If your kid loves boats, he or she will love the Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show. It’s the perfect place for families to enjoy an amazing variety of boats and activities while spending the day together.
Youngsters will love touring the hundreds of boats on display and getting an up-close look at the neon green Offshore World Champion race boat Miss GEICO. They’ll also get to meet some of their favorite characters, like Spider-Man and Patrick Star of “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Wild animal-lovers will be able to chat with Robbie and Stephen Keszey from the hit Discovery Channel show “Swamp Brothers,” who will be on hand Friday and Saturday to discuss their family’s adventures with venomous snakes and toothy crocodiles.
The boat show is a great place for kids to learn new skills, too. From land-paddling demos for skateboarders to SUP fitness classes, there are lots of ways to burn off energy. Kids will love testing their skills at the Power Boat Docking Challenge, a remote-controlled boat-docking game using a full-size boat helm to steer a boat down a 20-foot “lake” to the marina and into a slip. Don’t worry, adults are allowed to play too!
Events for kids
Miss GEICO race boat
All day, every day
Spider-Man
Jan. 4, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Patrick Star
Jan. 7-8, noon to 4 p.m.
Power Boat Docking Challenge
Jan. 4-6, noon to 2 p.m., 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Jan. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Jan. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“Swamp Brothers”
Jan. 6, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 4 p.m. to 6 p.m, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.;Jan. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.