Olympia Harbor Days draws thousands of people during three-day event

Thousands of people descended upon the waterfront of the Port of Olympia over Labor Day weekend for a maritime celebration that featured everything from tugboat races and harbor cruises to live music, vendors and a mermaid.

The Olympia Harbor Days festival, which dates back to 1974, started off with a Squaxin Tribe blessing on late Friday afternoon, Aug. 29, amid a backdrop of a growing number of visitors that made for a crowded stroll along the wood-planked walkway.

As the weekend progressed, the crowds grew larger with Saturday, Aug. 30, drawing the heaviest traffic to the waterfront.

Among the vendors was The JOLT News Organization, which used the opportunity to acknowledge supporters and introduce itself to hundreds of people who signed up for its newsletter, which is published Monday through Friday.

Volunteers manned The JOLT’s pop-up tent throughout the weekend in an effort to spread the word about the 5-year-old publication.

As that was going, a throng of people milled about the waterfront with some making their way to the docks.

One such person was Olympia Model Sailors member Per Flygare, who was showing people how to pilot a model sailboat. 

“I started with big boats and now show others the fun of sailing small boats,” said Flygare as Damian Pool, a visitor from Houston, Texas, took a turn at piloting a model sailboat.

The three-day event, which was presented by South Sound Maritime Heritage Association, also featured a mermaid, who was portrayed by Rose “Mermaid Lava” Downs. 

People were still walking around the waterfront late Sunday afternoon, Aug. 31, as vendors were busy packing up their goods and taking down pop-up tents ahead of a closing ceremony at 6 p.m.

“Thank you for making Olympia Harbor Days 2025 unforgettable! We’re so grateful for everyone who came out to celebrate — from our incredible visitors and talented performers to the amazing vendors, sponsors, and dedicated volunteers who made this event come to life,” said Olympia Harbor Days organizers in a Facebook post.

“Presented by South Sound Maritime Heritage Association, this weekend was packed with joy, history, and waterfront magic — and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Staff writer and photographer JM Simpson contributed to this story.