United States Sailboat Show 2018: Hours, Tickets, Guide

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Prospective buyers and sailboat enthusiasts will converge at the City Dock this week for the famous United States Sailboat Show. The city of Annapolis anticipates thousands of visitors for the event.

Vendors, vessels and visitors from around the globe attend the show, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 4, to Monday, Oct. 8. In the wake of the sailboat show, the United States Power Boat Show zips into town from Oct. 11 to Oct. 14.

Organizers say the two boat shows represent the largest in-water boat show in the world, drawing almost 150,000 visitors to Annapolis, and nearly every large sailboat manufacturer will be in town this weekend.

"Boat show season in Annapolis continues to be a very special time of year, with the population swelling to nearly its largest," Annapolis Boat Shows President Paul Jacobs wrote in the program guide. "...the focus of the boating industry is on Annapolis, and a party-like atmosphere develops in the streets of downtown."

Tents, floating docks and food vendors spring up to accommodate the crowds flocking to look at shiny new boats, scope out the latest nautical gear and enroll in sailing workshops.

See a list of exhibitors, workshops and premiering ships. There will be free cocktail and wine tastings, with a gin tasting tent and wine and rum tasting tent on the premises.

Pets are not allowed. Strollers are "strongly discouraged," according to organizers.

Tickets

Ticket prices are as follows:

• $35 for preview day, which is Thursday, Oct. 4
• $48 for preview day plus another day
• $18 per adult (Friday, Oct. 5, to Monday, Oct. 8)
• $31 for adult two-day combination
• $5 for children 7 and up
• Free for kids 6 and under

Tickets are available online and can also be purchased at authorized ticket booths.

Hours

Here are the hours for the 2018 United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis:

• Thursday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • ESPN live broadcast with former Redskins running back Brian Mitchell from 1-4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Boat Show Bash at Pusser's Caribbean Grill from 6-9 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The United States Sailboat Show will be from Thursday, Oct. 4, to Monday, Oct. 8, at City Dock & Harbor, 1 Dock Street, Annapolis.

Parking

Here is info about parking from the Boat Show organizers.

Park for $10 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (230 Farragut Road) and take the free shuttle from the stadium to the show, running continuously from 9 a.m. until one hour after the show ends each day.

Park for $30 at Eastport Elementary School (401-405 6th Street) and walk from Eastport to City Dock; proceeds go to the PTA.

Park at Annapolis garages.

Take a look at last year's United States Sailboat Show to get a sense of what to expect:

Main image is a still from the 2017 United States Sailboat show video by Josh Davidson/YouTube.