The program for the 2025 South Australian Wooden Boat Festival (SAWBF) is shipshape and at full spinnaker with a huge line-up of events and attractions for boaties, families and anyone who loves heritage, tradition and anything maritime.

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission, this biennial event on the weekend of April 26 and 27 will feature more than 100 wooden boats – new and vintage, under sail, steam, motor and paddle.

This 19th festival will be officially opened by Her Excellency the Hon Frances Adamson AC, the Governor of South Australia.

Thousands of festivalgoers are expected to enjoy sailing races, paddle steamer cruises, steam train trips, maritime exhibits at the wharf and the Armfield Slip, the Rough ‘n’ Ready boat building competition and vintage bi-plane aerial displays.

There will also be live music, featuring performances from the Royal Australian Navy Band, great food, markets, and family- friendly entertainment with the Little Pirates Tent and the Little Picassos art exhibition.

An unmissable highlight of the festival will be a light display over the waters of the Goolwa channel on Saturday night.

Wooden boats adorned with twinkling fairy lights will line the waterfront at the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. Then, as night falls, the sky will come alive with a spectacular fireworks display launched from the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. 

The festival will also be the backdrop of a celebration on 26 April to officially open the upgrade of the historic Goolwa Wharf Precinct.

“This year’s SA Wooden Boat Festival brings together the nostalgia of our rich wooden boat history with a celebration of our major project to preserve and protect our heritage Goolwa Wharf Precinct,” says Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes.

“Goolwa Wharf is a special place, one of only two places in the world where you can step off a steam train and board a paddle steamer.

“The festival opening will recognise this unique feature with the Steam Salute, a moment when the SteamRanger train and the Paddle Steamer PS Oscar W exchange whistles.

“I’m a boatie myself so this festival is special to me because it showcases the craftsmanship of traditional boatbuilding and the heritage of Goolwa which is integral to the early history of South Australia and is now a world-class destination with a wonderful mix of tourism and cultural attractions.”

State Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison says the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Goolwa is a wonderful celebration of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s rich maritime history and the vibrant local culture.

"It’s an exciting opportunity for both locals and visitors to experience firsthand the craftsmanship, history and natural beauty that the region has to offer,” she says. 

“I am proud to support this festival through the South Australian Tourism Commission's Regional Event Fund, as it attracts thousands of local and interstate visitors, providing an incredible opportunity to showcase our State, while supporting local businesses and regional communities.”