Shop Pontoons at the Lake County Fall Boat Show
Pontoons are the most popular family boat on northern Illinois lakes, and they are the heart of the show floor at the Lake County Fall Boat Show. Instead of driving from dealer to dealer, you can walk deck to deck and compare seating layouts, tube capacities, upholstery and pricing in a single afternoon at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.
Regional dealers bring their current-year pontoon lines to the show — including Bennington and Bentley Pontoons — so you can see the differences between a value touring package and a premium entertainer layout with your own eyes, then talk numbers with the dealer reps standing next to the boat.
What to Expect on the Show Floor
- Current-year pontoons from participating brands such as Bennington and Bentley Pontoons
- Side-by-side comparison of floor plans: lounge, fishing, dual-console and entertainer layouts
- Tube-towing packages and watersports accessories
- Docks, lifts, covers and pontoon accessories from show vendors
- Onsite financing representatives and show-weekend pricing
- A free trade-in evaluation on your current pontoon
Buying Considerations Before You Shop
A boat show is the best place to ask these questions, because the person answering is standing next to the boat. Bring your notes and your tow vehicle specs:
- Seating and passenger capacity for how your family actually spends a day on the water
- Motor horsepower — a 90 HP package behaves very differently than a 150 HP or 300 HP performance package
- Whether the price is a complete package (boat, motor, trailer) or boat only
- Upholstery quality, flooring options and warranty coverage
- Whether your home lake is better suited to a standard pontoon or a performance tritoon
Show Incentives & Trade-In Value
Fall is closeout season. Dealers are motivated to move current-year inventory before winter, so show-weekend pontoon pricing is typically the strongest of the year. Many participating dealers also accept your current pontoon as a trade toward a new one, and select exhibitors offer free winter storage with qualifying purchases — a real line item off your spring budget.
Ready to see what your current boat is worth? The show offers free onsite boat trade-in evaluations both days, and the full event guide covers hours, parking and directions to the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.
See Pontoon Boats at the Lake County Fall Boat Show
September 26–27, 2026 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois. Free admission and free parking — bring the whole family and compare boats side by side.