End-of-Season Boat Deals in Northern Illinois
Fall is the smartest time of year to buy a boat, and the Lake County Fall Boat Show is built around that fact. Every September, the region’s dealers gather their current-year pontoons, tritoons, wake boats, fishing boats and bowriders at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake and price them to close out the season.
We won’t promise you a specific dollar amount of savings — that depends on the dealer, the model and the deal you strike. But the mechanics of fall buying are simple, and they all point in the buyer’s favor.
NO PAYMENTS FOR 6 MONTHS AT THE SHOW
Qualified buyers who purchase a boat at the show make no payments for 6 months. On approved credit through participating dealers — ask any exhibitor on the show floor for details.
Why Fall Is the Best Time to Buy a Boat
Inventory closeouts
Boat dealers price current-year inventory to move before winter, just like car dealers do at model-year changeover. The boats on the show floor are the ones dealers want off their books by November — and you get to inspect every one in person before you negotiate.
Model-year timing
A new model year begins the moment the old one is discounted. Fall buyers compare the discounted current-year boat against next year's incoming model and decide for themselves whether the savings beat the updates — a comparison you simply cannot make in spring.
Strong trade-in conversations
Dealers want used inventory in stock and ready for spring shoppers, so fall is when trade-in talks happen with genuine intent. Bring your current boat for a free onsite evaluation and apply its value toward fall pricing on a new one.
Free winter storage offers
Select exhibitors offer free winter storage with qualifying purchases at the show. That's a real line item off your first year of ownership — ask each dealer for the details of their storage offer while you negotiate.
Which boat type is on your list? Compare pontoon boats, tritoon boats, wake boats, fishing boats, bowrider boats on the show floor — and bring your current boat for a free trade-in evaluation while you shop.
Shop the Fall Deals — Free Admission
September 26–27, 2026 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois. Free admission, free parking, and the region's dealers under one roof for the last weekend of the boating sales season.