Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival: Festival puts spotlight on lighthouse

Terry Preshaw's voice filled with excitement as she spoke recently about the 43rd annual Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival.

"It's going to be such a great weekend," said Preshaw, the event's publicity chairwoman.

"We always think of a cele­bration as something the community creates, and we all have a wonderful time providing this to the community. All of our volunteers are amazing … this would not be happening without these volunteers."

Each year, the staff combines old-fashioned, and new, things to create a down-home feeling of an event that is professionally run, she said.

This year, for the first time, the city has a float for the grand parade.

"All of our city neighbors have their own floats, but we never did before. … Floats can create a tremendous sense of community, especially when community helps create it," Preshaw said.

Mayor Joe Marine said the Mukilteo float, a flatbed-trailer-sized lighthouse, will be greatly representative of the city.

"When you think of Mukilteo, the lighthouse is what we're most known for, whether it's by people here or from other cities."

He noted that as far as the community being involved with it, various community groups had their say in the planning. This year's grand marshal, former city council member Bruce Richter, will be accompanied by his wife, Trudy, and the mayor, in the 11 a.m. Saturday parade.

Along with bounce houses, face painting and art projects for children, a "musical instrument petting zoo" has been added. This means after the Mukilteo Community Chamber Orchestra's 1 p.m. Sunday performance, instruments will be set out, courtesy of Kennelly Keys Music, so youngsters can play, too.

"That's one of the best parts of the festival, for me, is to see the look on the kids' faces as they get to try something totally new," Preshaw said.

Some "old-fashioned" parts of the event include the Lion's Club pancake breakfast, 7 a.m. Saturday at Harbour Pointe Lutheran Church, 5425 Harbour Pointe Blvd.; public kite-flying, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lighthouse Park; a fishing derby, 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the ferry terminal fishing pier and a fudge-carving contest at 2 p.m. Sunday at the community center. Quilt and art shows and stage entertainment will be ongoing.

One tradition earns Preshaw's vote for the best day to attend -- Saturday night fireworks.

"The fireworks are phenomenal," she said. "If I had to choose a day to go, and if you like fireworks at all, I'd say Saturday is the day to go. The kids go nuts over it. It's one of the highlights, for sure." That starts at dusk Saturday on the waterfront.

While admission is free, visitors should plan for the purchase of food. Organizers strive to provide both traditional and ethnic fare, Preshaw said, like last year's Hawaiian luau food booth. The Kiwanis' salmon bake will operate all three days this year.