The shores of Shell Lake will be the site of a cavalcade of wooden canoes and antique boats on August 16 and 17 as the Upper Great Lakes chapter of the national Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) holds a regional assembly of members and other interested parties. The event is open and free for the general public and will feature a variety of finely-crafted wooden canoes on display, demonstrations of canoe building craft, vendor booths offering canoe related items, a parade of canoes on Shell Lake, and organized canoe outings around the area.
The assembly of wooden canoes will take place on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM on the shores of Shell Lake in the Shell Lake Memorial Park. Vendor booths will be open at the same time. Demonstrations are scheduled on the hour from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and include birch bark canoe building, bending outwhales, and canoe canvassing. There will also be concurrent presentations on canoe poling, freestyle paddling, and local history. Visitors will also have the opportunity to ride in a Voyageur canoe and learn the art of paddling as a team. The “trading blanket” will be open from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM where you can trade, barter, buy, or sell your canoe or camping items.
Spectators should plan to assemble at the beach area at 7:30 PM for the climactic Parade of Canoes, complete with a “paddle by and salute,” which will take place upon the waters of Shell Lake. On Sunday folks can join one of the organized canoe outings in the area. There will be trips to the Bois Brule, Namekagon, and Saint Croix Rivers, as well a lake paddling event at Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary. The event is produced by the WCHA Upper Great Lakes Chapter and supported in part by the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, St Croix River Association, Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Little Lakes Canoe Restoration, and Justin’s Firewood. For more information about the WCHA Upper Great Lakes Regional Assembly call 715-205-6583 or visit: