Come sail away
Published 10:00 am Monday, March 3, 2008
The 18th annual Edmonds Waterfront Festival kicks off the summer festival season June 3 at the Edmonds Marina with activities and events celebrating local maritime heritage.
This year’s festivities include an increased emphasis on maritime activities and groups, beginning with the Family Maritime Center. New to the event is the Center for Wooden Boats family boatbuilding project.
Under the guidance of a professional boatwright and assisted by CWB’s volunteers, families will build the Union Bay Skiff together, a simple but sturdy plywood sail boat designed by local boatwright Brad Rice. CWB provides building materials and tools and the two-person, 10-foot boats will be launched at the close of the festival. Families can then take their boats home for painting and miscellaneous finish work.
The Family Maritime Center will also feature displays and demonstrations by the Edmonds Sea Scouts, Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Youth Maritime Training Association and the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. Students in the Edmonds Home School Resource Center Maritime Program will present boat building displays and demonstrate carpentry skills. Boats are also scheduled to be on display at the Edmonds public pier.
Returning festival activities include arts and crafts booths, food booths and two entertainment stages. The Beatniks, the Navy Band, the Charles White Band, Etouffee and local legend Stan Boreson are among the musical performers slated. Northwest garden expert Ciscoe Morris is scheduled to broadcast his radio show live from the festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
For children, the Kids Arcade will provide activities including an inflatable play area. There will also be a miniature train on festival grounds providing rides. Legendary children’s entertainer, J.P. Patches, will make an appearance Saturday afternoon.
Due to limited parking, festival goers are encouraged to take advantage of free shuttle buses to and from the festival grounds, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Shuttle service runs between 5th Avenue S. and Dayton Street, 5th Avenue N., Caspers Street, 9th Avenue N. and Caspers Street and the Port of Edmonds.
Admission to the Edmonds Waterfront Festival is $2, with children under 10 free. Hours for the festival itself are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 6.
The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Edmonds, with proceeds supporting programs and services in the South Snohomish County area, including scholarships and youth advocacy programs. For more information call the Rotary Club of Edmonds 425-771-1744 or visit www.edmondswaterfrontfestival.com.
