The Geneva Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Show featuring vintage watercrafts from around the country will take place in Fontana on Sept. 29 and 30 with pre-events beginning Sept. 28.
The event takes place annually in the harbor of the Abbey Marina on the western end of Lake Geneva. Most of the participating boats have a homeport registration within Wisconsin or Illinois, however, entries for this year’s show are expected to hail from as far as Missouri and South Carolina.
Recent improvements to the Abbey Harbor include better staging areas and new landscaping; new, more modern pedestrian walkway and parking areas; increased and improved boat slips; new decking; new electric and water service pedestals; new pier floats, and a new and more durable steel pile wall that replaced the marina’s traditional timber wall.
Participating boats registered for the upcoming 2018 show include antique and classic runabouts, utilities, cruisers as well as lapstrake, outboard and Streblow boats. All registered boats will be on display in the Abbey Marina from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 30. An annual parade of participating boats is scheduled for Saturday with the “starting of the engines” at 4 p.m.
Viewing of the displays and the parade is free and open to the public. Registrants will compete for awards including Best Pre-War, Best Post-War and Most Historic. A People’s Choice Award as voted upon by show attendees will be announced at 2 p.m. Sept. 30.
Additional events including private tours and receptions are available for a fee through advance registration.
The event is presented by the Blackhawk Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society and hosted by The Abbey Resort. More information about this year’s show and a complete schedule of events can be found at genevalakesboatshow.com.
