It doesn’t come as a shock, but it’s a bummer nonetheless: the Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show won’t go on for 2021.
Organizers officially announced the cancellation of the January 21–24 event on Wednesday, saying the show will return to the Baltimore Convention Center in January 2022.
“This was a difficult decision and was made with the health and safety of our guests, exhibitors, and employees top of mind,” said Show Manager Jon Pritko in a press release. “Following a thorough analysis regarding the feasibility of the show, this is the most prudent course of action, and we look forward to the show returning in 2022.”
The Baltimore Boat Show, touted as the largest indoor boat show in the MD, D.C., and Chesapeake Bay regions, hosted more than 300 boats in 2020, as Bay Bulletin reported. Its interactive experiences included boat operating simulators, seminars (including a few from our Chesapeake Bay Magazine pros!) and even a crab-picking contest.
Chesapeake-region boat dealers and marine tech companies have been preparing for the possibility of cancellation, and many plan to host smaller, appointment-only open houses instead this winter.
CBM will be compiling a list of pandemic-friendly events and opportunities to shop for boats this winter, as part of our special Boat Boom section. And we’ve curated some of the newest and best boats for 2021, doing the weeding-out for you in the Boats Not to Miss section of our January/February issue, out next month.
Progressive Insurance has not yet announced any changes for its next-closest indoor boat show, the Progressive Atlantic City Boat Show, scheduled for Feb. 24–28.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
