The Annual Penn Cove Water Festival every May, commemorates and celebrates connections with our Native American heritage. The free family festival on the waterfront in Historic Coupeville on Whidbey Island features tribal canoe races, Native Arts & Crafts Vendors, tribal dancing & storytelling, artist demonstrations, authentic Native foods, live entertainment, youth activities, exhibits, and displays. The festival takes place on one Saturday in early May, depending on which Saturday has the best tides for the canoe races. The Water Festival provides the setting for Northwest tribes to share their cultural heritage and foods including fry bread and salmon cooked over an alder wood fire. Free parking is available in the spaces around the Island County Campus (1 NE 7th St), at the Coupeville United Methodist Church (608 N Main St), and at the Farmers Market (free Shuttle runs 11am-4pm). More info: Penn Cove Water Festival and Map & Directions | Penn Cove Water Festival
Penn Cove Water Festival special events
- The Island County Museum, located at the foot of the historic Coupeville Wharf, will be open (admission by donation) during the Water Festival. The museum interprets 120,000 years of Island County History: from an Ice-Age tree trunk and mammoth remains to the first car on Whidbey Island. In addition, the Museum will be showcasing another special exhibit: “The history and background of the Penn Cove Water Festival”.
