The first-ever National Houseboat Expo's On Water House Boat Show, presented by Houseboat Magazine, will be held Sept. 25-27 at State Dock, according to Bill Jasper, president of the renowned Lake Cumberland dock.

During the three-day event, numerous houseboat manufacturers will be showcasing their new models on the water and will allow attendees to perform live test runs and trials.

"We've been quite surprised in the interest in this," Jasper said. "We've got people flying in from all over the country to attend."

He said many of the attendees would be staying on the dock, who is hosting the event, in their famed "boatels" or at the state park's Lure Lodge.

The National Houseboat Expo is one of the world's largest houseboat shows and is based in Louisville but Jasper noted that the cost to transport many of the big boats to Louisville was expensive.

The chance to have a show like this on Lake Cumberland was an opportunity that State Dock couldn't pass up.

"We're going to have a collection of some of the nicest boats in the country right here on Lake Cumberland," Jasper said.

Jasper said if you are looking to buy a new or used houseboat the dock would be the place to be this weekend.

Numerous companies are signed up to attend the events as vendors, selling houseboat specific products and accessories, along with the big boats themselves.

On Friday the action begins at 3 p.m. when both local and national houseboat dealers, manufacturers and vendors will set up to give a glimpse into this upcoming year's trends in the industry.

On Saturday and Sunday the fun begins at 10 a.m., according to event officials.

Jasper said a feature on Saturday night will be Boo Boo's famous Cajun Cookin' when Winton "Boo Boo" Rebouche, a nationally known Cajun chef, brings his spicy bayou cooking to Lake Cumberland.

A cornhole tournament, sponsored by Boardz N Bagz, will also be featured at the event. Cash prizes will be awarded to the tournaments top players. For tournament details visit www.boardznbagz.com

Another feature at the event will be the Captain's Course, taught by 100-ton master captain Don Hevener, which will allow people that come to the show to spend some time with a licensed boating captain who will provide tips on how to operate, navigate and dock your big boat.

Emphasis will also be put on learning the latest safety procedures and captaining skills.

An On Dock Poker Run is also set to take place during the event.

Registration is required to participate in that specific event.

According to event officials, cards will be placed in strategic locations around the dock, giving you the chance for the winning hand.

Poker run participants will receive a complimentary on water tee shirt.

Live music entertainment is also planned for both Friday and Saturday nights, according to Jasper.

Rock and roll music will be featured on Friday night as Super 69 performs, followed by the Parrot Head Junkies, a Jimmy Buffet band, on Saturday night.

"We have a lot of vendors coming in," Jasper said. "It should be another big weekend."

Tickets to the event will be on sale as you approach the dock for $5. A three-day pass is also available for $10, according to Jasper.

The National Houseboat Expo itself is held each year in Louisville at the Kentucky Expo Center. The upcoming show will be on March 5 - 7, 2010.

For more information, visit the Houseboat Expo Web site at www.houseboatexpo.com