Washington's Coastal Festivals
These Five Events Celebrate the Best of the Washington Coast
Visiting these Washington coast festivals means getting involved in activities like clamming, flying kites, building sand castles and beachcombing.
A visit to the Washington coast is tradition for many, who enjoy the solitude of the crashing waves or the community activities that can only happen at the beach. These five festivals celebrate the activities that make the Washington coast a favorite destination, with their own unique coastal character.
Razor Clam Festival
Ocean Shores, Mar. 14-15, 2008
Ocean Shores was once named the "Razor Clam Capital of the World" by a resolution of the City Council, and in 2007 they decided to start capitalizing on that. They launched a festival that celebrates the razor clam in all its glory — with a chowder contest, live music, activities for kids, vendors and usually, a razor clam dig scheduled for the same weekend. The first annual festival was more popular than anyone imagined — local restaurants actually ran out of chowder — but this year they'll be ready for the crowds.
Driftwood Show and Glass Float Round-Up
Grayland, Mar. 15-16, 2008
Beachcombing is a popular activity on the Washington coast, where debris and treasures wash up regularly. At this 46th annual event, beginners and seasoned beachcombers will be welcome to bring their treasures to show off, and there is a glass float round-up all day, where beachcombers search for "lucky" sand dollars to be traded in for glass floats. There will also be experts on ocean currents, live music, food and local art on display.
Ocean Shores, Jun. 27-29, 2008
The fine art of sand-castle building is combined with the impressive art of chainsaw carving in this annual event that brings huge crowds and unbelievable creations to Ocean Shores. The chainsaw carving, open to professionals from around the world, means lots of opportunities to watch sculptures emerge from blocks of wood and then bid on them at frequent auctions. But it's not just about watching; the sand-castle building part of the festival is open to professionals and to families, children and anyone who wants to enter.
Long Beach, Aug. 18-24, 2008
This week-long festival was voted the best kite festival in the world by the Kite Trade Association International, and continues to build on the tradition. The beach is full of colorful and unique kites as experts and novices alike come together to celebrate the fun of flying a kite. While you're there, visit the World Kite Museum, one of the only museums in America focusing only on kites.
Pacific Beach and Moclips, Sept. 27-28, 2008
This annual parade got started more than 40 years ago when a group of visiting tourists decided to drape themselves in kelp and parade from Moclips to Pacific Beach via the state highway. These days, it's still a wild party, where anyone can come and join in the parade on a moment's notice. There are also shake mill events, which have been added as the "Shake Rat Rendezvous" and there's a kiddie parade on Saturday.
