Back to Outdoors

Tugboats and talent

42nd Annual Olympia Harbor Days, Sept. 4-6

Set sail on land and celebrate Harbor Days. Photo courtesy of Harbor Days

Email Article Print Article Share on Facebook Share on Reddit Share on StumbleUpon

Boat lovers of all ages will be thrilled with the 42nd Annual Olympia Harbor Days taking place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6. This free, three-day festival aims to celebrate the history of tugboats in the South Sound. Guests of the festival can come down to Olympia's Percival Landing Park to view the tugboats in action and even take a tour.

"This is a wonderful and unique opportunity to see and tour a tugboat," said Shelly Lively, executive director of Harbor Days.

Many different types of tugboats will be featured during the festival, including both working and retired tugboats along with vintage tugboats. On Sunday, Sept. 6, guests can watch the Annual Harbor Days Tugboat Races. The Virginia V Steamship will also be on hand, and tickets will be available to take a ride and get prime viewing for the races.

One of the great things about this festival is the tremendous amount of activities and entertainment it offers for the entire family. In addition, 100 percent of the proceeds are invested back into the surrounding community through education and providing warmth and food to those in need.

Along with the tugboats, the Tacoma Rail will feature a locomotive and caboose open for public tours. The Port of Olympia will be open as well, and it will offer free tours of the Marine Terminal. Guests can get a firsthand look at the new crane, the 2005 Gottwald.

Beyond all the big toys to take a look at, there will also be more than 200 booths with everything from artwork, jewelry, pasta and different sauces for sale. While the event aims to support the local community by featuring local artisans, the Olympia Harbor Days festival will also have a booth set up for Cabela's, which will be handing out goodies. Another local food booth will feature the delectable tastes of salmon cooked up by Lucky Eagle Casino. Other booths will feature foods from around the world, and stages will be set up around the festival grounds to showcase local musical talents.

One of the stars of the festival this year will be a former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, Comanche. This coincides with the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II as well as the 225th birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard.  On board the Comanche, George Mills, a 94-year-old WWII veteran, will graciously share stories about his experience as a landing craft operator in the Pacific. The U.S. Coast Guard has referred to Mills as a true National Treasure.

"This is such an enriching experience that no other festival offers," said Lively. "Come have fun and taste a bit of history and culture as well!"

The Olympia Harbor Days Festival, Friday, Sept. 4, 5-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 405 Columbia St., NW, Olympia, harbordays.com

Read next close

Outdoors

Ch-ch-ch-changes

comments powered by Disqus