Wooden Boat Festival

Madisonville, Louisiana

October 17 & 18, 2026

The Wooden Boat Festival will celebrate 35 years on the banks of the beautiful Tchefuncte River on Oct. 17-18. Presented by Maritime Museum Louisiana, this fun family festival attracts over one hundred classic boats, hundreds of spectator boats and wooden boat and music enthusiasts for this two-day celebration, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A pre-festival gala at the Museum, "Maritime Mania", is held on the Friday evening before the festival.

35th Annual Wooden Boat Fest

〰️

Oct. 17-18, 2026

〰️

35th Annual Wooden Boat Fest 〰️ Oct. 17-18, 2026 〰️

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

〰️

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS 〰️

TITLE SPONSOR

Florida Marine Transporters

COMMODORE SPONSOR

Official Stage Sponsor

CAPTAIN SPONSOR

Official VIP Sponsor

COMMANDER SPONSOR

Official Quick & Dirty Sponsor

ENSIGN SPONSOR

BOSUN SPONSOR

PETTY OFFICER SPONSOR

Tom & Mary Meehan

SEAMAN SPONSOR

IN-KIND SPONSOR

Barney & Jeanie Knoess

Call for our 2026 Poster Artist!

If you or someone you know would be interested in becoming the Poster Artist for our 35th Annual Wooden Boat Festival, please contact wbf@maritimemuseumlouisiana.org. See submission details below in FAQ.

Images: left, the 2025 WBF poster; right, poster artist Mackenzie Stewart at the poster unveiling.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Tickets are $15 per person, per day for festivalgoers 13 years of age and older. Purchase tickets here.

  • Yes!

  • Those attending the festival can park anywhere around town, the field on Main Street by library, or Sams in Covington and ride the shuttle!

  • Cards accepted by almost all vendors and at gates (cash too). ATMs are available!

  • No pets are allowed except for service animals with proper vest indication.

  • Chairs are allowed, as well as strollers and child wagons. No ice chests allowed. No BBQ Pits.

  • There is no specific bag policy outside of no backpacks, however bags will be checked by security at the gate.

  • Food and drink vendors will be on site. No outside food or drink is allowed.

  • Yes! This is a family event. There will also be a Children’s Village on the festival grounds. The village will have balloon animals, pirogue & pumpking painting and more!

  • Deadline: June 15, 2026

    Theme: “United By The Water” Celebrate community, heritage, unity, coastal culture and life along the bayou.

    Poster size: 18” x 24”

    Accepted formats: PNG, JPEG, PDF, or Vector

    Design guidelines: wooden boats, water elements, bayou or coastal scenery

    Award: winning artwork becomes property of MMLA to be featured across social media, merchandise, signage, etc. Artist receives $400 artist fee.

    For questions and/or comments, please email wbf@maritimemuseumlouisiana.org

Future Wooden Boat Festival Dates:

2026

Oct. 17 & 18

2027

Oct. 16 & 17