The Coeur d’Alene Antique and Classic Boat Festival returns to Boardwalk Marina this weekend, drawing together nearly 50 rare handcrafted vessels that represent decades of maritime craftsmanship. The free-admission event showcases wooden boats that demand meticulous restoration and ongoing maintenance—a labor of love for collectors across North Idaho and beyond.
Family-Friendly Activities at Boardwalk Marina
The festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beyond viewing the collection, families can participate in a children’s boat-building activity scheduled Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering young residents a hands-on introduction to maritime craftsmanship.
The event highlights Coeur d’Alene’s connection to Lake Coeur d’Alene’s boating heritage and serves as a gathering point for vintage marine enthusiasts throughout Kootenai County and the broader Panhandle region. Similar celebrations of local history and preservation efforts have become increasingly valued in North Idaho communities—including the Post Falls Historical Society’s recent exhibition honoring a local photographer’s legacy and community-driven restoration projects like the cemetery work undertaken by a Rathdrum teenager.
Admission is free, making the festival accessible to both serious boat collectors and casual visitors interested in viewing the meticulously maintained wooden craft that represent an earlier era of recreational boating.