Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week

August 2 – August 9, 2024

Join us in saluting the local U.S. Coast Guard, and celebrate at these events!

As one of 30 official U.S. Coast Guard Cities — and the only one in Wisconsin! — Sturgeon Bay celebrates each year with a week filled with events, ceremonies, visiting ships and fun! Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week begins with an official proclamation from the City of Sturgeon Bay. We gather a variety of historic and classic wooden boats and show them off for a weekend, and challenge teams of two to build a vessel with limited materials and paddle it, without sinking! Monday evening you’re invited to the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, as we honor exceptional members of our local USCG detachments and mariners in our Door County community who’ve made a significant impact. Everyone’s invited to Idlewild Golf Course for a round of 18 holes during the annual golf outing and fundraiser for local Coast Guard families.

Mid-week, the County will salute the Coast Guard and servicemembers – active and veteran – of all branches of the military during the opening night of the Door County Fair. Sail around the Bay during the Yacht Club’s sailing adventures on Thursday. Then we wrap up the week with a picnic for active duty, reserve and retired USCG and their families.

Throughout the week, visiting USCG and training ships will host FREE to the public Deck Tours! Check DCMM’s Facebook page for ship arrival times and Deck Tour times.

The 2024 Maritime Week schedule will be published in summer 2024.

2023 Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week Events (CHECK BACK SOON FOR 2024 EVENTS!) :

Tuesday, August 1:

City Proclamation: Birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard (Birthday is August 4). The proclmation will be made during the City Council meeting, which begins at 6pm, Sturgeon Bay City Hall, 421 Michigan Street.

Saturday, August 5:

32^nd annual Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Show and Sikaflex Build-A-Boat Challenge, 10am-4pm, at Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Bring your crew, friends, and family for boating and fun on Sturgeon Bay’s historic working waterfront. On display at the Classic and Wooden Boat Show are beautiful boats to admire, some professionally built and maintained, others the work of talented amateurs, some boats are in the middle of restoration! Vessels range from canoes to kayaks, sailboats, fiberglass classics, and glorious mahogany runabouts.
Registered boaters showcase their boats for the weekend. and compete for awards and ribbons. Boats are displayed on the Maritime Museum grounds and along the waterfront promenade.
Classic Boat Parade, 6 p.m., Boats circle between Oregon & Michigan Street Bridges.

**REGISTER for the Sikaflex Build-A-Boat Contest**:

Join the fun and challenge yourself…The Classic & Wooden Boat Show also includes the hilarious and competitive Sikaflex Build-A-Boat Challenge. Watch as two-person teams work feverishly with limited materials on Saturday to craft a one-of-a-kind boat that will float during the “sea trials” on Sunday…hopefully!

Sunday, August 6:

32^nd annual Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Show and Sikaflex Build-A-Boat Races, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., at the Door County Maritime Museum, Sturgeon Bay. Races @ 1p.m.

Bloody Marys, Brews & Bacon, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. @ Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria. Ticketed event – $35/pers on. Must be 21 years or older and present valid ID.
Join Destinati on Sturgeon Bay for the Bloodies (Mary), Brews & Bacon Social! This event features local Door County restaurants and their unique Bloody Mary’s, local breweries’ offerings, and a selection of bacon. Each restaurant vendor will compete for the title of ‘Best Bloody Mary’ and ‘Best Bloody Mary Garnish’, and more prizes TBA.

Monday, August 7:

U.S.C.G. Cutter Katmai Bay arrives. Ship will dock at either Sawyer or Graham Parks. Arrival time TBA, watch the DC Maritime Museum Facebook page for updates. Free Public Deck tours will be offered throughout the week.

Coast Guard Person of the Year & Mariner Award Dinner, 5:30PM @ Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. Public welcome! Dinner reservations required.

Tuesday, August 8:

Salute to the Coast Guard Golf Outing, 9:30AM @ Idlewild Golf Course. Public invited to play! 9:30am Cannon (shotgun) start at Idlewild Golf Course, just south of Sturgeon Bay. Have fun, play golf, enjoy good food and honor the service of our local Coast Guard Men and Women. Prizes for teams finishing: First, Second, 12^th, and Next-to-Last. Hole Prizes for: Longest Drive; Longest Putt; Closest to the Pin on Par Three; Closest to the Pin in Two. Ticket Raffle with numerous prizes and other surprises! Sponsors needed too!

Wednesday, August 9:

USCG Cutter Katmai Bay deck tours. Time scheduled: 1-4pm, at either Sawyer or Graham Park. Public invited for Free Deck Tours.
Salute to USCG & Veterans of all Branches at the Door County Fair. Salute scheduled to begin at 7pm on the Main Stage. Band is Boogie & the Yo-Yos. 1/2 off daily pass Wednesday for active duty and military veterans with ID! Boogie & the Yo-Yos play after salutre ~ 7:30PM @ Door County Fairgrounds. All veterans invited!

Thursday, August 10:

Sail Races for Thank Goodness It’s Thursday, 5 p.m., Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. On this special night, the Club is open to the public for anyone to join a crew and sail, and for dinner. Races begin at 5pm. There are sailboats to borrow and and sailors ready to crew, for anyone wanting to sail! The Yacht Club is open to the public Thursday evening for the sail races and dinner. Reservations strongly encouraged for dinner: 920-743-6934.

Friday, August 11:

US Coast Guard Picnic—US Coast Guard Picnic. BBQ by Smokin’ Tom’s Team BBQ and Games, 1-3pm at Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. For active, reserve, retired & veteran USCG personnel & families only. For more info, call: 920-743-5958; email: info@dcmm.org.

Training Ship State of Michigan port visit & deck tours. Free Deck tours 6-8pm, on the West Waterfront (dock site TBA). Cutter Katmai Bay departs, time TBA. Watch the DC Maritime Museum Facebook page for updates.

Saturday, August 12:

Training Ship T/S State of Michigan deck tours & departure. Free! Time TBA @ West Waterfront. Watch the DC Maritime Museum Facebook page for updates.

What does being an “official Coast Guard City” mean?

To qualify, one of the main requirements is for residents within the designated area to welcome and support Coast Guard members and their families. On January 23, 2014, after a 90-day review by the United States Congress, Admiral R. J. Papp, Jr., then Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, signed a proclamation designating the City of Sturgeon Bay a “Coast Guard City.” Sturgeon Bay is the first city in Wisconsin to be so honored. The entire community celebrated this prestigious honor at an official proclamation ceremony on May 10, 2014 at Sawyer Park on the City’s west waterfront. Sturgeon Bay was one of sixteen communities nationwide to be named a Coast Guard City at that time, and was the first in Wisconsin.