Sunny skies, big smiles cap 40th Wooden Boat Festival

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Barb Trailer, festival director, couldn't be more pleased with this year's 40th annual Wooden Boat Festival. From dry weather all weekend after a wet and stormy Wednesday, to the smiles on thousands of festival-goers' faces, the 2016 event was "fantastic," Trailer said. Attendance numbers aren't yet fully in, but early returns (and crowded walkways) indicate that ticket sales were good.

"The response to talks and workshops was phenomenal," Trailer said. "We had standing-room only for nearly every presentation, from big name headliners like Nigel Calder, to festival newcomers like Pam Wall."

Lin Pardey – who attended and spoke at the first festival in 1977 – drew big crowds and still speaks to the heart of what this festival is all about, Trailer noted. "It's the people. This festival is really different from other boat shows. The knowledge and skills here, and the community spirit of sharing, are all something you can't find anywhere else."

Presenters and boat exhibitors have been heaping on the praise for the three-day event. "I've had multiple first-time faculty tell me that our attendees are 'much more engaged' than audiences at other boating events," Trailer said.

Make your reservations for next year: Sept. 8-10, 2017.