The Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival, which began in 2014, is an annual three-day family friendly event that features handcrafted kayaks, paddleboards, skiffs and sailing boats — as well as historic Farley boats.

The Festival celebrates a heritage that started locally in 1915 when the Farley brothers began making some of the first production fishing boats in the US right here in Port Aransas. The Farleys closed their doors in 1975 In 2011, The Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association (PAPHA) purchased their last location. After retooling the machine shop, PAPHA gathered and trained a group of volunteers and manager to restart the tradition of building boats on the island.

This festival celebrates the success of Farley Boat Works, along with other wooden boats built and designed by individuals and kit companies from across the country.

It also provides an opportunity for prospective boats builders or seasoned boat builders to see what is out there.

One unique tradition of the festival is the Family Boat Build. Every year, four families begin building a boat at the festival start and launch it complete at the end.