The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort is set to launch its 49th annual Wooden Boat Show this weekend.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3, the boat show and related events span across Beaufort’s Front Street, its town docks and the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. The museum facility is currently closed to the public while the HVAC system is under construction.
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“This year’s show is shaping up beautifully,” show coordinator Grant Caraway, who manages the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, said in a release. “We’ve already got more than 20 boats registered for display and half of the in-water spots filled with even more expected as the date nears. It’s going to be a fantastic day in Beaufort.”
All Comers Sailboat Race on Taylors Creek begins at 10:30 a.m., free sailboat rides on Taylors Creek will be offered 1-3 p.m., and the awards ceremony at the Watercraft Center is at 4 p.m.
Boat owners interested in participating can register a boat for $30, which includes a shirt. Additional vessels are $5 each. Registration is open through Wednesday using the online form at ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com or by phone at 252-504-7758 through the morning of the show.
The show is to feature classic, modern, motorized and self-powered vessels lining the streets and waterfront, miniature vintage outboard motors, interactive stations for children on the museum’s front patio, nautical rope work and demonstrations, and sea shanties with Bob Zentz.
Books, crafts and art will be on display and for purchase on the museum patio and the deck at Harborside Park.
The opening reception is to begin at 5 p.m. Friday at the Watercraft Center, featuring refreshments, entertainment, and a preview of the weekend. The reception, as well as the boat show itself is free and open to the public.
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For more information, visit beaufortwoodenboatshow.com.
Maritime Heritage Series
The museum’s Maritime Heritage Lecture Series features informal lectures focused on North Carolina’s rich maritime history, coastal environment, and culture held in in the Fort Macon Coastal Education Center. There is no charge to attend the in-person program.
The following are the May programs:
Civil Air Patrol during World War II 11 a.m. May 15. Join Associate Education Curator Christine Brin for a look at the history of the Civil Air Patrol specific to their work and defense of Eastern North Carolina.
Sea Turtles in North Carolina 11 a.m. May 23. Join Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster on World Turtle Day to learn about the different species of sea turtles that inhabit the coastal waters of North Carolina and the trials they face from before they even emerge from their sandy nest.
A Curiosity Grows in Carolina 11 a.m. May 29. On April 2, 1759, a letter was penned that would rock the botanical world: the first documented description of the Venus flytrap. Join Shannon Walker, curator of programming and education at the N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport, to learn the history behind the plant’s discovery.
And for youngsters is Kids’ Cove: Boats from 9-11 a.m. May 14. The free-play program designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers with a different maritime-themed craft and wiggle activity each month. While the museum is temporarily closed for maintenance, the kids cove programs are being held in the Beaufort Train Depot, 614 Broad St.
