The Anacortes Waterfront Festival takes place on the first full weekend in June. Here are the top 10 reasons to attend the festival, courtesy of Anacortes.org.

1) Enjoy a Free Boat Ride

Brought to you by the Anacortes Yacht Club. Get there early on Saturday and Sunday for a free boat ride in the waters around Anacortes. The first boats head out at 10:00 am each day. You can sign up for your ride starting at 9:45 am at the gazebo by the Marina office. Much thanks to the Anacortes Yacht club for donating their time and use of their boats for the community event!

2) Quick and Dirty Boat Building Demonstration

Coordinated by the Anacortes Small Boat Center, teams work from 10am to 3pm on Saturday to build boats out of limited materials and then demonstrate their floatability. All proceeds from the entry fees and judging go to help fund ASBC’s long-term goal of a permanent small-boat facility in Anacortes. Click here to watch a video of the boat building and demonstration.

3) Corvettes and Classic Cars

Chat with auto enthusiasts at the Car Shows, happening on Saturday (Corvettes) and Sunday (Classic & Custom). Presented by the Majestic Glass Corvette Club, there are trophies handed out to some of the best cars, plus door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

4) Channel of Discovery

Guests at the festival can learn about the groups in our community that work to preserve our local resources and those that enjoy getting out on the water. Guests can also see and learn about RC boats, get safety tips from the U.S. Coast Guard, and talk with festival sponsors, such as HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery to learn about how they give back to the community.

5) Build a Boat with Fidalgo Island Rotary

Open to kids of all ages, the Fidalgo Island Rotary hosts this free activity that has become a tradition for families. Kids can build their own boat and float it in the Rotary Pond.

6) Play Checkers and Explore the Marina

Exploring the rest of Cap Sante Marina to discover way Seafarer’s Memorial Park is such a draw for locals.

7) Enjoy Delicious Treats

Sample an awesome variety of festival food from local vendors. From BBQ to ice cream, the Waterfront Festival serves up a mouthwatering selection of food options to choose from. For many, the festival is a chance to enjoy their first foot-long corn dog of the summer!

8) Live Music

Listen to local musicians at the Shell Entertainment Stage.

The festival features 13 different groups, from local and school performers to headline musicians.

9) Have a Ball in the Pay for Play Area

Spend some time in the pay-for-play area! There are several entertainment areas where you can spend a couple of dollars for priceless memories.

10) Support Small Business

Browse arts, crafts, home goods, and food booths made by friendly people you can chat with! Many of these merchants are small business owners who travel, exploring parts of America and sharing their products with festival attendees. With more than 65 different art, craft, and marine-related vendors at the festival, guests are sure to find unique gifts and maybe even something for themselves.

For the full schedule, visit Waterfront Festival | Experience Anacortes

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Another chance for free boat rides is a bit closer to home: the Shilshole BoatFest on Saturday, June 3 from 11am to 4pm. The festival takes place at the Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle and features free boat rides, boating safety information and other activities. Later in the month, the Bell Harbor Classic Weekend offers a classic boat parade, then the opportunity to tour boats in your soft-soled shoes. The Bell Harbor Classic Weekend takes place on June 17 and 18 at Seattle’s Pier 66.