(File Photo) Classic boats will be featured at Historic Arnolds Park this weekend during the 27th annual Antique and Classic Wooden Boat show.

Classic boats will line the shoreline of West Lake Okoboji later this moth as the 27th Annual Antique and Classic Wooden Boat show launches Saturday, July 26.

"We run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the wooden boat show in front of the wooden roller coaster," said Paul Hedberg, president of the Jerry Dyhrkopp chapter of the Iowa Great Lakes Antique and Classic Wooden Boating Society. The boating society organizes the annual event which began in 1980. Although the show has spanned 28 years, one year was missed in 1993 because of high water.

"We're expecting 40 to 50 boats," said Hedberg. "The majority of the boats belong to our local club.... We have 45 members here locally."

While the boat show is not a judged show by professional judges, awards are chosen by the public and boat owners.

"We have a popular vote people's choice award, and when people come into the area, they will be given a ballot," said Hedberg. There is also a captain's choice award picked by the boat owners who participate in the show.

"Often the captain's choice award goes to a boat that has never been in the show before or someone has done some restoration on their boat," said Hedberg.

At the conclusion of the boat show, another special event awaits classic boats lovers.

"At 3 p.m., we do the annual wooden boat parade, and we run in Smith's Bay underneath the two bridges - Highway 71 and the railroad bridge," said Hedberg. "We do a big circle over there and come back again. There's quite an area there for viewing, so people can see the boats in the water and running. It's a good place to take pictures."

A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 27 at the same time. The show is free and open to the public.