This is an event to celebrate Anacortes’ maritime history. It’s all about boats: a marine swap meet, Coast Guard demonstration, rides with the yacht club or in a canoe. There will be a “quick & dirty” boat building demonstration and lots of activities for the kids. Live bands and singers will perform and of course there will be food booths, and even a car show (Corvettes on Saturday!). Come and spend a couple of hours on the waterfront with us. For more information call 360-293-7911.
Busy summer in Anacortes
There are always lots of things to do in Anacortes, and summer is the best time to do them. Hiking, biking, boating, fishing, whale watching, birding, shopping, all are the most fun when the sun is shining. June brings two important events to Anacortes: June 2-3 the Waterfront Festival and June 23 Shipwreck Day. And in summer many Anacortes restaurants have tables outside, and when walking down Commercial Avenue you will often see people relaxing with a good meal and a glass of wine or iced tea. It’s a great way to slow down and shift into a lower gear. We all need that sometimes, don’t we?
Anacortes Spring Wine Festival
On April 14 from noon to 4:30pm, 30 wineries and 6 restaurants will be presenting their wares at the Port of Anacortes Transit Shed down by the water. There will be live music and a festive atmosphere. Tickets are $40 if purchased in advance or $45 at the door. This is a fun event, and centrally located so you can walk from there to one of the great restaurants in town: Adrift, Rockfish Grill, Brown Lantern and the Majestic are all close by. www.anacortes.org
What to do in Anacortes
For a small town, Anacortes has a lot going on. All year there is whale watching, boating, kayaking, hiking, fishing, cycling, birding, shopping or island hopping. There are lots of great restaurants, a bowling alley, a cinema, a museum and a community playhouse. There are also many special events, some listed on our Things to Do Page: http://autumn-leaves.com/thingstodo.cfm Coming up soon: Fall boat show, antique engine and machinery show, home and boat tour, motorcycle rally, Octoberfest, music concerts, monthly art walk and more. You may want to visit another island in the San Juan chain, but there’s plenty to do right here! Come find out for yourself.
Anacortes Arts Festival August 5-7
12+ blocks of booths selling everything imaginable: art glass, paintings, fabric art, metal art, purses, jewelry, food, soaps, photography etc. Food booths (yummy curly fries) and live music. Be there or be square. We still have one room available Thurs. night and one Sun. night. See you downtown!
An-o-Chords and Art
Anacortes An-o-Chords 40 voice barbershop chorus will have concerts July 29 and 30 at 7:30pm, and on July 31 they will have a bbq at Washington Park. Top regional and international groups will be there and it’s always great fun. http://www.anochords.org/Show%20and%20BBQ.htm
The following weekend, August 4-6, is Anacortes Arts Festival, one of Anacortes’ biggest and most exciting annual events. There will be 250 art vendors and 30 food vendors and many live music groups. We are full except for Thursday night, but if you’d like to be on a waiting list give us a call; we may have a last minute cancellation. anacortesartsfestival.com
Tall Ships Return to Anacortes
On July 8 and 15 the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will be back in Anacortes for a weekend of public sails. On July 9, 10, 16 and 17 Battle Sails will leave Cap Sante for a 3 hour experience featuring booming cannon and maneuvers resembling an ancient sea battle. More information and tickets available at their website: www.historicalseaport.org.
Anacortes Shipwreck Day July 16
Twelve blocks of the main street and most of the side streets are closed to traffic on July 16 and booths are set up selling everything imaginable. It’s a huge flea market and it’s always a lot of fun. I usually buy paperbacks. Roger buys cookies from the bakery stand. My sister has bought jewelry and camp chairs. There are food booths and live music and the weather always seems to cooperate. You really shouldn’t miss it.
Anacortes concerts, art shows and other events
There is so much going on in Anacortes, especially in summer. There are quite a few artists’ studios and galleries here, and the area attracts music groups from all over. Heart of Anacortes lists some upcoming events you might be interested in: http://www.theheartofanacortes.com/event-calendar/
An-O-Chords barbershop concert 7/29 and 7/30
I thought I didn’t like barbershop groups until I heard the An-O-Chords sing. It’s not corny, it’s great! There are about 40 men in the Anacortes group, singing sometimes in quartets and sometimes all together. Their concerts are wonderful, full of good music and humor. And on Sunday 7/31 they will host a salmon barbecue in the park, with singing and a lot of fun. Make your plans now so you don’t miss out on this fun event. http://www.anochords.org/Show%20and%20BBQ.htm
