By Alyssa Ramsfield
Labor Day Weekend is one of many signs pointing out the end of summer is upon us. Step aboard and sail away into the summer sunset at this year’s Olympia Harbor Days September 4 – 6, 2015. This community driven event brings 42 years of tugboats and local maritime heritage to the downtown Olympia waterfront.
“This year is really going to the one of the coolest,” explains Harbor Days’ Executive Director, Shelly Lively. “We are making it an all-out party this year.” With two days of tugboat tours, races, arts and crafts, and local food vendors, Harbor Days will say “bon voyage” to summer with a spectacular celebration.
“We are so incredibly grateful to partner with the Tugboat Comanche this year,” says Lively. “The Comanche will have a special World War II feature with George Mills, a 94-year-old veteran, joining us. George was a Coast Guard landing craft operator in the Pacific during World War II. The Coast Guard ran most landing craft. He has an amazing story and the Coast Guard historians consider him a national treasure,” Lively continues. “George and his wife, Ruby, will be aboard the Comanche Friday and Saturday. We are looking forward to sharing this ambassador of history with our community.”
The stars of Harbor Days are always the tugboats. “They are such a symbol of our heritage,” says Lively. “This event is a great way to tour the tugboats and appreciate their history. It’s always a lot of fun to see just what those little tugs can do out on the water!”
You can watch the tugboats in action during Sunday’s tugboat races from many vantage points along the Olympia waterfront. Tickets to cruise on the Virginia V Steamship and enjoy the view from the water are also available for purchase. The spectator cruise departs at 11:00 a.m and returns at 2:00 p.m. giving those on board a course-side seat to all the action. Tickets can be preordered online here. Spectators can also tune in to Mixx 96.1 for live play-by-play of the event.
One hour cruises will also be given on Saturday aboard the Virginia V for $5. Enjoy live music Friday night and both Saturday and Sunday starting around noon. A full schedule of the weekend’s events can be found at the Harbor Days website.
While checking out the nearly 30 tugboats on display is a must, there will be other forms of transportation on hand to discover. “A locomotive and a caboose will be open at the Port of Olympia for tours,” describes Lively. “We will also have a fire truck and hazard response vehicles on site.” Free tours of the Port of Olympia Marine Terminal will take place as well where attendees can see the new, massive harbor crane. These tours are only available on Saturday and start on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Harbor Days wouldn’t be complete without a variety of food and art. “Over 250 vendor booths will line the Port,” says Lively. “Food vendors are always a hit. We also have many different local artisans running the arts and crafts booths. From leather goods to sculptures, there is really something for everyone.”
All of the money raised during the festival is given to the Kiwanis Club of Olympia. “The Kiwanis use the money for kids in our community,” explains Lively. “They do a lot of great work with schools as well. Harbor Days not only brings people together through a fun event, but it also takes care of the people in our community by donating funds to the Kiwanis.”
Enjoy the 42nd annual Olympia Harbor Days with your family and say “farewell” to summer with this celebration of maritime history, heritage and happiness. Visit Harbor Days online for more information and a schedule of events.
Olympia Harbor Days
Friday, September 4 – 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 5 – 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 6 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
