Whitefish Woody Weekend celebrates 13th year
Whitefish Woody Weekend X to be held on June 24-26 at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. (Courtesy photo)
The 13th annual Whitefish Woody Weekend is June 27 – 29 at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. The family-friendly boating event is free and open to the public.
With classic wooden boats from 1922 to the present on display, the event is a way for locals and visitors alike to learn about the history and romance of boats of a bygone era.
The weekend begins on Friday, June 27 with live music at the Lodge’s Tiki Bar starting at 6 p.m., leading up to a sunset parade of boats around Whitefish Lake at 8 p.m.
Public viewing for the classic boats continues Saturday at 9 a.m. The public is invited to vote for their favorite boat to determine the People’s Choice Award winner. There will be drawings throughout the day on Saturday for public boat rides on one of the classic beauties.
On Sunday at 9 a.m., there will be a morning poker run with the wood boats out on the lake followed by a bar-b-cue on the beach at the Lodge for event participants.
Parking is limited. People can park at any S.N.O.W. Bus stop and ride the complimentary bus to The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.
Whitefish Woody Weekend is presented by The Big Sky Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. It is the premier classic boat show in the Pacific Northwest. This year, over 40 boats are registered, making it the largest Whitefish Woody Weekend in the event’s 13-year history.
Some come to the boat show to relive childhood memories from a time when these boats were common on Montana lakes. Some come just to admire the beautiful lines and details that reflect the work put into restoration. A select group come with a desire to one day find their own wooden treasure hidden somewhere and bring it back to life. Whatever the reason, many look forward each year to the gathering.
Of the 40 registered boats this year, 12 are new to Whitefish Woody Weekend, and 24 out of 40 participants are from Flathead Valley. Boats range in age from 1922 to 2025, in length from 12 to 35 feet, and come from 13 different manufacturers such as Chris-Craft, as well as a few home-builds.
For those who wish to find out more about the hobby of wooden or classic boats, along with the opportunity for direct conversation with the show exhibitors, there will be additional information available at the table at the entrance to the docks.