It's an interesting annual event marking the end of winter and beginning of the boating season.
On Saturday, the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) and Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) will host the "Burning of the Socks" event where the public is encouraged to toss their socks into the fire and enjoy a cold beer.
The concept of burning socks while drinking beer began in 1978 when Capt. Bob Turner, who managed the Annapolis Yacht Yard at the time, shed his dirty socks, dropped them in a paint-roller tray, sprinkled them liberally with lighter fluid and put a match to the mess. Now this ritual is celebrated in many places throughout the US to mark the beginning of the boating season, according to the Door County Maritime Museum.
The event also includes a viewing part of the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at 5:45 p.m. Fancy hats are encourage but not required.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club and is free and open to the public.
Burning of the socks and a cannon salute to summer will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The SBYC and the DCMM are also offering deals for the public to join one or both organizations on May 6.
For more information, call (920) 743-5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.
