37th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

The 37th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair is coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on June 13-15, inviting guests to take a step back in time in celebration of the history and artistry of these venerable vessels.

Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, the festival brings a sense of nostalgia to CBMM’s waterfront campus along the Miles River with one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region and more fun for the whole family. This year, the theme is “Boats in Movies and Television.”

This festival runs from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. Guests will be able to purchase their two-day tickets for Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday online or at the door. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain or shine event.

The three-day Antique & Classic Boat Festival celebrates the past, present, and future of antique and classic boating with examples spread across CBMM’s 18-acre campus and docks. In addition to the more than 100 wood and fiberglass boats displayed on land and in the water, the festival will also feature a Field of Dreams for those looking to buy, a nautical flea market, and children’s activities.

The Antique & Classic Boat Festival is accompanied by a juried Coastal Arts Fair showcasing vendors whose wares celebrate boating and life on and around the water.

Guided by the local chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society’s mission of generating enthusiasm for sustaining, maintaining, and preserving these timeless vessels, the festival will feature a lineup of 10 seminars in the Van Lennep Auditorium throughout the weekend highlighting experts, historians, and authors. This includes a presentation from CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher titled “Coastal Contraband: Prohibition and Rum Running Off Chesapeake Bay” on Friday at noon.

On Sunday from 11am to 3pm on Fogg’s Landing, there will be a special exhibit, “Before and After Boats: Side-By-Side,” featuring unrestored boats next to finished classics of the same type. Restorers will offer advice on how to turn a daunting boat project into a cherished classic. View the full programming schedule.

Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair
Date/Time: Friday, June 13, 10am-5pm; Saturday, June 14, 10am-5pm; Sunday, June 15, 10am-3pm