A trip to the coast of Washington offers visitors endless opportunities for fun. Razor clam dig on the stunning beaches of Grays Harbor, hike through a temperate rainforest where elk and bald eagles freely roam, fish the secluded rivers and lakes hidden amongst forested land, or surf the waves of the Pacific Ocean. While these activities and countless others can keep visitors entertained for a lifetime, many unique and exciting events take place right here in Grays Harbor, and we’re letting you know about some of the very best that take place every year.
Elma Winter Wine Festival
Kick off the New Year with one of January’s most popular events on the Harbor, the Elma Winter Wine Festival! Put on each winter by the Elma Chamber of Commerce, attendees can expect dozens of wine vendors from across Washington State. Purchase tickets to trade in for tastings or find your favorite wine and enjoy a glass. Wine bottles are available for purchase so you can take home your favorites to commemorate a fantastic day at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds. Food vendors are also on-site to ensure guests don’t leave hungry!
To round out the day, the Wine Festival showcases multiple live bands into the evening, so be sure to put on your dancing shoes!
Razor Clam & Seafood Festival
Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival
Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the scenic coast of Washington and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their northward migration. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants with some birds traveling over 15,000 miles round trip! The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species.
The shorebird spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and in other parts of the County attracting people from around the world. Created to bring people together for this natural phenomenon, the annual Shorebird Festival features various speakers, vendors, a Fun Fairs, field trips, and much more excitement.
Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze
Enjoy June the city of Westport is invaded by pirates! Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze has been a longtime fixture of the summer. Food and gift vendors are available throughout the weekend as well as live music, a parade, and much more fun for the entire family. Sail on into Westport with your best mates for this one-of-a-kind event!
Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival
Gather your friends and family and pay tribute to the natural beauty and resources of the Pacific Northwest at the annual Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival in Ocean Shores! As Washington State’s largest chainsaw festival, this unique weekend-long event brings together dozens of carvers from around the Pacific Northwest and world to carve sculptures out of sand from the Pacific Ocean and logs from our forests. In addition to the action and competitions by both amateur and professional carvers, visitors can visit the many vendors, food booths and beer garden as well as enjoy live music all weekend. Stay tuned to the event’s official Facebook page for updates other happenings on the beaches of Ocean Shores as well as the Ocean Shores Convention Center!
Hood to Coast Race Series: Seabrook Relay
Driving through beautiful Grays Harbor County brings you through thick forested land, sprawling countrysides and onto the long stretches of sandy beaches.. To fully appreciate this beauty, the famed Hood to Coast Race Series: Seabrook Relay has put together a race unlike any other in the world. Participants run or walk along a primarily flat journey loop course starting and ending in the coastal community of Seabrook. Teams of friends and family create a lifelong bond while encouraging one another during this uplifting race each June.
Follow up the day with visits to Seabrook’s many locally owned shops, restaurants and bars or unwind on the beach listening to the waves lap the shore. The Seabrook Relay has grown in popularity and sells out well in advance, so be sure to register early and make this an experience to remember!
McCleary Bear Festival
Held every second weekend in July, the McCleary Bear Festival has been an East County staple since 1959. Organized by a non-profit group of volunteers, this community event features a grand parade, family entertainment, a softball tournament, car show, soapbox derby, and of course, the famous Bear Festival stew. The McCleary Bear Festival welcomes visitors from all over the country to enjoy the fun of an old fashioned, small town festival. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for event updates.
SummerFest
Celebrate the long, sunshine-filled days of summer in downtown Aberdeen! Held each August, SummerFest takes over the downtown corridor as vendors line the streets, live musicians play their tunes and local BBQ enthusiasts test their skills during the well-known BBQ Cook Off. Bite into flavor and enjoy entertainment and fun in historic Aberdeen!
Grays Harbor County Fair
Summer is never complete without a visit to the Grays Harbor County Fair! Taking place every August, thousands of people from near and far enter through the gates to one of the most nostalgic events of the year. Visit the livestock pens to view some of the top prized farm animals, purchase souvenirs and iconic fair food including jelly-filled scones, popcorn and corndogs, or head straight to the rides where numerous fun houses, ferris wheels and more await. The Fair is also a great place to watch local dance and cheer performances as well as big name musicians. No matter what your perfect fair day looks like, Grays Harbor’s Fairgrounds will have it!
Loggers’ Playday
Grays Harbor is home to many unique events, but one of the most iconic is Loggers’ Playday held in September. The city name, Hoquiam, means ‘hungry for wood’ and logging has been an important industry in the area since the 1850s.
The day kicks off with a Logger’s Breakfast before the parade begins showcasing some of the largest log trucks in the area. Local talent also cheer and march through the downtown streets of Hoquiam alongside vendors of all kind. After the parade, the iconic evening show begins at the historic Olympic Stadium. This show plays homage to the history and skills of the logging community and attracts lumberjacks and loggers from across the area to showcase their skills in mind-blowing competitions, including the famed race over floating logs to try to keep their balance. The day-long spectacle is truly a must-see event to for a glimpse into Pacific Northwest culture and history.
Reach the Beach Washington
Reach the Beach Washington is exactly as it sounds – peddle along the scenic roads of western Washington before reaching the beach! This early fall event welcomes riders from near and far to enjoy a fast and flat century ride starting in Lacey, WA and ending with a celebration on the beach in Westport. Riders of all abilities can sign up as distance options ranging from 25, 44, 77, or 100 miles.
This unique and challenging ride, is the signature event of the American Lung Association and supports our mission to prevent lung disease and help the millions of people who are affected by lung disease in the U.S.
Photo credit: Capture.Share.Repeat.
Cranberry Harvest Festival
The Washington Coast is packed with unique activities, businesses, and ways of life, one of which is the longstanding tradition of cranberry growing. Grown in bogs, cranberries thrive in the coastal weather, creating the perfect opportunity to gather together each fall for the Cranberry Harvest Festival. Visitors receive behind-the-scenes bog tours to understand how the berry is grown, maintained, and picked, can try their hand or taste entries into the cranberry cook off, enjoy a pancake breakfast, as well as firefly parade.
Celtic Music Festival
Now the largest music festival of its kind west of the Mississippi, the Celtic Music Feis is put on by Galway Bay Restaurant & Pub that sets the scene transporting attendees straight to the Emerald Isle. Sip on a glass of Guinness while listening to an eclectic mix of Irish bands, choirs and dancers hailing from throughout the United States, Canada and, of course, Ireland. The week-long Festival gives everyone the opportunity to attend and indulge in Irish faire. Tickets go on sale early and sell out, so be sure to plan ahead!
While these thirteen events are some of the best on the Harbor, there are MANY more to explore! For a complete guide on all the events taking place in Grays Harbor, click here!
This original content is produced by Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. and sponsored by Grays Harbor County Tourism.