Labor Day weekend is here, and Olympia Harbor Days (OHD) is underway at the waterfront. From Percival Landing to Port Plaza, attendees found themselves immersed Friday night in activities, entertainment, art, culture and history. Vendors provided food, information and handcrafted products. Kids found their inner superhero thanks to the talents of the festival’s face painters and animals came to life in the hands of an expert balloon artist. Live music could be enjoyed no matter which end of the festival you favored, and performers gave life to the boardwalk.
While opening ceremonies may have passed and classic vessels, like the Steamer Virginia V may have already docked, the festivities have only just begun.
For 45 years, OHD has been offering FREE family friendly fun. Jennie Foglia-Jones, from the Port of Olympia, shares what she is looking forward to most this year.
“OHD 2018 brings back community favorites, like the tall ships and of course the tugboat races,” assured Jennie, “but attendees will also get to enjoy additions like live music at Port Plaza. Most exciting for us at the Port is the Port of Olympia tours that will be offered from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., every hour on the hour on Saturday. These tours will really give the community an insider’s scoop into the work the Port does, the tools they use and the dynamic contributions they make to the South Sound economy.”
A complete schedule of the festival’s events can be found both on the Olympia Harbor Days website or at the event where you will find ample signage, posters, and volunteers to help you navigate your way. The festival will be open Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
I highly recommend making time this weekend for these Top Ten 2018 OHD attractions:
- Tugboat Tours
- Sailing on a Tallship
- Legos Harbor Display and Building Tables
- Salmon Bake
- Quick Carve Contests
- Remote Control Tugs
- The Pirates Parade
- Live Music and Performances
- Book Giveaway
- And of course! The World’s Largest Tugboat Races
“Olympia Harbor Days is such an important piece of our community,” Jennie added, “Not only does it reach residents of every age and interest, but it also brings visitors to our beautiful waterfront and offers an opportunity to learn about Olympia’s proud maritime history.”
Any other weekend of the year you may be a landlubber, but this Labor Day weekend, event organizers, Kiwanis Club of Olympia, urge you to shake the barnacles from your sea legs, grab your favorite mateys and head to the harbor for Olympia’s most revered farewell to summer tradition. See you there!
