Olympia Harbor Days Maritime Festival & Tugboat Races

Olympia Harbor Days, the annual South Sound Maritime Heritage Association Festival along the waterfront of Olympia WA, is a heritage maritime festival featuring the World’s Largest Vintage Tugboat Show and Races and is the largest maritime festival in the region. Over 48 years, more than 100 skippers have entered their vintage tugs in the races held over Labor Day weekend in Budd Inlet, Olympia WA, in fierce competition to win their heat and have bragging rights for the next year.

Attendees enjoy a free walk aboard show and learn firsthand about the tugs, the engines, how they work, their history and how they have been restored. Each year, based on criteria, a different tug is selected to receive the coveted title of the Logo Tug for the following year (see photos below). Visit HarborDays.com for more historical and registration information.

Alongside these historic tugs you will find historic vessels like the classic Mosquito Fleet Steamship Virginia V, the WA State tall ship Lady Washington, and the US Coast Guard Cutter Comanche all offering on board and harbor touring.

In recent years, inclusion of the Coast Salish Tribal Maritime Culture shared by the Squaxin Island Tribe, has highlighted the ancestral maritime heritage of the waters of the Salish Sea, aka the Puget Sound.

The festival features the unique artists of the region with an Arts and Crafts Show, Live Music featuring an assortment of entertainment including Sea Shanty Sing-Alongs, a large Food G’Alley featuring the bounty of the seas, and lots of family friendly maritime themed activities like LEGO(R) Boat Building, professional Sand Carving with Quick Carve Contests, and more maritime fun provided by the local business and non-profit organizations.

Olympia Harbor Days is a not-for-profit event supported by area businesses and donations. Visit www.HarborDays.com for more info about the festival, where to stay, how you can enter your tug or historic vessel, or how you can help.