More than 120 antique wooden boats are expected to enter the 33rd annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show at Hessel Saturday, August 14. More than one-third of the registrants are local, with a home port in the Les Cheneaux area. Entrants are accepted right up until the start of the show.

Although the opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m., some spectators arrive even earlier than that each year to see the antique boats launched or to see them coming in over the water. The gates open at 7 a.m. and the opening ceremony features a flag-raising by the American Legion Pickford 323 Color Guard, followed by Cedarville High School alumnus Katie Bowlby singing the national anthem.

The boats in the show are divided into 17 classes and compete for first and second place in their respective categories. Additionally, first through third place is awarded for the entire show and the Jim Bohn People's Choice Award is decided by spectators filling out ballots inside of their boat show programs.

No pets, alcohol, or smoking are allowed within the boat show gates.

In addition to the boat show, the Festival of the Arts offers families a chance to view a variety of artwork crafted by 65 artisans from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dockside Traders runs during the same hours and offers boat books and antique boat hardware, including old parts, engines, and propellers.

The event concludes with an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. and an informal parade immediately afterwards, as the boats circle the harbor.