Explore Anacortes 2020 by Skagit Publishing

Explore

Anacortes

2020

A visitors guide for a special island community in northwest Washington

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

anacortesvisitor.com A supplement to the Anacortes American

Table of Contents Welcome to Anacortes ....................................................... 4 Viewpoints ........................................................................ 5 Weather .............................................................................. 6 Get Outside ....................................................................... 7 Recreation ......................................................................... 9 Guemes Island ................................................................. 11 Getting Around ................................................................ 12 Tribal Nations .................................................................. 13 Explore History .............................................................. 14 Anacortes Art Scene ........................................................ 15 Farmers Market ................................................................ 17 Calendar of Events ......................................................... 18 Enjoy Anacortes ............................................................. 22

About the Cover Photographer Michael Rauwolf took our Explore Anacortes cover photo this year. Anacortes American staff held a photo contest for the cover and then voted on a winner. See other entries throughout the guide and on pages 22 and 23.

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Editor Colette Weeks cweeks@goanacortes.com

Layout Briana Alzola

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Duby Petit dpetit@skagitpublishing. com John Williams jwilliams@skagitpublishing.com

Welcome to Anacortes Anacortes is an eclectic town with coastal charm and natural beauty. It’s nestled on Fidalgo Island, surrounded by sparkling water and brilliant sunsets. The island hosts protected forest lands, abundant recreation, a walkable downtown, a large art and music scene and a working waterfront. You can experience: • Almost 3,000 acres of preserved forest lands with trails for hiking and biking • Water recreation that includes nature watching, boating and fishing • An active art scene, including a massive annual arts festival each August and a downtown art walk on the first Friday of each month • Festivals celebrating the waterfront, art, wine, beer, pets, children, motorcycles and oysters • History in the museum and in colorful murals around town of people from the city’s past

Contributed / Ann Meyers

Ann Meyers captured this photo from Mount Erie, one of Fidalgo Island’s best viewpoints. The mountain gives sightseers the chance to see all around the island and beyond.

Viewpoints

Contributed / Diane Zurcher

Photographer Diane Zurcher calls this image “Tranquil Morning.” It shows a tugboat heading toward early morning fog. In the distance is Mount Baker.

Don’t miss these stops

• Walk the Tommy Thompson Trail, check out the boats at Cap Sante Marina and pick up fresh seafood. • On Saturdays from May to October, the Anacortes Farmers Market offers fresh produce, cooked foods and artisan crafts. • The W.T. Preston snagboat and Maritime Heritage Center offer a look into Anacortes’ waterfront past.

• Commercial Avenue is the main business area, with locally owned stores downtown offering books, art, clothing, gifts, antiques and more. Taverns and dining options are plentiful. • The Anacortes Community Forest Lands cover nearly 3,000 acres and offer numerous hiking trails.

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• Mount Erie provides views from the center of Fidalgo Island. On a clear day, most of the island can be seen along with parts of Whidbey Island to the south, North Cascades to the east and San Juans to the west. To get there, head south on Commercial Avenue, turn right on 32nd Street and left on H Avenue. The road turns into Heart Lake Road. Past the lake, turn left onto Ray Auld Drive to Erie Mountain Drive. A steep drive or long hike rises about 1,000 feet to the top. The best viewpoint is just beyond the access to the huge cell tower at the top. • Cap Sante provides the most scenic overlook of Anacortes as well as Mount Baker, March Point, Guemes

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Island and the waters of the San Juans. A hike from the top can lead visitors to an amptitheater carved into the side of the island. From downtown, take Fourth Street east and take a right on V Avenue, which leads to the park at the top. • Sunset Beach at Washington Park on the northwest end of the island has an open beach looking out on Rosario Strait. Nearby is Loop Road, which wraps around the park’s peninsula and offers views of Rosario Strait, Burrows Bay and Island, and the south end of Fidalgo Island. The loop has parking spots along the way with picnic tables at Green Point and a landmark madrona tree and views

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of the Skyline neighborhood at Fidalgo Head. Take the 15-minute journey to the city-owned park by following 12th Street west. The name of the road changes along the way but leads to the park. Take the right fork near the beach area. • Deception Pass State Park extends across both Fidalgo and Whidbey islands. Scenic spots in the state park include at Pass Lake, Rosario Beach and Bowman Bay. But the iconic photo spots are at pullouts along Highway 20 just before and at the two Deception Pass bridges. Follow Highway 20 to Oak Harbor. A state Discover Pass is needed to park on the Whidbey side of the bridge.

Get Outside Forest Lands The Anacortes Community Forest Lands encompass 2,800 acres preserved from development. It features forest lands, meadows, wetlands, Mount Erie and Sugarloaf Mountain, as well as Cranberry, Whistle and Heart lakes. Its 50 miles of trails accommodate hikers, bicyclists and horse riders. Some allow twowheeled motorcycles. Dogs must be on a leash. Color trail maps on water-resistant paper are available at City Hall, 904 Sixth St., and at the Visitor Information Center, 819 Commercial Ave. Suite A. Electronic versions are on the city’s website, anacorteswa.gov.

Anacortes sees sun most of the year.

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Weather

Anacortes enjoys the benefits of Pacific Northwest rain, but the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountain shields the city from some of the clouds that pass through the area. That means more sunny days each year than the city’s neighbors to the east. Anacortes averages about 28 inches of rainfall a year and sees roughly 230 days a year with sunny skies for at least part of the day. Signs of spring can often be seen as early as February. Summer weather usually arrives around July, bringing days that are dry and sunny but rarely too hot. Temperatures are often in the 70s from July to September. October is sometimes what counts for a short fall season, with colder temperatures often arriving in early November with lots of wind. Winters are fairly mild, however, sometimes without snow — or very little.

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Parks • Ace of Hearts Rotary Park, 38th Street and H Avenue. A Little League field and off-leash dog park with a watering station, wash-off hose and a separate area for small dogs. • Anacortes Meditative Labyrinth, 1702 22nd St. Meditative labyrinth open to all. • Ben Root Skate Park, 2313 R Ave. in the Alice Parchman Newland Park. A 7,500-square-foot concrete skate area with lights, seating and restrooms. • Cap Sante Park, 1000 W Ave. A 37-acre forested area at the top of Cap Sante, offering views of Anacortes, Fidalgo Bay and March Point. • Causland Memorial Park, 710 N Ave. This 2-acre park is dedicated to Anacortes veterans and is on the National Register of Historic Places, featuring decorative rock structures, including a bandstand and amphitheater. • Clearidge Park on Blakely Drive is a small neighborhood park with two tennis courts and a basketball court.

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Contributed / Pam Kolbe

Pam Kolbe snapped this photograph of a November 2019 day on the trails at Little Cranberry Lake, part of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. • Guemes Channel Trail starts at the Edwards Way cul-de-sac. The walking/biking path runs about one mile along Guemes Channel toward downtown Anacortes.

• John and Doris Tursi Park, 2200 Pennsylvania Ave., is a neighborhood park just east of the Anacortes Airport. Playground, picnic tables, a log pavilion and nature trail.

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Contributed / Paul Dammon

Recreation Kayaking • Anacortes Kayak Tours offers tours and guides, including everything from an hour or two to multiple days. anacorteskayaktours.com.

Whale-watch, nature tours

Contributed / Marlene Bocast

Marlene Bocast captured this image of a person watching the sunset at Washington Park. The park is made up of 220 acres and features beaches, a playground, a campground and hiking and walking trails. • Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 1708 Sixth St. Two acres overlooking Guemes Channel and the Guemes Island ferry landing area with benches, picnic tables, pathways, an overlook and beach access. • N Avenue Park, Second Street and N Avenue. Small park at a street end with views of Guemes Channel. • Roadside Park, Kansas and Oakes Avenues. Small park at a street end with picnic tables and views of Guemes Channel. Stairs lead to Guemes Channel Trail. • Rotary Park, 701 T Ave. The 1.5-acre park runs along the shoreline of a Fidalgo Bay inlet at the base of Cap Sante and next to Cap Sante Marina. Features disc golf course, walking trails, a gazebo, picnic tables and beach access. • Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve, between the Washington State Ferries terminal and Edwards Way cul-

de-sac. Features 25 acres of freshwater wetlands, 5 acres of upland habitat and 2,000 feet of sandy beach and eelgrass beds. A walking trail/boardwalk protects sensitive areas. • Shugarts Playground, 10th Street and N Avenue. A half-acre park next to the Anacortes Public Library with a small playground and benches. • Storvik Park, 1110 32nd St. The 8.7-acre park is home to the community-built Our Town Our Park playground. Includes a spray park open in the summer, plus a Little League field, two basketball courts, barbecues and picnic shelter. To reserve the shelter, call 360-293-1918. • Tommy Thompson Parkway is 3.3 miles of paved trail for pedestrians and bicyclists that runs along the west side of Fidalgo Bay, leading to a walkway over the bay on a former train trestle connecting to March Point. Trail heads are at 22nd Street and R

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Avenue, 30th Street and U Avenue, and in the Fidalgo Bay Resort at 4701 Fidalgo Bay Road. • 28th Street Playground, 28th Street and Q Avenue, a half-acre children’s playground. • Volunteer Park, 1915 13th St. The city’s sports center has a fastpitch/Little League field, two regulation baseball fields, a field house, Kiwanis Meadows soccer field, basketball court and Doug Colglazier Playground. The park also has walking paths and a covered picnic shelter. • Washington Park, 6300 Sunset Ave. The park encompasses 220 acres on the west side of Fidalgo Island. It has day-use and overnight camping facilities for tents and RVs, a boat launch, picnic shelters, playground and showers. A scenic 2.3-mile loop road around the park can be walked or driven. Camping reservations: 360293-1918

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Heading out in a boat may mean a glimpse of whales that visit the area, such as orcas, gray whales, humpbacks and minke, plus an array of other marine life, including seals, otters, bald eagles and various fish. Tours generally run from April to October with rates ranging from about $60 to $150. Binoculars are encouraged. • Island Adventures, island-adventures.com. 800-465-4604 or 360-2932428 • Outer Island Excursions, outerislandx.com. 360-376-3711 • Deception Pass Tours, deceptionpasstours.com. 888-909-TOURS

Cycling • Anacortes Community Forest Lands offer easy to moderate trails. Color trail maps on water-resistant paper are available at City Hall, 904 Sixth St., and at the Visitor Information Center, 819 Commercial Ave. Suite A, or download at cityofanacortes.org. • The Tommy Thompson Parkway is a scenic, flat ride from downtown along the east side of the island on a paved trail that leads to the trestle that crosses Fidalgo Bay to March Point. Add more cycling miles by following the road around the point and then back to the trestle. • The Guemes Channel Trail follows a former railway on the north side of the island. It provides scenic views of the channel, Guemes Island and

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Contributed / John Wilkinson

See Anacortes and its wildlife from the water or by trail.

Guemes Island

Mount Baker. Trail connections are off Edwards Way in the San Juan Passage subdivision and down the wooden stairs at Oakes and Kansas avenues.

Guemes Island is accessible only by water, but all it takes is a five-minute ferry ride from downtown Anacortes to get there — with or without a vehicle. The island offers places to hike, new things to see and a store that features local food and live music. The ferry terminal is at 500 I Ave. in Anacortes, and the ferry runs every half-hour or so. Visit skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksFerry/main.htm

Golf, tennis, swimming • Swinomish Golf Links, 12518 Christianson Road, is an 18-hole, par72 public course on the west side of Fidalgo Island between Fidalgo and Similk bays. The course is rated 67.8 for men and 65.2 for women. It has a slope rating of 110 for men and 106 for women. Operated by the Swinomish Casino & Lodge. swinomishgolflinks.com. 360-293-3444. • Six tennis courts are at Anacortes Middle School, 22nd Street near J Avenue. • Two tennis courts are at Clearidge Park, 1900 block of Blakely Drive next to the Anacortes Airport. • Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center, 1603 22nd St., is a 25-yard pool. Its schedule includes times for open swims and lap swims. The facility includes a 1,900-square-foot fitness center. fidalgopool.com. 360-2930673

for a schedule. The Guemes Island Resort offers a variety of accommodations and features a boat launch, kayaks and a sauna. Young’s Park, 13 acres next to the resort, has picnicking amenities and water access for day use. Head east for a great view of nearby islands from Guemes Mountain, which has a 1.2-mile hiking trail that climbs 550 feet to the summit.

Marinas • Cap Sante Marina, 1019 Q Ave., is owned and operated by the Port of Anacortes. It is a Customs port-of-entry on the west side of Fidalgo Bay within walking distance to downtown stores and restaurants. The marina provides permanent and transient moorage. Floats have power and water. Features restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, fuel dock, pump-out stations, boat launch and Wi-Fi. portofanacortes.com/marina. 360-293-0694. • Skyline Marine Center, 2011 Skyline Way, at Flounder Bay on Fidalgo Island is a full-service marina with slips up to 100 feet. Features guest moorage, a travel lift, fuel, pump-out services, shower and laun-

Contributed / Pamela Good

Pamela Good captured this photo of the sunset at Anacortes Marina, one of the four marinas in town. dry facilities. skylinemarinecenter. com. 360-293-5134. • Anacortes Marina, 2415 T Ave., is a privately owned condominium marina with annual leases only. ana-

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cortesmarina.com. 360-293-4543. • Anchor Cove Marina, 1600 Fifth St., is a privately owned condominium marina. anchorcovemarina. com.

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Guemes Island is accessible via a five-minute ferry ride from Anacortes. One of the most popular destinations is the Guemes Island General Store, which offers food, drink and live music. goanacortes.com

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Tribal Nations Two tribal nations, Swinomish and Samish, are indigenous to the Fidalgo Island area. They are signatories to the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855 and have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The Samish and Swinomish are stops on the annual Canoe Journey, which features traditional dress, dances, food and other cultural sharing. Both cohost a cultural day each summer at Bowman Bay.

located on Highway 20, just east of Anacortes. Views from the building take in the the land that the Coast Salish people have called home for thousands of years. The tribe also operates an RV park and Swinomish Links Golf Course. Information: swinomish-nsn.gov

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

The Samish Indian Nation owns the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, featuring scenic views of Fidalgo Bay and access to the Tommy Thompson Trail, which can be taken into town by bicycle or on foot. Information: samishtribe.nsn.us

The Swinomish Casino & Lodge is

Samish Indian Nation

Contributed / Christopher Fridley

Washington State Ferries operates out of Anacortes, with three to four vessels at a time traveling between Fidalgo and the San Juan islands.

Getting Around Beyond personal vehicles or taxi service, here are some other ways to get around the island and neighboring areas:

By Bus • Skagit Transit, based in Mount Vernon, provides bus service in Anacortes Monday through Saturday. Route 410 includes stops at the Guemes Ferry terminal, the Washington State Ferries terminal and March Point. Route 409 runs from 10th Street and Q Avenue downtown to Island Hospital, with stops including the Guemes Island ferry, Fidalgo Pool and the senior center. Skagit Transit runs throughout Skagit County with connector service to Bellingham, Everett and Whidbey Island. The main transfer location for

most routes is in downtown Mount Vernon. Skagit Transit also offers DialA-Ride service for people whose conditions prevent them from traveling on fixed routes. A Park & Ride lot is east of Anacortes at March Point. Information: 360-757-4433 or skagittransit.org

By Ferry • Washington State Ferries provides passenger and car service from the Anacortes terminal to Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, and Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. The terminal is at the end of Highway 20, four miles west of downtown. Reservations required for vehicles. Information: 888-808-7977 or wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

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September 19 (During the Market) Pie Contest & More

By Airplane

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Saturday, 9am-2pm January 11 February 8 March 14 April 11

Every Saturday 9am-2pm May 2 - October 31

• Guemes Island Ferry provides ferry service for passengers and vehicles from Anacortes across the Guemes Channel to Guemes Island. The dock is located at Sixth Street and I Avenue. Crossing takes about five minutes. Information: 360-419-7618 or skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksFerry/main.htm

• Anacortes Airport, at 4000 Airport Road, offers various airport services. San Juan Airlines operates several flights to the San Juan Islands and Bellingham. Charters and scenic flights are available. Call San Juan Airlines at 800-874-4434. Airport information: 360-2991828 or portofanacortes.com/airport

Organics • Vegetables Baked Goods • Honey Fresh Meat • Dairy • Eggs Art • Live Music • Community

November 21 & 22 At The Port 100 Commercial Ave., Anacortes Richard Walker / Anacortes American

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Samish Indian Nation are both stops on the annual Canoe Journey. goanacortes.com

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6th St. & “R” Ave.

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Explore History

Anacortes Art Scene Public art

Museum The Anacortes Museum at 1305 Eighth Street was once a Carnegie Library. Visitors to the website (cityofanacortes.org/museum_department. php) can search through a database of more than 20,000 museum records. The museum is open daily except Mondays and is free to visit. Visit anacorteswa.gov/333/Museum.

Heritage Center and W.T. Preston The Maritime Heritage Center and W.T. Preston Snagboat are located at 703 R Ave. The heritage center is focused on Anacortes’ traditions of fishing and history of boatbuilding and marine transportation. The center is open on weekends in April, May, September and October and daily (excluding Mondays) from June to August. Even when the location is not open, displays outside highlight some of the city’s maritime history. The W.T. Preston is a historic sternwheeler (the last one to work in the Puget Sound and one of only two snagboats remaining in the United States). The W.T. Preston was put

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The historic W.T. Preston snagboat is at 703 R Ave. on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and retired from duty in 1981. The snagboat came to Anacortes in 1983 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Tours Several

self-guided

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available to see the beautiful sights of Anacortes. The Cap Sante esplanade is located behind the W.T. Preston snagboat. The waterfront walk offers views of Fidalgo Bay and several interpretive displays featuring the area’s history. Stop in at the marina office with questions. A walking tour of historic downtown Anacortes offers a chance to see the city’s old, beautiful homes. Brochures are available at the Visitors Center, at City Hall and online at cityofanacortes.org/museum_department.php. The Tommy Thompson Trail starts at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Q Street and continues south through town and out onto the water toward March Point. Along the way are Discovery Points filled with facts about Fidalgo Bay’s history and di-

Murals, sculptures and statues are some of the features around Anacortes that nod to its appreciation of the arts. One of the newest additions is “Three Sails,” a sculpture by Kevin Petelle that doubles as a welcome sign near the Anacortes ferry terminal. In the roundabout where Highway 20 turns onto Commercial Avenue, stands a large bird nest sculpture by Merrilee Moore called “Aerie.” Murals appear in various places, including along the Tommy Thompson Parkway, including two stainless steel joggers created by Ken Turner of Seattle. The “Lady of the Sea” statue by Deborah Copenhaver stands watch over Cap Sante Marina, along with the Seafarers’ Memorial. Nearby is the striking bronze orca fin called “Annie Curtis,” created by Gerard Tsutakawa. Other popular pieces include “Windsong,” a Leo Osborne bronze at Kiwanis Park near the Guemes Ferry Terminal, “The Bird Family,” a Philip McCracken bronze at the post office downtown, “How Much Longer” by Peregrine O’Gormley at Fourth Avenue and O Street, and “The Leaking Vase” by Andries Lukas Breedt at the N Street Park. On the south side of the Wilson Hotel on Eighth Street, there is Anne Curtis Bowman (the city’s namesake and wife of city founder Amos Bowman) painted by Swedish artist Lisa Liedgren in 2007. Even the garbage cans offer an artistic touch. Cans downtown pay homage to 11 salmon canneries that operated here in the early 1900s with early salmon can labels recreated on the

2017

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“Three Sails” by Kevin Petelle is one of the newest pieces of public art in Anacortes. It also serves as a welcome to people driving out of hte ferry terminal.

Music • A summer series of family-friendly rock and blues concerts are held Friday nights at Seafarers’ Memorial Park in Cap Sante Marina. • During the same time period, a Wednesday jazz series brings even more live music to the area. Learn more about that at portofanacortes.com. • The Heart of Anacortes also hosts an outdoor summer music concert series. Visit theheartofanacortes. com. • Brewgrass! comes in early to mid-November, when several pubs and restaurants host performances of bluegrass, while microbrewers bring kegs of more than 50 small-batch beers to town for tasting. • The library hosts free jazz concerts the second Sunday of each month. • Several local venues offer live music each week.

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Murals painted by late artist Bill Mitchell can be seen throughout town. More than 150 murals, which started with the one pictured above of Fred White, depict people from throughout Anacortes’ history. outside of each can. Visit anacortesartscommission. com to see the location of permanent pieces and what’s new. Maps are at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center on Commercial Avenue.

Murals Murals depicting some of Anacortes’ most colorful residents of the past were created, starting in 1984, by Anacortes artist Bill Mitchell, who died in 2019. More than 150 can be seen around town, including Bobo the Gorilla, who lived in Anacortes before moving to Woodland Park Zoo. Even Mitchell himself is featured in his trademark three-wheeled 1954 Autoette near the corner of Fifth Street and O Avenue.

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The Anacortes Arts Festival, July 31 to Aug. 2 this year, fills the streets of Anacortes with vendors, art-in-progress and roughly 100,000 visitors each year. A mural map is available at the Anacortes Visitors Center on Commercial Avenue.

Art events • From 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, the First Friday Gallery Walk features some of the best new art around Anacortes. Galleries and businesses host shows with special hours, artist receptions and refreshments.

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• The Fidalgo Island Quilters feature their stunning fabric art each April during the annual Quilt Walk. Businesses and shops downtown feature pieces from the quilters in their stores. The group will also host a Quilts in Bloom show in 2020. Visit fidalgoislandquilters.com. • The Anacortes Arts Festival each August brings about 100,000 people to see the work of 250 traveling art vendors, a fine art show and musical acts. In April, the festival

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Performing arts • Anacortes Community Theatre ACT will present six main stage shows in 2020: “Murder on the Orient Express,” “High School Musical,” “Ada and the Engine,” “Cash on Delivery,” “Gypsy” and “Glorious.” The theater also offers several fringe productions throughout the year. Visit acttheatre. com. • Fidalgo DanceWorks school hosts shows in June and December, in addition to the annual holiday ballet “The Nutcracker” each December. Visit fidalgodanceworks.org.

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Farmers Market

The Anacortes Farmers Market fills the plaza outside the Depot Arts & Community Center, Seventh Street and R Avenue, each Saturday through the summer and into the fall. The market is celebrating its 31st year in 2020. Market vendors sell farm-fresh vegetables, cheese, pies, hot meals, cut flowers, arts and crafts. Bands and solo singers take the stage almost every week. Community programs and self-help workshops are available during the summer. The market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday May to October. The winter market is the second Saturday of each month from October to May. A pie festival is held in September, and a holiday market is in November. Information: anacortesfarmersmarket.org

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hosts a 5K color run event. Visit anacortesartsfestival.com. • The third weekend of October, the Arts Commission hosts a 98221 Studio Tour, which allows visitors to stop by the studios of dozens of local artists, see demonstrations and enter to win prizes. Visit anacortesartscommission.com/98221-studio-tour.html.

Calendar of Events

Anacortes residents enjoy both work and play. Events celebrate art, the waterfront and pets, just to name a few.

February Feb. 22: Links at the Library. Annual fundraiser that transforms the Anacortes Public Library into a miniature golf course. This year has a Roaring ’20s theme.

April April 11: Anacortes Spring Wine Festival, noon to 5 p.m., Port of Anacortes Transit Shed Event Center. About 30 wineries from the region and state participate, and local restaurants offer food. The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce hosts it, with tickets ranging from $75 to $150. anacortes.org. Mid- to Late-April: Do the Bloom Color Run. The Anacortes Arts Festival hosts the annual color run 5K where runners become artwork as powdered paint is thrown at them during the race. Proceeds benefit the Cultured Arts Program for the Anacortes School District. Visit anacortesartsfestival.com for final dates and details. April 24-25: Anacortes Vintage Market,“Vintage by the Sea.” Port of Anacortes warehouse, packed full of antique and vintage items. anacortesvintagemarket.com

May

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The Do the Bloom Color Run is in mid-to-late April each year. Runners are doused along the way with brightly colored paint, so they end up looking like works of art themselves. 18

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May 14-17: The Anacortes Boat and Yacht show, hosted by the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Marine Trades Association, Cap Sante Marina. Over 250 new and used boats will be on display on-water and land, with participation from over 100 Pacific Northwest businesses. anacortesboatandyachtshow. com

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The Quick and Dirty boat race is one of the biggest draws at the annual Waterfront Festival. Contestants building boats in a few hours and then race them in the marina. The boats don’t always float, though, and many contestants end up in the water to the cheers of the crowd.

June June 6-7: Anacortes Waterfront Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, near Cap Sante Marina. Family-friendly free event features boat building, free boat rides, a children’s area, a car show, vendors, food, entertainment and more. anacortes.org June 6: A Kids Fishing Derby is 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Heart Lake. The free derby is hosted by the City of Anacortes and the Puget Sound/Fidalgo Chapter Anglers. June 6: The annual Salish Sea Native American Cultural Celebration is noon to 4 p.m. Deception Pass State Park. Celebrate culture of the two participating Coast Salish tribes with canoe rides, native singers, drummers, weavers, artists and food. Presented by the Samish Indian Nation, the Samish Canoe Family, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and

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LOOK FOR OUR CLOCK

(The Historic 1906 Howard/Mayer Street Clock)

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Then come into a store filled with unique jewelry, extraordinary gemstones, the largest selection of crystal and dinnerware in the Northwest, an Art Gallery, and unexpected treasures.

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the Swinomish Canoe Family. June 20: Bark in the Park is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Storvik Park. Canines and their humans gather for a pet parade, costume contest, demonstrations and games. cityofanacortes.org

Anacortes

July

For Information Call: (360) 293-1915 or Check our Website:

museum.cityofanacortes.org

Anacortes Museum 1305 8th Street • Anacortes, WA

Exploring the history of Fidalgo and Guemes Islands through: • educational Programs • exhibits • research Library • special events

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Each year, the Anacortes American takes a town photo at 10 a.m. July 4. swap meet and sale starts at 8 a.m. downtown. The Fidalgo Rotary Clubsponsored event funds worthy causes. Free to attend. shipwreckfest.org

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July 31-Aug. 2: The Anacortes Arts Festival on Commercial Avenue is a three-day celebration of art featuring 250 booth artisans downtown. Arts at the Port will showcase 30 more artists in three exhibitions, and there will be art demonstrations, live music, kids’ activities, food vendors and beer and wine gardens. anacortesartsfestival.com Aug. 1: The Art Dash is put on by the Arts Festival and the City of Anacortes to raise money for public art. It features 5K, 10K and half-marathon lengths. anacortesartsfestival.com Aug. 15: The Anacortes Cancer Walk is an annual event to raise money for cancer care in town. It features a 10-mile walk and live concert. Aug. 30: Open Streets and Ana-

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cortes Buskerfest on Commercial Avenue. Take to the streets by foot, bike or skates. Any human-powered vehicle is welcome, and buskers entertain at street corners.

September Sept. 27: Oyster Run on Commercial Avenue. Anacortes welcomes about 10,000 leather-clad bikers who ride into town from various points as part of the largest one-day motorcycle run in the Pacific Northwest. The free event includes motorcycle vendors, musical entertainment and plenty of oysters. oysterrun.org

October Oct. 2-3: Bier on the Pier at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed. Event features more than 30 breweries and 10 cideries, plus food vendors and music. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. anacortes.org

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File photo

Children from the Anacortes elementary schools perform each year at the annual tree lighting event. They also perform at other holiday events throughout the first coule weeks in December. Oct. 17-18: 98221 Studio Tour. A self-guided tour of artists living and working in the 98221 ZIP code. About 30 artists participate, open studios and demonstrate techniques. Tour maps and info: anacortesartscommission.com/98221-studio-tour.html. Oct. 24: Haunted Run at Washington Park. Come in costume and walk through Washington Park, dodging spooky monsters and ghouls. cityofanacortes.org.

November Nov. 6-7: Brewgrass! event at several restaurants in town, which host bluegrass bands over the course of

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the two days. Six acts will perform alongside a celebration of beer in Anacortes. anacortes.org

The W.T. PresTon & Maritime Heritage Center 7th Street & R Avenue Open weekends: April - October Open Daily: June, July, August Closed Monday

December Dec. 4-5: Anacortes Tree Lighting, holiday parade and more. This holiday weekend in Anacortes includes the tree lighting, pictures with Santa, music, cocoa, an artwalk, parade, gift show and fundraisers. anacortes.org Dec. 11-12: Wonderland Walk at Washington Park, 5 to 8 p.m. each night. Campsites are decorated with lights and holiday fun. Visitors are encouraged to carpool and bring flashlights. cityofanacortes.org

Explore Anacortes

8th Street & M Avenue

The Carnegie Gallery Gallery Open Year-Round Tues. - Sat., 10-4 Sunday 1-4, Closed Monday

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July 4: Fourth of July Celebration begins with a town portrait at 10 a.m. in downtown Anacortes at Commercial Avenue. A parade starts at 11 a.m. Later, enjoy music at the Rock the Dock community concert at Seafarers’ Memorial Park followed by fireworks over Fidalgo Bay. July 11: The Kids-R-Best Fest at Storvik Park offers children free activities, entertainment, crafts, inflatable bouncers, games and concessions. July 18: Shipwreck Fest on Commercial Avenue. The street is closed to traffic and filled with old furniture, clothes, lamps, boat gear, tools, collectibles and much more. This massive

Museum

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Contributed / Marcia Neu Contributed / Danielle Butler

Contributed / Cheryl Hellam

Contributed / Jack Hartt

Several Anacortes-based photographers submitted their favorite photos for our cover contest. Some are placed throughout the Explore Anacortes guide and here are a few more of our favorites. Cheryl Hellam captured this photo of eagles (above left), which she calls “Double Trouble.” Above right, top: Danielle Butler captured this photo of a ship turned into a breakwater. Above right, bottom: Jack Hartt captured a photo of a ferry in the sunset. 22

Explore Anacortes

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Contributed / Leslie Dorn

Leslie Dorn captured the photo above of the “Lady of the Sea” statue at the Cap Sante Marina. To the right, two different photographers captured photos of boats in the sunset. The photo at the top was taken by Marcia Neu and the lower photo by Denis Law. goanacortes.com

Explore Anacortes

Contributed / Denis Law

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