Boating groups from near and far will cruise into Hall County for the In-Water Boat Show at Lanier Islands in Buford.

The show will run from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway.

Admission and parking are free, but motorists must pay the $15 per car resort gate fee.

For attendees who wish to arrive via boat, Lanier Islands’ Marina Manager Barkley Geib invites them to dock at the resort for free.

“Our courtesy docks at Sunset Cove will be available for customers during the show,” he said in a news release.

The docks will accommodate boats up to 35 to 40 feet in length.

Kelley Wilson, director of sponsorship and events at Lanier Islands, expects the event to have more than 500 to 1,000 people on any given day on the Friday through Sunday.

“The actual exhibitors are boating groups around the area,” Wilson said. “So all the boaters that are on Lanier Islands Parkway and then some not even close to here are coming here to put their nicest boats on the water and try to sell them.”

She added if the water and weather is good, some will even give boat rides as well.

According to a news release, some of the boats will be available for a test-drive and demonstration to qualified buyers.

Wilson explained the inspiration for the family boating event came from Lanier Islands owner, Virgil Williams.

“The owner loves the boating community around here and since the cove is a big boating community area, we just thought we’d do something with the boaters and the retailers around here,” Wilson said. “So we came up with doing an in-water boat show.”

And while the main event is the boat show, many family-friendly activities will be available.

On Saturday, Butch & the Buckheads will perform from 3-9 p.m. on the beach.

“So there will be all kinds of dancing and DJs there, all kinds of fun,” Wilson said.

A Kids Zone will be on the Big Beach with bounce houses and balloon artists from noon to 4 p.m. Mini golf also will be open on the beach.

“We have cornhole, knockerball, volleyball, and stuff like that on the beach,” Wilson said.

In addition, several boating community vendors will be on the beach as well.

As the boat show approaches, Wilson hopes for nice weather.

“Hopefully, it’ll be 80 degrees,” she said with a chuckle.

For more information, visit www.lanierislands.com.