Annapolis Boat Show Season Powers Up Thursday

The largest downtown event of the year will make shore Thursday in Annapolis—make way for the 44th annual United States Sailboat and Powerboat Shows.

The two shows kick off Thursday, starting with the powerboat show which runs from Thursday through Sunday. The sailboat show will be the following weekend, from Oct. 10-13.

The boat shows dominate the City Dock region of downtown each year, as dozens of vendors, hundreds of vessels and thousands of visitors from around the world gather for the show.

Over the next two weeks, thousands of people will eat, shop and sleep throughout the city as a result of the shows. 

Annapolis Economic Development Corporation's President Lara Fritts said the shows bring in an estimated $50 million to the city each year, and there's no sign of it slowing down. It also serves as a platform to promote Annapolis as a great place to do business, she said.

Annapolis Business Association President Sean O'Neill said the shows provide a boom for the local economy.

"The boat shows are the epitome of the kind of events this city needs," O'Neill said.

This will be the last year that Annapolis Boat Show will be run by Ed Hartman II, former owner of United States Yacht Shows, Inc. In September, Hartman began the process of selling his share of the shows to five new investors, in part over what he said was a disagreement with Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen.

Read more on Hartman's sale of the shows.

For more information on the boat shows, including hours and parking, visit the official website.