The Long Awaited Official Long Words On The Lake Dora Show!

Get out a mug of coffee, and your reading glasses, cause here it is. The official word on the Big Lake Dora show this March from Terry Fiest. And If Terry says it, it is so. Etc Etc Etc.

Are you ready? Here goes! no Really, here goes.. The official Countdown has started. Ready? okay.. Jeez, really, still getting coffee? Okay how about now? Wait, pee first. We can wait..Oh, maybe not

The Annual Sunnyland Boat Festival on Lake Dora is the largest Antique and Classic boating event on the East Coast. People from more than 27 States will be in attendance this year. The event is located at Wooten Waterfront Park in downtown Tavares, Florida – and directly on Lake Dora, the 3 day show offers fun for all members of your family.  Below is some key information to make your visit more enjoyable when you visit our show.

Ya, that happened in September. We brike the news then about the docks. Yikes. It’s all cleaned up now!

Hurricane Irma destroyed all the docks and the event THIS YEAR WILL BE ON LAND!! And will be a Beach Theme!!

The show begins Friday at 9:00AM and ends on Sunday, at Noon – weather permitting. Ticket prices are $10.00 for the weekend. Sea Tow Members! Show your card and get buy one get one free!

Here is more reading stuff!
The show site address is 123 South Joanna Ave, Tavares Florida 32778.
Parking is available at the City of Tavares Parking Garage, located 2 blocks from the show site.
The City of Tavares welcomes leashed pets to events.
In addition to the Boat Show, there are Seaplane rides available –   See the City of Tavares web site for more information

Food and beverages are available for purchase at the show.
Restaurants and shopping are within walking distance of the show.

Okay this NEXT PART IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND NOT JUST SHOW UP WITH YOUR OLD AUNTI GLADY’S

For Participants:
Registration:
You must pre-register for this event – 2018  On Line Registration Is Now Open!
You can receive a paper registration form by calling Bill or Kathleen Root at 352-324-6010.
You must provide a photo of your boat.  If you registered the same boat last year, we can use last year’s photo.
We encourage payment using Pay-Pal, but accept US Checks.  Sorry, we can no longer accept out of country checks!

Short distance from show – Mission Inn Resort & Club – 352-234-3900 – Room Blocks are Filling Up!  Call Today! Ask for the Sunnyland Boat Show Room Block WB RECOMMENDED AND A GREAT ACBS RATE – Ask for ACBS, because otherwise they are booked!

Also we at Woody Boater stay at The Best Western in Tavares as do many others. Its cheap, clean and there is always someone schlepping back and forth to the show.

NO RV PARKING AT SHOW SITE!!!!!!!!!
Due to city construction projects in the park area adjacent to the show site, we are unable to offer on site RV parking this year. We have made arrangements for show participants to park at the Fisherman’s Cove RV Resort, located about three miles south of the show site. This is a class A park with full facilities. You will be responsible for providing your own transportation to and from the show site. Taxi service is available, and Uber also covers the area.
Other lodging – Tavares Chamber Listing at www.tavareschamber.com or Mount Dora lodging at www.mountdora.com

Arriving by go cart?

Arriving at the Show!
The show site address is 123 South Joanna Ave, Tavares Florida 32778.

We encourage you to arrive on Thursday before 5pm—we close at 5pm!!!
We advertise and sell tickets for our show based on three days; all day Friday, Saturday and until noon on Sunday.  We will not let anyone depart prior to noon on Sunday!!

Boat Festival participants can park for free at the City of Tavares Parking garages, located 2 blocks from the show site.  Typically there is shuttle service available from the garage to the show on Saturday.
When you arrive at the show site, you will be met by our registration committee and routed to our Marshalling Area. From there, we will move your boat to your assigned spot with one of our Tractors. Since this is a Land Display Event, You will be required to remain in that spot until the show ends on Sunday.

If you are bringing a Boat to sell, we will move your Boat to the Field of Dreams lot with a Tractor
Pre-Show and On-Site Show Events

THERE IS MORE.  NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AGAIN? WE CAN WAIT?

The famous St John’s River Southbound Cruise leaves Jacksonville March 18, arriving in Tavares for the boat festival March 22nd.  This Epic cruise has been running for 29 years and is definitely a “bucket list” event! Click HERE for more information about the cruises.  Click HERE for a printable registration form. Registration forms are also available on the Sunnyland website in the events calendar at www.acbs-sunnyland.org, or in the Sheerline magazine.
The equally famous St John’s Northbound Cruise leaves Tavares the day after the boat festival, March 26, ending in Jacksonville March 29th. Registration forms are also available on the Sunnyland website at www.acbs-sunnyland.org, or in the Sheerline magazine.

The St johns Cruise is a wonderful week ish of boating!

Thursday night—Mar 22 is a Special Reception hosted by the City of Tavares and the Sunnyland Chapter. The City of Tavares Boat Show Reception starts at 6pm in the Pavilion on site at the show. Tickets are required and can be purchased on the web site.

Friday Mar 23–Sunnyland ACBS Picnic –Usually everyone travels by boat to the picnic and enjoys a ride thru the famous Dora Canal, however this year with a limited number of boats in the water, most everyone will travel by car. More information will be provided at the show. Tickets can be purchased on the web site.

Woody Gal and Larry! LARRY LIVES ON!

Friday Mar 23–Sunnyland Captain’s Party – On Friday night, under the show site’s “Big Tent”, old friends come together to meet and enjoy a FESTIVE BEACH PARTY complete with a live Beach Band. Everyone is encouraged to dress in Beach Attire and enjoy Margaritas—Beer and Great Food!! Tickets can be purchased on the Festival Registration site.

Carla from Hagerty is ready. Yes Carla, this one is in the files!

Saturday Mar 24–A special event for the Ladies is the Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday at the Mount Dora Yacht Club. Reservations and tickets are required and are available on the web site.
Saturday Mar 24—ACBS Educational Symposium – Held Saturday at the Tavares City Hall Auditorium.  Free to all. For Symposium Topics/Schedule, please click HERE
Saturday Mar 24—Festival Banquet – Saturday night, meet up with friends for dinner under the big white tent for a dinner catered by Carrabas Restaurant along with another live BEACH BAND!! Tickets are available for purchase on the registration site.

Sunday Mar 25—Awards Presentation – As the Sunnyland Boat Festival is not a judged show, awards are given by our corporate sponsors and friends.  Awards are announced and presented on Sunday morning at 9:00 under the big white tent on the show site.
Sunday Church Services – Services follow the awards ceremony in the same location. All denominations welcome!

Jim Staib is ready!

For Our Vendors:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Registration:
You must pre-register for this event!
You can receive a paper registration form by calling Bill or Kathleen Root at 352-324-6010.
All vendors must sell nautical themed merchandise
Sites are 10 X 10 concrete
Call Don Jochum at 772-335-5200 for more information.

Arrivals:
The show site address is 123 South Joanna Ave, Tavares Florida 32778.  GPS coordinates are 28.48.043N—–81.43.655W
We advertise and sell tickets for our show based on three days; all day Friday, Saturday and until noon on Sunday.
Thursday is our set up day and YOU MUST SET UP ON THURSDAY.
We will allow you to drive in on Thursday, set up and remove your vehicle.
Set Up and Other Information:

Flea Market vendors will not be allowed to go in and out of the site on a daily basis. If you work out of your vehicle, you can leave it on site for the duration of the show.
The Flea Market area has new concrete. If you use a tent, you CANNOT drive tent pegs into the concrete.
Departures:
Our show ends Sunday at noon (weather permitting)

GENERAL INFORMATION:
THE SUNNYLAND ANTIQUE BOAT FESTIVAL IS IN IT 37th YEAR AND IS THE LARGEST CLASSIC WOOD BOAT SHOW IN THE US. OUR FOOTPRINT IS OVER A THIRD OF A MILE LONG AND WE USUALLY HAVE 250 TO 300 BOATS ON DISPLAY BEFORE THE HURRICANE.

Arriving by train?

OUR GATE ATTRACTS 8 TO 10 THOUSAND PEOPLE AND THERE IS LITERALLY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT OUR EVENT. OUR NAUTICAL FLEA MARKET HAS MORE THAN 80 VENDORS WITH MANY HARD TO FIND MARINE PARTS FOR SALE. WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL STUNNING OUT BOARD MOTORS ON DISPLAY AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RACE BOATS. OUR ANNUAL EVENT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SPRING BREAK AS IS THE KICK-OFF SHOW FOR THE BOATING SEASON.

Bring your scooter.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE US ATTEND OUR SHOW AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM OVER 26 DIFFERENT STATES. WE HAVE SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS THAT MAKE OUR SHOW A SUCCESS AND THEY OFFER MANY MARINE PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE NEW AND RESTORED VINTAGE BOATS.
THE SUNNYLAND CHAPTER IS THE LARGEST CHAPTER IN THE ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY (ACBS) AND REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE HAVE OVER 500 MEMBERS AND THE ENTIRE SHOW IS RUN WITH VOLUNTEER HELP.

THIS IS OUR 37TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW AND EACH YEAR OUR SHOW GETS BIGGER AND BETTER. WE STARTED IN SANFORD, MOVED TO MOUNT DORA AND FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS THE SHOW HAS BEEN IN TAVARES. THIS IS A HISTORICAL EVENT FOR THE SUNNYLAND CHAPTER, PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US FOR FUN IN THE SUN. NEXT YEAR WE HOPE TO HAVE THE MARINA ALL REBUILT WITH NEW DOCKS AND ROOM FOR MORE BOATS.

Y’all come on now..

Hey, it’s Florida.. In the spring, after a crazy winter. And only 50 ish DAYS AWAY!!!!!!

Also check your Woody Boater App, we have uploaded a bunch of great restaurants to try in the area to try. And will be adding more. Hope to see you all there. We will be in our normal tent and bringing some fun new surprises.

Now around 7 new restaurants in the area to try.

I will add, if you have made it here yet. Had your dinner yet? Anyway, we will be there, we are going possibly without a boat, but will be there to support all our friends. Okay, and have some good Cuban food, and maybe some other stuff. Its more about the fun with friends, and there will be time to see some amazing boats at the show. I will also add, again, that this club is fantastic and has gone all out in a bad situation. Mother nature took a dump on the park, and the entire area is trying its best to make the best of things! We applaud all of the area for doing an amazing job and at least making a fun event out of tragedy!