PORT TOWNSEND — The 35th Wooden Boat Festival sailed to a finish Sunday, with sponsors convinced that it was the most successful and well-attended event ever.
It was certainly the warmest, as temperatures all weekend moved into the 80s.
Total attendance figures will not be computed until the middle of this week, but Wooden Boat Foundation director Kaci Cronkhite said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if attendance was up 30 percent.”
The previous festival attendance record was 30,000 in 2010, Cronkhite said.
The final day of the festival was more sparsely attended than the two previous days but still exceeded past festivals’ Sundays, she added.
On Sunday afternoon, a maritime-themed Advent quilt was raffled off, raising more than $1,000 for the Wooden Boat Foundation.
Also on Sunday, a treasure hunt took place, with 60 kids following a treasure map, in pirate costume and yelling “arrrrr!” at anyone in sight.
Food and drink also sold briskly.
Barb Traylor, who was running the beer garden, said she expected to serve 60 kegs of beer during the weekend and that crowds have been consistently large.
Larry Dennison of Dos Okies Barbecue said business is good but a little below last year’s.
“There are a lot of people milling around but they are buying less,” he said.
Cronkhite said she was gratified by the festival and its tendency to sustain the personal aspect of the boating community.
“Many people make contact in special ways here,” she said.
“It’s not a surprise this happens but it’s still a miracle how people build and maintain relationships and create memories here.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
