The Geneva Lakes Antique & Classic Boat Show fills the Abbey Marina in Fontana with restored wooden runabouts, launches, and cruisers on September 26-27, 2026. Admission and parking are free, boats are on display Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 3 PM, and the weekend's signature moment — the boat parade — runs Saturday at 4 PM. If you have never watched a fleet of varnished mahogany idle out of a harbor in fall light, this is the weekend to fix that.
Why the Boat Show Is Worth the Trip
Geneva Lake has one of the deepest boating traditions in the Midwest, and this show — presented by the Blackhawk Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society — gathers owners, restorers, and collectors from across the region. The boats are not roped-off museum pieces: owners stand beside them, happy to talk restoration detail, and many boats run the lake during the weekend. It also lands at peak early-fall color on the west end of the lake, when Fontana is at its best.
What to See at the Show
Classic Wooden Boats up Close
Expect gleaming Chris-Crafts, Gar Woods, and one-off launches spanning nearly a century of boatbuilding. Walk the docks slowly — the details are the point.
The Saturday Boat Parade
At 4 PM Saturday the show fleet leaves the harbor and parades along the Fontana shoreline. Stake out a spot near the Abbey Harbor or the Fontana lakefront beach a half hour early.
Around the Abbey Harbor
The show sits on the grounds of The Abbey Resort, so food and drink are steps away, and downtown Fontana's beach and shops fill out the rest of the afternoon.
Local Tips for the Boat Show
- Come Saturday if you can. You get the full display hours plus the 4 PM parade; Sunday winds down by mid-afternoon.
- Free means busy. Parking is free but the Abbey lots fill by late morning on Saturday — arrive before 11 AM.
- Confirm details before you drive. Schedule specifics can shift year to year; the official show site posts the current information.
- Make a full lake day of it. Pair the show with a walk on the Fontana section of the Geneva Lake Shore Path.
Where to Stay: Our Lake Geneva Vacation Rentals
Late September is one of the best-kept secrets on Geneva Lake — summer crowds gone, water still warm enough for a brave swim, and fall color arriving. Book a Geneva Lake vacation rental with VRP Partners — locally owned, locally managed — and you book direct and skip the OTA service fee. Our homes in Fontana and along the west end put you minutes from the Abbey Marina.
Plan Your Boat Show Weekend
The boat show weekend books comfortably now and gets tighter as September approaches. Check availability for September 26-27 and build your fall lake weekend around the parade.