Santa Barbara Maritime Museum marks World Boating Day with hands-on boat-building event.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and Sail to Shelter will host a family boat-building activity called Port, Starboard & Sails on May 23, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the museum patio, inviting children to build boats from reclaimed materials and offering free family day passes.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum will celebrate World Boating Day on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with a family activity called Port, Starboard & Sails. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the museum patio in Santa Barbara Harbor. Children are invited to design and build boats from reclaimed materials and create handmade sails. The program is presented in partnership with Sail to Shelter and includes free family day passes to the museum. Event details: - Date and time: Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Location: Patio of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in the Santa Barbara Harbor. - Activities: Children will design and build boats from reclaimed materials, make handmade sails, and learn basic maritime vocabulary such as port and starboard and parts of a boat; the program will also touch on vessel types like sloops, cutters, and keelboats. - Admission: SBMM is offering free family day passes for visitors who wish to participate and explore museum exhibits. - Partnership: The event is a collaboration with Sail to Shelter, an organization that repurposes retired sails into durable goods and community projects. Summary: The activity is intended to introduce young visitors to boat design, reuse, and maritime concepts through hands-on projects and conversation. It aligns with World Boating Day, a global initiative by the Superyacht Life Foundation that invites organizations to open their doors and share boating stories. The event is scheduled for May 23, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the museum patio, where families can take part in the boat-building activities and visit the museum exhibits.