OlympiaHARBOR DAYS

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF VINTAGE TUGBOAT RACING HOSTED AGAIN BY SOUTH SOUND MARITIME HERITAGE ASSOCIATION.

With gratitude and open hearts, the South Sound Maritime Heritages Association wants to thank the thousands of tugboat, workboat, military, and historic vessel skippers, captains and crews who have set a course to Olympia and navigated the waterways of the Puget Sound to create the annual fleet of ships for 50 years. It is estimated that over 1,000 vessels, many multiple times, have travelled to historical Percival Landing and graced our docks with their presence, sharing their history, and participating in the walk aboard show and the historic and World’s Largest and Longest Running Vintage Tugboat Races.

Olympia Harbor Days was established in 1974 with a small gathering of tugboats and other historic vessels. The first organized tugboat race was held in 1975. In 1978 downtown merchants, artists and musicians created a companion shoreside event known as HarborFair. By 1983 both events were combined into one festival with the logo, designed by Karla and Chuck Fowler, to have a dual purpose as identity for the festival and as recognition and a coveted award for the attending vintage tugs and skippers. The tugboat in the logo changes annually. To become a “Logo Boat” the tugboat had to have been the oldest tug in attendance the prior year that had not previously been awarded the title. The logo is displayed on publicity materials, shirts and hats, and other festival merchandise.

Over the years the festival has provided the platform to an estimated 10,000 or more local and regional groups including: artists, businesses, captains, crafters, entertainers, food vendors, musicians, nonprofits, skippers, and more. The annual festival creates a place for them to share their work, lives, history, businesses, and passions with the community. The community receives a fun weekend filled with features for the whole family to enjoy, making the memories that live events create.

The South Sound Maritime Heritage Association, currently the host of Olympia Harbor Days, was one of the founders of the event. Other founders and stakeholders included the City of Olympia, the Port of

Olympia, the Historical Society, the Olympia Downtown Alliance, and many others who still support the iconic maritime heritage festival today. We specifically want to shout out to the Olympia Kiwanis Club and Foundation who hosted the event for eight years.

And thank you to two more amazing groups: the Sponsors and Community Partners of Olympia Harbor Days whose generous donations have supported the festival and kept Olympia Harbor Days a free to the community event for 50 years and still counting. The second group is the community of volunteers from all over Thurston County who assist with set up, check in, greeting, the tugboat races, take down and clean up year after year –your strength and commitment is to be admired.

And last but not least, a huge thank you to those that travel near and far to enjoy and celebrate the end of the summer along the beautiful waterfront of Olympia.

We hope you enjoy this year’s Olympia Harbor Days 50th Celebration!

Olympia Harbor Days

Friday, September 1, 2023 - 5pm-9:30pm

Saturday, September 2, 2023 - 10am-7pm

Sunday, September 3, 2023 - 10am-6pm

Info@HarborDays.com - For information about this year’s 50th Olympia Harbor Days celebration events September 1-3, 2023.

MaritimeOly.org - For a more information about South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (SSMHA), membership, and an extensive history of Olympia Harbor Days.

DONATIONS

Help keep the tugboats coming to Olympia - fueled by your support. Please join the community and the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association to help keep Olympia Harbor Days a FREE family festival with a suggested donation of $5 a person or $10 per family. Donations in the yellow collection boxes at the festival or online at HarborDays.com. Thank You!

FREE PARKING

Self park on the east grassy gravel lot at Market St. and Marine Dr. east of the Farmers Market. On street parking and private lots may also be available for a fee. Please, no event parking at the Olympia Farmers Market.

Places To Stay

Visit HarborDays.com for links to our partner hotels.

TRAVELING BY BOAT?

Please note that the Port Plaza and Percival Landing docks are reserved exclusively for tugboats and vessels registered to participate in Olympia Harbor Days. Thank you for your understanding.

Consider Riding The Bus

Visit Intercity Transit for routes and schedules.

STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE SCHEDULE AND SAVE TO YOUR PHONE. All activities subject to change.

Live Music Lineup At The Port Plaza Tower Stage

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1