WILMINGTON — Good news for those passionate about life on the water. The Wilmington Boat Show is returning to downtown for the second year in a row. This year, it will span both sides of the river, including events and exhibitors at Battleship Park, the Wilmington Convention Center, and the Shell (formerly Pier 33).
JBM & Associates, the management company hosting the event, announced the 2nd Annual Wilmington Boat Show will be held Sept. 8-10.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with our presenting sponsor Yamaha Motor Corporation to be bringing the Wilmington Boat Show back for the second year. With their support, the show will be even bigger this year with sold out docks and exhibit space,” said JBM President and show creator Jacqui Bomar. “We had to add additional space due to high demand after the success of last year’s show.”
The Wilmington Boat Show will feature more than 85 different boat lines including skiffs, cruisers, sailboats, fishing boats and yachts. It will also feature a marine marketplace for water sports, gear, apparel and fishing accessories.
The show will span the entire Port City Marina docks, the new pier called the Shell, the lawn of the Convention Center, as well as the exhibit hall and meeting rooms.
According to a release from JBM & Associates, there will be “demo docks,” where people can take new boats for a test sail on the river.
Down the Riverwalk from the Convention Center, the Cape Fear Community College’s Boat Building School will be open for show visitors.
Exhibits at Battleship NC
A large portion of the show will be across the Cape Fear River at Battleship NC. This space will host nautical exhibits, as well as live music, beverages at Bombers Beer Garden, and children’s features including the Hook the Future Kids Fishing Clinic with Captain Don Dingman. Every child who attends his clinics will get a free rod and reel.
Wilmington Water Tours will be ferrying people back and forth between the Battleship and the Marina again this year.
“One of the favorite elements of the show was the ability to go back and forth for free. People could park on either side of the river and attend the entire show, plus get a cool ferry ride,” said Bomar.
The Battleship will also offer free parking for show attendees.
The Wilmington Convention Center will host boats and marine-related exhibitors as well as the Wilmington Fishing Expo, which will be a series of on-going fishing seminars sponsored by Coastal Carolina Fishing.
This year’s show will kick off with a Preview and Party under the stars, Thursday, Sept. 7, from 6-9 p.m. at VIDA Restaurant overlooking the Port City Marina. Blackfinn Ameripub will cater this special evening.
The cost for a VIP ticket is $50 and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, two drink tickets (afterwards there is a cash bar), and one complimentary boat show ticket to be used anytime during the show.
The show will run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday September 10, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. For information please visit www.wilmingtonboatshow.com.
For exhibit information, contact Erica Allen at Erica@JBMshows.com or (864)250-9713.
Wilmington Boat Show tickets are available online. Show your Battleship NC tickets for $2 off boat show admissions. You can also download the free JBM Shows mobile app for all the details.
