Get ready to put away your white clothes: it’s Labor Day Weekend, this weekend! It’s been a scorcher across the country for a lot of this summer, so you probably already know that’s there’s no better place to be than on a boat- but no matter where you are, there’s plenty of events on land too. Here’s a look at some of the celebrations going on across the country, including some you’ll be able to boat right on into.
Pacific NW & Seattle
Big events in Seattle begin as soon as Thursday, August 28th. One of the highlights of the season is the Summer Movies at Magnuson Park, and Thursday will be a screening of the Bill Murray/Dan Aykroyd comedy Ghostbusters starting at dusk- but that’s not all. Avoid traffic and arrive early by taking your boat, and you’ll also be able to enjoy pre-show festivities such as aerial acrobatics, stilt walking, fire eating, cyr wheel, contortion and more!
If you’re willing to make the trip to Olympia this weekend, you’ll be right on time for the Olympia Harbor Days festival. Running August 29th-31st, it’s the place to be if you’re a tugboat enthusiast, a history buff, an arts & crafts lover, or simply someone in search of lots of fun. Harbor Days is an annual festival where tugboats return to the southernmost tip of Puget Sound for three days of entertainment, food, art, history, and a last farewell to the summer. Vintage, working and retired tugboats are moored at Olympia’s Percival Landing. Many of them are open for tour on Saturday of the festival. Be on hand Sunday at noon as the tugs leave shore to participate in the Annual Harbor Days Tugboat Races in the deep channel of the bay. Join them for 41 years of Tugboats, over 200 arts and crafts booths, entertainment, food, and a special kids area, as Maritime Heritage is celebrated on the beautiful Olympia, Washington waterfront!
More Information can be found at:
Summer Movies at Magnuson Park: www.epiceap.com/seattle-outdoor-movies
Olympia Harbor Days: www.harbordays.com
Los Angeles & Southern California
While there aren’t a large number of big boating-related events near LA on Labor Day, there is a whole heck of a lot going on around the area. Perhaps most well-known and most exciting is the LA County Fair. It kicks off Labor Day Weekend and continues until September 28th. Expect a Ferris wheel, great concerts and dining on all the best and most exquisite fair food you’ll find in the entire country. Concerts include Styx, Boyz II Men, Heart, Third Day & MercyMe, and many more. The fair is only an hour in good traffic from Marina Del Rey, so consider boating on down if you’re looking to attend.
But if you’re looking to spend some real quality time on the water, consider cruising to Santa Catalina Island is a great choice. It’s beautiful enough to be worth the visit as is, but a two-hour tour of Santa Catalina Island via zip line will surely get the next part of 2014 off to the right start. Opt to enjoy this adventure starting at Hog’s Back gate; from there, five independent zip lines drop from this high point through Descanso Canyon until finally reaching the beach, your drop-off point. During all of this zipping through wild terrain, you’ll stop at a number of eco stations along the way down, thus getting to know a whole bunch about Catalina Island and all of its natural assets. Zip on in- you won’t be sorry.
More Information can be found at:
LA Country Fair: www.lacountyfair.com
Santa Catalina Island: www.visitcatalinaisland.com
Miami & SE Florida
Miami is one place that you won’t have to worry about wearing white no matter what time of year, and Labor Day weekend is no exception. The Miami Nice 2014 Annual Labor Day Weekend All White Attire Yacht Party goes down on Saturday, August 30th. Party with your fellow south Floridians on a multi-million dollar 125’ luxury yacht leaving from Downtown Miami by beautiful Bayfront Park. The South Beach Lady is guaranteed to impress and satisfy your party needs. The vessel provides climate control on all decks that maximize the comfort in all areas of the yacht plus a partially covered fourth deck. Cash bars are available on every deck and the bow of the vessel is complete with furnishings to enjoy seating and partying outdoors.
Partying like that isn’t for everyone, of course, so thankfully there’s plenty of low-key affairs in the Florida keys. The 5th Annual Key West BrewFest is one of them, and this year is bigger than ever. The Southernmost Hotel Collection has teamed up with the Key West Sunrise Rotary of the Conch Republic to host Key West BrewFest. All proceeds to benefit the Rotary Club and their charitable efforts. Events from beer dinners, beer brunches, happy hour parties, pool parties, late-night parties, seminars and the Signature Tasting Festival Event are some of the great activities that they have on tap for you! And try tasting over 150 beers in one weekend!
More Information can be found at:
All White Attire Yacht Party: www.miaminiceweekend.com
5th Annual Key West BrewFest: www.keywestbrewfest.com
Wherever you are, and whatever you do, stay safe out there! It’s sure to be a scorcher, so make sure you don’t forget the sunscreen- and definitely don’t forget to stay hydrated out there. We’ll see you out on the water!
