March 18, 2024
The 43rd Annual Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival Returns to Lake Dora This Weekend
By Kyle Coppola
The 43rd Annual Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival Returns to Lake Dora This Weekend
The Annual Sunnyland Boat Festival on Lake Dora is the largest Antique and Classic boating event on the East Coast. People from more than 26 States will be in attendance this year. The event is located at Wooten Waterfront Park in downtown Tavares, Florida, and directly on Lake Dora. The 3-day show offers fun for all folks interested in antique and classic boating. Below is some key information to make your visit more enjoyable when you show up.
General Show Information
We have all new docks and a larger show footprint. The show begins Friday at 9:00 AM and ends on Sunday at Noon – weather permitting. Ticket prices are $10.00 for the three-day weekend. Sea Tow Members, show your card and buy one, get one free. The show site address is 123 South Joanna Ave, Tavares, Florida 32778. GPS coordinates are 28.48.043N, 81.43.655W. Parking is available at the City of Tavares Parking Garage, located 2 blocks from the show site (off of St. Abrams at the west traffic circle). The City of Tavares welcomes leashed pets to events on six-foot leads. Food and beverages are available for purchase at the show. Restaurants and shopping are within walking distance of the show. In addition to the Boat Festival, there are Seaplane rides available. See the City of Tavares website for more information at www.tavares.org or www.tavareschamber.com.
General Admission
$10.00 for General Admission. (Cash or Credit Card Sales at the gate available). Includes all three days, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Children 12 and under free with paid adult admission (limit three per adult ticket). Free Parking at the City Garage.
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 22—9 am to 5 pm
All exhibits open. Picnic for boaters at 10:30 am – Registered participants only. – Ticket Required. Food Court and Beer Garden. Nautical Flea Market. Field of Dreams (Antique Boats for Sale). Sunnyland Ship’s Store—clothing, boat show items for sale. Seaplane Rides available. Tickets required. Meet & Greet Party – Join us for hors d’oeuvres Friday evening to catch up with old friends and meet new ones – Registered participants only – 6 pm – 8 pm – Ticket Required – Not Open To The Public.
Saturday, March 23—8:30 am to 5 pm
Opening Ceremony at 9:30 am. All Exhibits open. Food Court and Beer Garden. Woody Cars. Amphicars on display. Nautical Flea Market. Field of Dreams (Antique boats for sale). Seaplane Rides. Tickets required. Ladies Luncheon & Fashion Show at Tavares Pavilion at 11:30 am – Registered participants – Ticket Required – Not Open To The Public. Youth Activity Events at the SCAMPY tent. Dinner Banquet – Registered participants – Ticket Required – Not Open To The Public.
Sunday, March 24—8:30 am to 12 pm
Free Parking in City Garage. Awards Ceremony at 10 AM. Church Services at 11 AM. Free admission after 1 pm. Shows start to wind down at 1 pm. All exhibits open (free admission). Food Court and Beer Garden. Nautical Flea Market. Field of Dreams (Antique Boats for sale).
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival is in its 43rd year and is the largest classic wood boat show in the U.S. Our footprint is over a third of a mile long, and we usually have 250 to 300 boats on display. Our gate attracts 8 to 10 thousand people, and there is literally something for everyone at our event. Our nautical flea market has more than 80 vendors with many hard-to-find marine parts for sale. We will have several stunning outboard motors on display as well as numerous race boats. Our annual event is in conjunction with spring break as is the kick-off show for the boating season. People from all over the U.S. attend our show, and we have representation from over 26 different states. We have several corporate sponsors that make our show a success, and they offer many marine products to include new and restored vintage boats.
The Sunnyland Chapter is the largest chapter in the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) and represents the entire state of Florida. Our show is run with all volunteer help. This is our 43rd-anniversary show, and each year our show gets bigger and better. The show started in Sanford, moved to Mount Dora, and for the past 15 years, the show has been in Tavares. This is a historical event for the Sunnyland Chapter, please plan to join us for fun in the sun.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
