The Annapolis Sailboat Show will return to Annapolis this weekend for the first time since 2019.
The three-day spectacle kicks off Friday at 10 a.m. featuring about 35 sailboats that will be moored around City Dock downtown, said Annapolis Boat Shows General Manager Sheila Jones.
The Sailboat Show was last held in Annapolis in 2019. In 2020, both shows were canceled and last year the two events were combined into one four-day event on Kent Island.
Last weekend the powerboat-focused Bay Bridge Boat Show drew thousands of visitors over four days. Though she couldn’t give an exact number, Jones said attendance was on par with 2019.
“This is our first year back after two years away,” Jones said. “We’re having good weather and we’ve had good presale tickets.”
The spring show, and its counterpart in the fall, are the only all-sails shows in the country, Jones said.
Here’s what to know about the Annapolis Sailboat Show:
Hours
The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Exhibitors and activities
There are more than 100 on-land exhibitors this year, up from 84 in 2019, Jones said.
A few new exhibitors will be displaying their wares this year, including CoBoaters, a social network for sailing aficionados; Electric Yacht, which offers electric boat motors, batteries and chargers; and BMW, which will be test-driving for some of its electric vehicles.
There will be educational opportunities and free seminars throughout the weekend. Cruisers University will offer classes in marine weather forecasting, traditional navigation techniques, heavy weather sailing and other classes. An offshore emergency medicine class will guide participants through a range of medical techniques on the open seas. Daily seminars on earning a captain’s license, docking and line handling are also available.
The show will also feature door prizes, including four tickets to the United States Sailboat Show this fall, and a tasting tent with alcoholic beverages sponsored by Breakthru Beverages Maryland.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at www.annapolisboatshows.com. General admission is $20 per day.
VIP tickets are $85. A handful are still available for Friday and Sunday. Saturday is sold out. VIP tickets include reserved parking for $15 at the Donner Parking lot at 120 Compromise St.
Children ages 12 and under are free.
No exchanges or refunds.
Pets and strollers are prohibited at the event due to concerns of falling in the water or being a tripping hazard.
Parking
The closest parking garage to City Dock is the Noah Hillman Garage, located two blocks away.
The garage will be open to attendees through the end of the Sailboat Show on Sunday. The garage will close to parking for demolition on Monday with the construction of a new parking structure expected to take 14 to 16 months.
Other parking options can be found at annapolisparking.com.
