Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week returns August 3-11, 2019, as the City once again honors its rich maritime heritage with entertaining and fun-filled events. In addition to focusing on Sturgeon Bay’s extraordinary maritime history, the week honors the area’s local Coast Guard personnel – past and present – for their service and many contributions to the community. Sturgeon Bay is one of only 20 communities nationwide to be designated a Coast Guard City and is the first, and only, in Wisconsin.
Officially titled “Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week: A Salute to the U.S. Coast Guard,” the celebration will include the Salute to the Coast Guard Picnic, a performance by the Coast Guard Band, the Mariner & Coast Guard Person of the Year Awards Dinner, public tours of the Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, the Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival and more. Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week coincides with the U.S. Coast Guard’s 229th Birthday on Sunday, August 4. A complete calendar of Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week events is attached and also available at http://www.dcmm.org/event/maritime-week/.
Maritime Week gets underway on Saturday, August 3 with the Adopt-a-Soldier Door County Pancake Breakfast fundraiser. Starting at 7am, the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the firehouse adjacent to City Hall until 11am. Proceeds support the work of the local Adopt-A-soldier program.
The festivities continue on Sunday, August 4, with a picnic for all active, reserve, retired and veteran Coast Guard personnel and their families. The picnic is hosted by the City’s Coast Guard Committee and sponsored by the Sturgeon Bay AMVETS Post 51, Green Bay Council of the Navy League, other local veteran groups, merchants and businesses. Festivities begin at 11am at Sawyer Park in Sturgeon Bay, and will include special recognition of Coast Guard spouses.
The annual Mariner & Coast Guard Person of the Year Awards Dinner takes place on Monday, August 5 at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. The Mariner Award recognizes individuals, both living and deceased, who’ve had a significant, positive and lasting impact on the Door County maritime community. The Coast Guard Person of the Year Award recognizes a local active duty Coast Guard man or woman who exemplifies the service’s core values of “Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty”. For tickets and information, contact the Door County Maritime Museum.
The Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay will be docked at Graham Park and open to the public for free tours on Tuesday, August 6, Wednesday, August 7 and Saturday, August 10. The Katmai Bay (WTGB-101) is a 140-foot icebreaking tug homeported in Sault Sainte Marie, MI. Unit missions include Homeland Security patrols, lighthouse projects, law enforcement and public affairs.
On Friday, August 9 at the Southern Door Community Auditorium, the U.S. Coast Guard Band performs in concert as part of their 2019 tour of the Great Lakes region. The 55-member ensemble will present selections by George Gershwin, John Williams, Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa and others. The United States Coast Guard Band is the premier band representing the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security. Tickets for the concert are free, but can be reserved at https://southerndoorauditorium.org.
The Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival (https://doorcountyclassicboatfestival.com/) August 10-11 features a remarkable assortment of historic and beautiful vessels proudly displayed by their owners or builders. Registered boaters showcase their boat for the weekend and compete for awards and ribbons. Boats will be displayed on trailers throughout the Door County Maritime Museum parking lot, along the waterfront and on the lawn.
The Festival also includes the popular Sikaflex Boat Building Challenge. Construct a boat on Saturday, add decoration Sunday morning and race for points Sunday afternoon. Sikaflex Challenge building restrictions make for fun and exciting sea trials. Watch as two-person teams work feverishly with limited materials to craft a one-of-a-kind boat that will float…hopefully. The Sikaflex Challenge is limited to 12 two-person teams, so register early for a spot in the challenge.
Maritime Week wraps up on Sunday, August 11, with the second day of the Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival and the “sea trials” of the Sikaflex Boat Building competition vessels. With unique vendors, Coast Guard demonstrations, plein air artists, classic and wooden boats, great food and the Maritime on Madison festival happening close by – the second weekend in August is sure to be a great time on Sturgeon Bay’s west side waterfront.
For more information on Maritime Week or the Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival, visit www.DCMM.com or call (920)743-5958.