Located in Toledo, Oregon, this free, family-friendly, weekend event on August 19-20,
2023, celebrates the historic traditions of wooden boats. Wooden boats from throughout
the northwest are on display ranging from kayaks and canoes to work boats and pleasure
craft. The annual festival presents an outstanding schedule of live music throughout the
weekend. Featured events include Family Boat Building, Poker Paddle, Kid’s Toy Boat
Building, and Saturday’s Cardboard Boat Race. Maritime vendors, artists booths, and
informational and historical exhibits enhance the festival and a silent auction supporting
production of the festival is held each day at the Port Booth.
The event is located at the Port of Toledo’s Waterfront Park and Marina on Depot
Slough, one block away from Toledo’s historic Main Street, 127 NW A Street, Toledo,
Oregon. Show hours are Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. See
https://www.portoftoledo.org/wooden-boat-show for more information and a Schedule of
Events. Live music is presented on the main stage at the Waterfront Park Pavilion and features a variety of groups from celloist to rock, blues, and reggae groups from the northwest.
Bands include Highway 9, Acoustic Minds, Glitter Fox, Christopher Worth & Co, Sonny
Hess, and Petro World Citizen. The music schedule is on the Port’s website:
The Cardboard Boat Race promises to be exciting again this year. Local amateur
cardboard boat builders will challenge each other to win prizes for the best design and
then race to determine the fastest and most water worthy vessel. There is also a prize for
the Most Spectacular Sinking! Contestants should contact the Port Office at 541-336-
5207 to coordinate pickup of cardboard boat starter kits and registration packets, rules are
on the Port’s website: https://www.portoftoledo.org/containerboard-boat-contest .
Join the fun by building a boat, or cheer for the brave boat builders on their maiden, and only,
voyage at 1:00 pm on Saturday. Family boat building, sponsored by the Traditional Small Craft Association, is a favorite spectator event. Toledo Community Boathouse volunteers will direct families in constructing their own 8’ pram, an Elegant Punt, during the 2 days of the festival. Show attendees are invited to watch the boat builders’ progress and wave the new boat owners off on their first voyage Sunday afternoon.
