South Australian Wooden Boat Festival

The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival returns to the Goolwa Wharf Precinct from April 26–27. Now in its 19th year, this biennial event celebrates all things wooden boats, bringing together enthusiasts and curious onlookers. The festival features a stunning display of over 100 vessels—from vintage classics to modern marvels—under sail, steam, motor, and paddle.

Attendees can witness the spectacle of daily sailing races and boat parades, explore maritime exhibits, enjoy the Rough ‘n’ Ready boat building challenge and cheer on the competitors as they race their freshly-built vessels on Sunday.

Family-friendly entertainment includes live music from the Royal Australian Navy Band, a dedicated kids’ zone, and boat-building workshops. Don’t miss the unique “Steam Salute” at the official opening on Saturday, April 26 at 12:35 pm, where a steam train and paddle steamer exchange whistles – a spectacle only seen in two places worldwide.

Saturday evening culminates in a fireworks display over the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. This year’s festival also marks the unveiling of the revitalised Goolwa Wharf Precinct Project.

This listing was produced with the help of Evan, CityMag’s AI event assistant. Evan keeps up with Adelaide’s thriving events calendar so our journalists can spend more time chasing the stories that matter to the city. He saves us time so you can have a good time. If there are any inaccuracies, please contact [email protected].