Canoe Museum Opening With Boat Show Sat May 24

​The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum in Spooner is once again making plans to celebrate Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day on May 24, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This free event marks the season opening of 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.
 
The 16th annual boat show will be the highlight of the day. Over 15 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. Already registered to display is Bill and Greg Matthias with three canoes, one of which is a 105-year-old World War I restored Old Town. Another highlight is Juli Buehler’s canoe built to honor Canada and Hudson’s Bay Company just one of only 200 built. These are just a few examples of the exhibitors that will be in attendance.
 
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. We’ll enjoy the music and shenanigans of Truegrass and also Les Fils du Voyageur, along with fun food and beverages from Bent Paddle Brewery in Duluth. Truegrass specializes in reviving music of the old-time masters, adapting modern material to the bluegrass idiom, and creating original songs and new tunes in the traditional strong band style. 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.
 
The 2025 Canoe & Wooden Boat Show on May 24 at the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum in Spooner WI will once again include an auction of various items that have been donated recently to the museum. This year’s auction will include a 17 ft Wenonah Adirondack Kevlar canoe. Other items featured in the auction include a 17 foot wooden Dory with two handmade wooden oars, a Canvas Thwart Bag by Frost River, a set of Thule car top roof carriers, and other canoe paraphernalia. More information and additional photos of all auction items will be available prior to the auction on the museum website. The public is invited to this free event, produced annually on the Saturday of Memorial Weekend by the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum in Spooner WI. For more information visit www.WisconsinCanoeHeritageMuseum.org.

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