Jim Kubik
From pirogues to classic Chris-Crafts, there's just something so appealing about wooden boats. The largest congregation of wooden boats on the Gulf Coast sets sail every October to the picturesque town of Madisonville for the annual Wooden Boat Festival. This major fundraiser for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum takes place annually on the placid waters of the Tchefuncte River and attracts thousands of attendees; this year, clear your calendar for October 14 & 15. In addition to upwards of one hundred boats—from pirogues to 75-foot cruisers and trawlers—enjoy the Kids Boat Shop hosted by the St. Tammany Woodworkers' Guild (kids build their own boat to take home), the return of the Quick 'n Dirty Boat Parade and Race (in which competitors make a boat on the fly, er, sail), and as a special treat, a visit from the PT-305, a restored combat veteran torpedo boat. The PT-305 will be anchored at the dock, so boat lovers and history buffs alike can step on and have a hands-on experience with a treasured piece of maritime history.
The fest also features a main stage with live bands throughout Saturday and Sunday, a classic car cruise-in, riverside beer garden with craft beers and big-screen TVs, and Rooster Town children's village. For bonus fun, the festival's pre-party, the aptly named Maritime Mania honoring sponsors and patrons, pushes off the preceding Friday, offering great food from a dozen restaurants and a slew of salty sea dogs to mingle with. woodenboatfest.org.
