The first Charleston (S.C.) In-Water Boat Show will take place April 25-27 at Bristol Marina and Brittlebank Park in Charleston.
The Tri-County Marine Trade Association, host of the 34th annual Charleston Boat Show, which was held in January, is launching the new spring event in partnership with longtime boat show producer JBM & Associates.
Organizers said the new annual event will give boat dealers an opportunity to highlight and sell boats of all sizes and showcase trends in marine-related products and services.
“We are excited to the see the return of the most important maritime event under the management of Jacqui Bomar and her great team,” Bristol Marina managing partner Robbie Freeman said in a statement.
“The venue is one of the best on the Eastern Seaboard for an in-water boat show, with Brittlebank Park and many hotels nearby, and it will help grow the local boating economy while providing great entertainment for Charleston boating enthusiasts and visitors alike.”
“The Charleston region continues to experience steady growth of affluent people of all ages because of the quality of life the area offers, which includes boating,” said Scott Chapman, Tri-County Marine Trade Association president and Barrier Island Marine owner. “We consistently have clients who attend the Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Annapolis boat shows to make buying decisions. There is an opportunity to create a regional show to keep those people here and draw more to the area.”
Organizers also say a surge in demand for exhibitor space at the winter show, which was held Jan. 24-26, contributed to the decision to hold the spring event.
“We are completely sold out of the convention center exhibit hall and the allotted outdoor space,” JBM & Associates president Jacqui Bomar said in a statement. “We could fill a convention center twice the size at this point. Having an extension of our existing show in the spring will be a great complement to the current show and will allow us to bring in more and bigger displays.”
