NEWSLETTER
Clayton, N.Y. – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater boating museum based in Clayton, New York, will host the longest, continuously running Antique Boat Show for the 57th year Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8.
This year’s Show builds on the reimagined show held in 2020 which returned to the modest beginnings of ABM’s early days of parades and displays. ABM is excited to welcome more boats and motors of all makes, models, and age from across the United States back to our docks and campus as we celebrate the boating legacy of the 1000 Islands! Vendors offering a variety of local and nautically related products have returned to Marketplace. The popular fundraising boat auction will be held virtually August 2-7th with bidding closing at the traditional live auction start time of 1 PM on August 7th. Auctions items can be viewed in-person on ABM’s campus for the duration of the Auction (admission required to view). As COVID-19 event guidelines were in place until recently, modifications were made to the Show’s normal format.
Highlights of the Show of Boats on Parade, Marketplace, and Virtual Auction include forums by Anthony S. Mollica, Jr., author of Classic Boats of the 1000 Islands, and Mark Hill of Fourth Coast Fours; vintage engines start-up on Pardon Me, Snail, and Cicada; Paddle Painting with local artist John Miller III, and the River Picnic Reception. We invite you and your family to join us for a delicious River Picnic catered by GB Catering on Saturday, August 7th at 6:00pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 315.686.4104 ext. 221. Antique and classic boats in the region not already participating in the Show are invited to join us on parade around the Islands Friday afternoon at 3pm and Sunday morning at 10am. Best viewing spots/times to view the parade(s) are listed below so anyone wishing to watch can make plans. All times are estimated based on when the lead boat will pass by each spot. Times will vary slightly depending on boat traffic and River conditions. To view the routes please visit the event page on the website.
Viewing Times/Spots for Friday’s Parade around Grindstone Island
3pm: Depart ABM
3:30pm: Potter’s Beach
4:00pm: Canoe/Picnic Point State Park
4:15pm: Murray/Wellesley Island Narrows
4:30pm: Round Island “Frontenac” Post Office
4:40pm: Clayton Waterfront
5:00pm: Return to ABM
Viewing Times/Spots for Sunday’s Parade to Heart Island
10:00am: Depart ABM
10:05am: Clayton Waterfront
10:15am: Round Island “Frontenac” Post Office
10:30am: TI Park Pavilion
10:40am: American Span of the Thousand Islands International Bridge
10:50am: Keewaydin State Park
11:00am: Alexandria Bay Scenic View Park
11:05am: Boldt Castle on Heart Island
11:10am: Alexandria Bay Scenic View Park
11:20am: Keewaydin State Park
11:30am: American Span of the Thousand Islands International Bridge
11:40am: TI Park Pavilion
11:50am: Round Island “Frontenac” Post Office
12:00pm: Clayton Waterfront
12:05pm: Return to ABM
Interested in showing YOUR boat at the Annual Antique Boat Show? We still have space available! Visit abm.org and the event page for the Boat Show to register your boat.
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Photo: Campus view of boats on display on land and on the water at the 50th Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction
About ABM
Located on the St. Lawrence River in upstate NY, ABM features a collection of over 300 antique and classic boats and thousands of recreational boating artifacts. Each summer the waterfront campus comes alive with numerous educational programs and special events, including the longest running antique boat show in North America. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.