Wooden boats ranging in size from 14 to 76 feet and dating back as early as 1912 will be on display this weekend for the Annual Billy Creel Memorial Gulf Coast Wooden Boat Show at the Seafood Industry Museum Pier in east Biloxi.
The two-day event is a celebration of historic, antique, classic and contemporary wooden boats. The show opens on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults; $3, students; and free for children under 12.
Hourly sails aboard the Biloxi schooners “Glenn L. Swetman” and “Mike Sekul” will be available both days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a rate of $5 per person or free for children 5 and under.
Wooden boats registered range in size from 14 to 76 feet and in age from a 1912 14-foot skiff to a 1940 47-foot lugger. In most cases, boat owners will welcome visitors aboard to tour the restored vessels.
A marine flea market, model boat exhibits and more than 20 exhibitors also will be among the show’s attractions. Exhibitors will include marine artists and potters, the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center Touchtank, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art craft project, and the Beauvoir-Jefferson Davis Home.
An adult’s castnet throwing contest will be Saturday at 1 p.m. and the children’s castnet throwing contest at 2 p.m. with cash prizes awarded. Music will be provided by the 2nd Street Band.
Fresh fish plates will be sold, along with shrimp plates, hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, frozen smoothies, and drinks.
