Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival Returns to Waterfront May 7 to 11

Events kick off Tuesday with a maritime career fair, and progress through the week with waterfront events including a maritime poetry slam and chowder cook-off. The festival culminates Saturday at Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina with Family Fun Day, with kids’ activities and, a boat building competition, and tugboat races.

“The Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival is a celebration of the maritime workers, industries and commerce that make Seattle great,” said Fred Kiga, Vice President of Government Affairs at Vigor Industrial, the region’s largest shipbuilding and repair company and the festival’s title sponsor.

“The area’s $10 billion maritime industry employs over 17,000 people to build our ships, move our people and products, bring us fresh seafood and defend our country.” Kiga said. “Vigor is truly honored to help the maritime community share all this with our neighbors through this fun, educational event.”

The festival is organized and supported by Vigor, the Seattle Propeller Club, the Port of Seattle and dozens of other maritime businesses, including boat builders, tugboat operators to commercial fishing companies. This is the 25th year that the festival has been held on the Seattle waterfront.

Festival Highlights

Maritime Career Day
From shipbuilding and transportation to fishing and international trade, one out of every four jobs in Seattle is related to the maritime sector. The annual maritime career fair connects students and job seekers with industry experts to learn about family-wage maritime careers, educational opportunities and the type of preparation required for success in this industry.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 7
Where: Maritime Event Center, Pier 66, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle 98121
Cost: Free admission

National Fisherman’s Twelfth Annual Stories of the Sea/Fisher Poetry Slam
This unique poetry slam provides a glimpse into the vibrant traditions of local maritime storytelling with live performances by local poets and storytellers.

When: 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 8
Where: Highliner Pub & Grill at Fishermen’s Terminal, 3909 18th Avenue W, Seattle 98119
Cost: Free admission

Family Fun Day
The Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival’s Family Fun Day includes a wide range of maritime activities for people of all ages at Seattle’s Pier 66 and on the waters of Puget Sound. Attractions include:

• Tugboat races
• Tours of boats
• Harbor tours
• Fireboat demonstration
• Chowder cook-off
• Children’s activities

When: May 11, events all day (see full schedule for events)
Where: Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina, 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle 98121
Cost: Most activities free, purchase chowder cook-off passports $5

For a full schedule visit the Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival website.

The Propeller Club, Port of Seattle Chapter is a civic, social and charitable organization that promotes maritime commerce in the Puget Sound region. With a membership of nearly 200 from diverse sectors of the industry, the Club sponsors the Seattle Maritime Festival each May and supports other events and activities to promote maritime commerce and businesses in the region and raise money for charitable donations to the Sea Scouts, the Catholic Seamen's Club, and other maritime causes.

Vigor Industrial is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair and other industrial services in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Contacts:

Caitlin Sause
Director of Government and Public Affairs
Caitlin.Sause@vigor.net

Samantha McNabb
Festival Director
206-849-4488