more than 60 cruisers will line the dock and lawn of the Hotel Lakeside for an up-close and personal view of classic boats.

Learn about the world of wooden boatbuilding from boat owners, restoration experts and boat enthusiasts alike. Hear the unique stories behind the making of each vessel and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for boatbuilding and the many hours of preservation it takes to keep them afloat and looking like new.

In new addition to the boat display on land and water is the Lyman Boat Works Historical Museum. It will be onsite all weekend to tell the story of boatbuilding on the Great Lakes. To recall the nine-decade history of Lyman boats, guests are invited to enjoy a special museum display encompassing more than 3,000-square-feet of walk-thru displays.  Explore the world of boat building and how these classics have impacted life, sports and business on the Great Lakes.

The museum will feature artifacts from the Lyman Boat Works, historical markers and boats from each decade, hands-on activities for children, and replicas and blueprints that you can browse through at the Lyman Work Bench. Tom Koroknay, also known as “Doc Lyman,” will be sharing the history of these remarkable boats.

In addition to Wooden Boat Show festivities, several plein air events will take place on Sunday. Watch as painters add finishing touches to their masterpieces at the Plein Air Paintout, held along the shoreline and in Bettinger Park until 12 p.m.

Paintings that were completed by artists throughout the weekend will be available for purchase during the Wet Paint Sale, held 12-1:30 p.m. south of the Pavilion. Purchases can be made by cash, check or credit card.

Back by popular demand, Wally & The Beavs returns with live music, including cover songs by Chicago, Journey, Grand Funk Railroad, Elton John, The Blues Brothers and The Beatles from 12-4 p.m. at the Pavilion Jennings East Deck.

For lunch, dine at one of Lakeside’s restaurants or enjoy a variety of grilled options at the Wooden Boat Show Cookout from 12-3 p.m. Place orders on the Hotel Lakeside porch. The menu includes choice of hamburger, hot dog, brat or shredded chicken with baked beans, potato salad, chips and cold beverages.

Wooden Boat Registration
The show is coordinated by the Lakeside Wooden Boat Society. To register a wooden boat, contact Mame Drackett, Director of the Lakeside Wooden Boat Show, at mame@drackett.cc or (239) 776-6205. Registration is free.

Artist Registration
Plein Air artists are welcome to participate in the festival at no cost. Each artist will receive two Chautauqua Passes and one Auto Pass per day for access to the grounds. To register, please fill out the registration form and return to Steve Koenig at skoenig@lakesideohio.com. For questions, contact Koenig at (419) 798-4461, ext. 259.