LAKE VERMILION— The annual Antique and Classic Boat Show on Lake Vermilion is set for Sunday, Sept. 1 as the exhibition celebrates its 29th year.

The event, which attracts dozens of classic and antique boats each year, is being hosted again at The Landing restaurant on County Road 24, about eight miles north of Cook.

The Vermilion Lake Association (VLA) and the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade are primary sponsors of the show, proceeds from which are often donated for local benefit. Last year, the boat show donated $1,500 to the VLA to help kick off the fundraising efforts for the development of a new picnic site or to increase the accessibility of one of the existing picnic sites.

The show is held every Sunday on Labor Day Weekend, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., There will be live music and food available in the dining room, or you can take advantage of the burger and brat bar lakeside. There will be about 30 antique and classic boats on display. Visitors can all vote for their favorite boat. The show is free and open to the public.

The Antique and Classic Boat Show (ACBS) is an international organization dedicated to the preservation of antique and classic watercraft. With 58 local chapters in the United States, Canada and Europe there are regional shows throughout the entire western world, including Lake Vermilion. The Bob Speltz Land O’ Lakes Chapter is the local ACBS affiliate. The organization was established in 1975 with the mission to preserve and protect the heritage of the region’s boating history.

In the early 1970s these old boats were either brought to the dump or to the burn pile, destined for destruction as many felt they had no value. It was only through the dedication of early ACBS founders and dedicated owners that the boats to be displayed on Sept. 1 remain.

If you would like to learn more, please go to www.acbs.org.

Local boat show organizers are Jeff Stebbins, Sandy Jackson, and Mark Ludlow.