SANDPOINT — The rich tones of the wooden hulls and sunshine will fill the city boardwalk as the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society brings its annual "Wood on the Water" boat show to town this weekend.

The boat show kicks off today, July 10, as boats begin arriving at the boardwalk meandering along Sand Creek on both sides of Bridge Street.

Held today through Sunday at the Sandpoint City Boardwalk, the family-friendly event features dozens of restored antique and classic boats.  

The occasion commences with a boat launch and moorage from noon to 5:30 p.m. Friday, with a "welcome aboard" event from 6 to 9 p.m. at MickDuff's Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., organizers said. The event aims to allow boaters, friends and community members to kick off the weekend-long event celebrating the classic beauty of wooden boats.

The boat show kicks off with a captains' meeting at 9 a.m., with the boat show opening to the public at 10 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m. at the Sandpoint City Boardwalk along Sand Creek. The annual show gives area residents and visitors a chance to get an up-close look at the wooden boats that capture the feelings of a past era, blending art and function.

At 3 p.m., classic boat fans will get a chance to see the wooden boats in action as they take part in the annual boat parade as the classic and antique vessels travel up Sand Creek and back again.

A "ladies luncheon" will be held at noon at the Hydra Steakhouse, 115 Lake St. An awards dinner will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Marigold Bistro, 414 Church St.

On Sunday, a breakfast for boat owners and wooden boat fans will be held at 9 a.m. at Dish at Dover Bay. Following, a boat-and-float event on Lake Pend Oreille will conclude the weekend.  

Throughout the event, a variety of activities will be available for kids, including the chance to build their own miniature wooden boats during the boat show Saturday.

Now in its 24th year, the show is hosted by the Inland Empire Chapter of the ACBS. The show attracts not only boats from throughout the region but often from throughout the country. Nationally, the society has upward of 8,000 members. The show typically attracts participants from a half-dozen other chapters or more.

Boat show officials said they appreciate the area's boating community allowing the show to take over the boardwalk for the weekend. Inspired by the hospitality, ACBS member Don Robson said previously that chapter members love to share classic wooden boats that are an average of 65 years old, with most being of unique wood construction.

Over the years, the show has seen entries from just about everywhere and featured everything from international show winners to everyday boats to boats made of different materials.

The annual show attracts three to four dozen boats — or more — with ACBS members saying they love the chance to show off their classic vessels.

Among them are Jim Atkinson and his wife, Cindy, who said previously the show gives them a chance to share their love for wooden boats with like-minded souls.

That camaraderie is unlike any other — as are the memories they are able to create on the lake, the couple said previously.

"We were excited to put it in the lake," Atkinson said. "We loaded a whole bunch of people in it, went out and a wire was loose, and we had to get towed in by a little Jet-ski."

    A few of the boats on display during the 2025 Sandpoint Antique and Classic Boat Show. Dozens of boats lined the Sandpoint boardwalk during the Saturday show.