See Wooden Boats In Film, Fiction At Newport Beach Festival

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — On the hunt for an annual summer event of epic proportions? The 9th Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is returning to town, and residents can get a first-hand look at historic boats featured in film and fiction.

This year's theme, "Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction," will highlight an all-star line-up of some classic wooden boats that have appeared in film and fiction over the years.

Event co-chair Denise Archambault told Patch that festival aims to pay tribute to these classic boats by sharing them with the public.

"Beautiful wooden boats have always been at the center of our festival — the true stars of our event," Archambault said. "This year we're putting a spotlight on these magnificent water craft by highlighting their leading role in so many of the books and movies we fondly hold onto."

The annual two-day event will highlight some classic wooden boats that have appeared in film, as well as vessels that have been owned by stars of the silver screen.

The featured boat of the festival is the fully-restored "Western Flyer," which is the sardine trawler made famous for being the vessel that took John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts to the Sea of Cortez — detailed in the Steinbeck classic, "The Log from the Sea of Cortez."

The festival runs from June 13 to June 14, and residents were urged to grab tickets in advance — as the event is likely to sell out.

To learn more about the Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival, visit the website.