Free boat rides, open-water sea kayak races, a boat building contest, a swap meet and a walking waterfront tour are some of the engaging activities offered this weekend at the 19th annual Anacortes Waterfront Festival.

Sponsored by the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the festival celebrates the city’s maritime history.

The event is Saturday and Sunday at the Cap Sante Boat Haven.

“The chamber thoroughly enjoys providing this festival opportunity, which celebrates our town’s historic marine heritage. The event emphasizes the importance of our waterfront with a very fun, family-friendly event,” said Stephanie Hamilton, chamber program and event director. 

The Quick and Dirty Boat Building demonstration on Saturday pits teams of three against one another to see who can build a seaworthy boat in six hours. Teams are only allowed to use a specific list of supplies.

A parade is at 4 p.m. and after the boats will be launched for a rowing demonstration — and to see if they float.

There are several educational aspects to the festival. Attendees can take a walking tour of the Anacortes waterfront, check out numerous exhibitors in our “educational alley” and take a tour of a working fish farm on board the Mystic Sea charter boat (there is a fee for this activity). A separate area for children offers the opportunity to build a model boat and to engage in fun crafts. 

A radio-controlled sailboat regatta is planned 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Seaferers’ Memorial Park.

Many vendors this year have a marine theme. Check out collapsible crab pots, waterproof shoes, a fish line of kitchenware and nautically-themed T-shirts.

The festival also features boat-building for youngsters, sales of maritime products, educational displays and a food court.

If you can’t wait for Saturday, get an early start at the festival kickoff dinner Friday. Tickets are $50 per person or $390 per table of eight. The event includes a catered dinner and entertainment. Call (360) 336-6114 for tickets.

On Saturday, you can find treasures at the marine swap meet beginning at 7 a.m. The Corvette car show begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Ninth Street and Q Avenue and the open class car show begins at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Entertainment on the main stage is presented from 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Saturday performances include opening ceremonies with Town Crier Rich Riddell at 10 a.m.; Malletheads from Island View and Mount Erie elementary schools 10-10:30 a.m.; Fidalgo Elementary School choir 10:45-11:15 a.m.; An-O-Chords chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Dance Works 12:30-1:15 p.m.; Shifty Sailors 1:30-2:30 p.m.; Uncle Stinky the magician 2:30-3 p.m.; Corbin Watkins from 3-4 p.m.; and Debra Arlyn 4:45-6:15 p.m.

On Sunday, Uncle Stinky the magician kicks things off from 11-11:30 a.m.; the Anacortes High School jazz band 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Island Cheer Extreme Athletics 12:30-12:45 p.m.; Rise ‘n Shine 1-2 p.m.; Mount Erie unicycle and double dutch club 2-2:30 p.m.; The Apple War 2:30-3:30 p.m.; and The Oregon Donors 4-5 p.m.

For information on the festival, call the Chamber of Commerce at 293-7911 or visit http://www.anacortes.org.