Port Washington hosts 14th annual Maritime Heritage Festival
PORT WASHINGTON (WITI) -- Port Washington this weekend played host to the 14th annual Maritime Heritage Festival -- an opportunity for folks to get a better understanding of what it's like to live and work on Lake Michigan.
The Maritime Heritage Festival gives folks the opportunity to experience a celebration of all things that have made the Port Washington community a historic lakefront destination.
According to it's website, the Maritime Heritage Festival is an award-winning event featuring fishing trawlers, tug boats, Coast Guard vessels and harbor cruisers, restored and handcrafted wooden boats, an Artisan's Marketplace, educational and historic activities and displays, two live music stages, guided/interactive harbor tours, children's activities featuring "Coastie" the Coast Guard robot, food/beverage court, water safety/awareness demonstrations/exhibits, fireworks and the third Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.
The three-day festival attracts up to 20,000 people to Port Washington's harbor, where people were able to board several boats for guided tours on a variety of vessels, including the Susie Q fishing trawler and a handmade wooden boat.
The goal is giving visitors plenty of options to learn about and experience the lake-based portion of Port Washington's history.
"Fourteen years ago, we started this festival because of our downtown marina—the boats, the charter fishing, and we just decided to do just a feature on that, plus the great restaurants here in Port Washington," Sara Grover with the Maritime Heritage Festival said.
Organizers say about 150 volunteers donate their time and efforts to help make the Maritime Heritage Festival happen.
Money generated during this year's festival will help fund next year's festival.
CLICK HERE for additional information on the Port Washington Maritime Heritage Festival.