Port Townsend’s Wooden Boat Festival is the largest celebration in North America of the skills, craft, and culture of wooden boats. Thousands journey to explore vessels, spend time on the water, learn from tradespeople, dance, eat, and enjoy. Angela meets with Festival Director, Barb, for the inside scoop on this family-friendly, maritime-enthused event.

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video call with Team Notes, Lillian Signed Up To Suffer, Bristol Bear, and Race Boss Jesse. Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Ryder Booth

Video by Taylor Amble

Video by Ryder Booth

Video by Taylor Bayly

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Taylor Bayly

Video by Garret Weintrob

Between Stage 1 and Stage 2, teams patched, repaired, adjusted, and occasionally stared at broken things hoping for inspiration. Video by Jim Meyers

Video by Taylor Amble

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Garret Weintrob.

Video by Taylor Bayly.

The question is asked: What is Race to Alaska? Video by Garret Weintrob

What you might not know is that the Swan Hotel is owned and operated by Northwest Maritime — so a stay there directly supports our programs and mission. We’re grateful to Cascade PBS for shining a light on this little gem across the street from our main campus. Whether you’re coming for a race, a festival, or just to explore Port Townsend, the Swan is a great home base and your booking makes the work we do here possible. The Northwest Maritime Center is a nonprofit with the mission to engage and educate people in traditional and contemporary maritime life. Located in historic Port Townsend, NW Maritime is a hub for people to orient themselves to over 14,000 years of maritime history as well as an education center to teach anyone, youth and adults, maritime trades from learning to sail to building boats.