Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day
Saturday, May 24, 2025
The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum (WCHM) in Spooner is once again making plans to celebrate Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day in 2025 on Saturday May 24 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This free event marks the opening of the fourteenth season for the museum, and will include open house in the museum exhibit hall, ongoing activities in the canoe workshop, live music and food and beverage outdoors in the beer garden, a silent auction and canoe raffle, and of course the Canoe & Wooden Boat Show.
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2025 Canoe & Wooden Boat Show
The Canoe & Wooden Boat will be the highlight of the day. Over twenty exhibitors are expected to display wooden boats of all shapes, sizes, and designs --both classic and modern-- as well as all kinds of classic and vintage water and paddling related items. The booth space is free, and reserving a space is easy. You can use our online registration form, or write to [email protected]. |
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Food & Music In The Beer Garden
While the Canoe & Wooden Boat Show goes on through the day, the outdoor beer garden will once again feature food, beverage, and live music on the “back porch” stage. In 2025 we’ll enjoy the music of two groups, TrueGrass and Les Fils du Voyageur, along with fun food and beverages from Bent Paddle Brewery in Duluth. 10:45 Les Fils du Voyageur 11:45 TrueGrass 1:00 Les Fils du Voyageur 2:00 Truegrass TrueGrass is a four piece Northwest Wisconsin group that performs as an acoustic string band: reviving music of the old-time masters, adapting modern material to the bluegrass idiom, and creating original songs and new tunes in a traditional string band style. TrueGrass features Tom Draughon from Ashland on guitar and old-time banjo, Bruce Qualey from Cable on bass, Carol McDowall from Trego on fiddle, and Jed Malischke from Spooner on bluegrass banjo and resophonic guitar. Check them out at www.TrueGrassTrio.com or follow them at www.facebook.com/truegrassband. Les Fils du Voyageur brings the fur trade era to life through songs of the voyageurs. Performed a capella in three part harmony, and portrayed in authentic period costume, Les Fils du Voyageur present an extensive collection of paddling, working and playing songs that paint an exciting historical overview of the life and times of a voyageur. |
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Silent Auction
The Canoe & Wooden Boat Show on May 24 at the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum will once again include a silent auction of various items that have been recently donated to the museum. A relatively new feature of the boat show, the silent auction gives attendees the opportunity to take home some unique bargains on items, and at the same time support museum fundraising efforts. Here are a few of the items we plan to have on the auction block in 2025: --17 foot wooden Dory and two handmade wooden oars donated by Robert & Ann Works --17 foot Wenona Adirondack Kevlar canoe in very good condition donated by Scott Anderson of Hayward WI. --Partially completed cedar strip 17 foot Great Auk kayak donated by Brian Kalvelage of Stoddard WI. --Native plant consultation worth $500 from Anna Demers. --Framed Canadian National Archives print of Frances Ann Hopkins’ “Bivouac Of A Canoe Party” painting, donated by Lon Blakey of Oak Creek WI. --Canvas Thwart Bag hand made by Frost River in Duluth MN. --Old Town Metal Plate Sign donated by Lon Blakey of Oak Creek WI. --Set of Yakima car top roof carriers (used). --Coleman Gas Camp Grill (used). |
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Annual Canoe Raffle
A major fund raising activity for the WCHM is the annual canoe raffle. The winning ticket holder will once again have their choice of two canoes: a 15 foot Cedar Canvas Solo Canoe or a 15 foot Cedar Canvas Tandem Canoe, both built in the WCHM Shop on the MacKenzie-Yost MyPal form. Tickets will be available at the boat show for $20 or six for $100. Although the final drawing will not be until September 2025, there will be several drawings for intermediate prizes during the boat show. |
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Where to Find Us:
The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum is a 501c3 volunteer led non-profit organization based in Spooner, Wisconsin (312 N Front St). Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day is a free event in Spooner produced by the WCHM each year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information call 715-635-5002 or write to [email protected]. For nearby motel lodging we recommend Best Western Riverplace Motel at 715-635-9770. For camping, travel, or other lodging information contact the Washburn County Tourism Association at 800-367-3306.
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