Weekend Preview: Water, Water Everywhere

With the museums, galleries, bars and groovy greasy spoons, it is often easy to forget that Tacoma is a port city. There is water out there. It’s reminder time.
The 17th Maritime Festival is set to showcase all things Tacoma seafaring and trade this weekend at Thea’s Park, Foss Waterway Seaport and sites around the waterfront.

Anchoring the two-day event is the Working Waterfront Museum and a host of boat rides, train trips around the ship yards and dragon boat races on Commencement Bay. New this year are showdowns of the Unlimited Light Hydroplanes along a waterfront course that promises to be thunderous as well as fast.

Aside from the face painting and catch-and-release fishing for the kiddos, there will be train trips around the working shipyards.

Don’t forget to take advantage of free boat tours hosted by the Port of Tacoma on Aug. 29 during Maritime Fest. Tours begin and end at 535 Dock St. at Thea’s Park. The tour will be narrarated, and give passengers a chance to see ships and marine terminals up close, cruise under the world’s largest container cranes, glimpse Port-constructed wildlife habitat and learn about some of the other Tideflats-based businesses that boost our region’s economy. Departures are 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Tickets are first come, first served the day of the tours.

The sun should be out, the fun is set and the city’s history will be on display. Few can ask for more.