Submitted by South Sound Maritime Heritage Association
The South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (SSMHA) will present Harbor Days Lite, a scaled-down version of its popular 48 year-old tugboat festival, on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5 at the Port of Olympia’s Port Plaza Park, according to SSMHA President Don Chalmers. This year’s event, from 10 am to 5 pm each day, will have a smaller presence because of the COVID pandemic but will feature a few information booths, mini tug displays, a hands on LEGO Harbor Build Activity for the kids including the professional building and display of a 5’ by 4’ LEGO tugboat, a free giveaway drawing, some live music and plenty of photo ops. This year’s event will not include any tugboat touring, tugboat races, vendor or food booths.
The Lite event will also offer maps for the Maritime Heritage Self-Guided Tour along Olympia’s boardwalk and at home self-guided activities, historic photos and other information that will be offered on the Harbor Days website the same weekend. It is a continuation and expansion of last year’s limited, socially safe distanced and virtual presentation. Organizers request all attendees to be masked for the safety of the community.
“SSMHA, despite a number of continuing challenges, is pleased to present this community health-conscious Lite event,” said Chalmers. “As the founding organization, we want to keep this nearly 50-year working waterfront-focused festival alive in preparation for a full version in 2022.” The maritime heritage nonprofit is continuing to operate the event after the Olympia Kiwanis Club had presented it from 2012 – 2019.
For almost a half century, Olympia Harbor Days has been a locally-sponsored free family friendly maritime themed festival with tugboats, historic ships, booth vendors, food, music, educational classes, children’s activities and more, held each Labor Day Weekend.
For more information or to volunteer, please email info@HarborDays.com.
