Lakeland Times, WI
Famous clydesdales also to make an appearance
Rachel White- Reporter
“We try to make it fun,” Gordon Moore said about the antique and classic boat show that he organizes along with the Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Area Chamber of Commerce in Minocqua each year.
And it must be, because Moore and some of the boaters who have been back year after year the past 17 years have noticed the crowds grow.
But it has become more than just another fun, summer event, at least for those most closely involved with the boat show.
All of the money raised through concessions and donations each year at the boat show go entirely to the Wisconsin chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Peter Ekstrom has entered his Criss Craft in the show every year, and he now also donates the T-shirts that are for sale at the show.
“That’s one of the reasons that I got so involved in it is because my wife passed away about 10 years ago, but she had MS and … all the proceeds go to MS,” Ekstrom said.
Moore’s wife also suffers from MS.
As the show has grown so has the amount of work Moore does organizing the concessions, music, entrants and boat parade.
“It’s the most organized boat parade I’ve ever seen,” said Kathy Moberg, who along with her husband, has entered many different boat shows throughout the country and has been in the Minocqua show nearly every year.
Moore began by organizing the entire boat show himself in its first years. As the show grew, he asked the chamber of commerce for help, though he still does much of the planning himself.
Moore admits that the main reason he keeps putting so much work into the show year after year is to raise money for the MS Society.
“There is no cure for it and our purpose in raising these funds isn’t to secure something for my wife, because … it won’t help, but for future generations,” Moore said.
The show is free to attend and includes a concession stand run by Moore’s family, live music, and, of course, plenty of boats.
The event will kick-off with a boat parade Friday, July 25, 6:45 p.m.. at Bosacki’s.
Activities will continue through the weekend, including a collection of woodie cars on display in the parking lot of Bosacki’s and an appearance by the Budweiser clydesdale horses on Sunday in the parking lot of Save More Marketplace parking lot, noon-2 p.m.Â
They will head south on Hwy. 51 and make stops at Otto’s Beer and Brat Garden, Bosacki’s Boat House and the Thirsty Whale, before heading back to Save More.Â
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon. The clydesdales’ appearance in Minocqua is one of 300 made annually by the five traveling hitches. Each hitch travels with a dalmatian dog. In the early days of brewing, dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.
In addition, awards will be given to the best Criss Craft pre- and post-World War II, best outboard motor boat, best Century, and best other. The public may cast their votes for the people’s choice award.
If interested in participating in the show with an antique or classic boat, – call the chamber of commerce in Minocqua at 715-356-5266. The schedule of this year’s events is:
Friday, July 25
• 10 a.m., boats will cruise on Minocqua and Tomahawk lakes and return in the early afternoon.
• 6 p.m., boats begin gathering for the parade.
• 6:45 p.m., boat parade in conjunction with the Min-Aqua Bats show.
Saturday, July 26
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m., boats and owners will be down at the docks by Bosacki’s.
•11 a.m., concession stand with brats, beer, soda and T-shirts for sale opens near Bosacki’s.
•Noon-3 p.m., live music from Ron Harrison.
Sunday July 27
• 8 a.m.-2 p.m., boats and owners will be down at the docks by Bosacki’s.
• 1 a.m., concession stand opens.
• Noon-2 p.m., the Budweiser horses will pull their eight-horse hitch from Save More Marketplace, making stops at Otto’s Beer and Brat Garden, Bosacki’s Boat House, and the Thirsty Whale before heading back to Save More.
• 1 p.m., award ceremony at Bosacki’s.