Boating fans in the 705 were disappointed after the Canadian Antique & Classic Boat Society, (ACBS-Toronto) announced Friday the cancellation of the 2024 Summer Vintage Boat Show scheduled for Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst in July.
“We run a world-class event, as our public knows, so we’d rather wait one year and come back in 2025 with another great show rather than trying to work around some of the obstacles we would have this year,” said Mike Gridley, Past President of the Vintage Boat Show.
The Town of Gravenhurst and the District of Muskoka will be starting a three-year construction project involving new underground pipes and roadway improvements that will significantly impact Bay St. / Muskoka Road 169 and access to Muskoka Wharf. Events such as the Farmers Market have been relocated for 2024. Several 705BLACKFLY.COM readers asked why the boat show wasn’t moved to a different venue, so we reached out to the ACBS.
“Try and find 110 slips, the docks in the water where we set up the boats, let alone the great setup on land that the Muskoka Wharf is for the rest of the event,” Mike told us. “Based on that – pretty hard to relocate it.”
Click on the audio file to hear more from our interview with Mike Gridley including how the cancellation of the show will impact tourism and the local economy, and other great boat shows in the area this summer.
