Lighthouse Festival lights way to fun in Mukilteo

The Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival recognizes more than a building.

It’s a celebration of the coastal city and its community.

“We think people should come out to enjoy where we are and who we live near,” said Shannon McCarty, director of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce.

The 48th annual festival, which begins today and runs through Sunday, is pirate-themed.

It’s a family affair from the teen battle of the bands to marching in the parade to bouncing on inflatables. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as pirates.

“It’s really a community effort,” McCarty said. “A lot of different people in the community bring activities to the festival.”

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo dish the fish all three days for the festival’s salmon bake. Besides the fish, the bake includes salad, coleslaw and corn.

The Mukilteo Lions Club will host a hot-dog-eating contest at 2 p.m. Saturday. Contestants will gobble down as many frankfurters as they can in the three-minute time limit. It’s $20 to enter, but hey, it’s all you can eat.

The Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club will bring families to the waterfront for a kids’ fishing derby. It’s free; just bring a pole and bait.

Local high school students will compete in a battle of the bands at the Rosehill Community Center on Saturday.

A Mukilteo teacher from the Gene Nastri School of Music will bring musical instruments for an “instrument petting zoo” to teach kids about instruments from noon to 2:15 p.m. Saturday.

And most of the musicians will come together for the parades along Harbour Point Boulevard on Saturday.

The children’s parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and the grand parade at 10:45 a.m.

A fireworks show takes place Saturday night.

Ashley Stewart: 425-339-3037; astewart@heraldnet.com.

Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival

Sept. 6 through 8, at Lighthouse Park, 609 Front St., Mukilteo.

Hours: 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: Free, with charges for some activities.

Take the shuttle: There is no parking at the event. Catch a free shuttle from Olympic View Middle School, 2602 Mukilteo Speedway, or Kamiak High School, 10801 Harbour Pointe Blvd. Shuttles run about every 30 minutes from 2:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information: www.mukilteolighthousefestival.com.

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