Penn Cove Water Festival 2024
Location: Penn Cove Water Festival
Address: Historic Downtown Coupeville Coupeville WA, 98239
Contact Email: penncovewaterfestival@gmail.com
Website: Event Link
Date: Saturday May 18, 2024
Time: 11:00 am - 05:00 pm
Price: Free
Organizer: Penn Cove Water Festival Asociation
The Mission of the Penn Cove Water Festival Association is to continue an annual revival of the historic Coupeville Water Festival by bringing families together to enjoy Native American canoe racing, entertainment, crafts and culture and by giving them a chance to learn about, appreciate, and protect the environment in which we all live.
The first Coupeville Festival with Native American Canoe Races took place in 1930, organized by a Coupeville businessman to draw more tourists to scenic Whidbey Island. Only three 11-man canoes raced then, but in later years up to 22 tribes attended the festivals with most participating in the canoe races. Parades, sack races, pie-eating contests, and tribal dancing were added to the festivities.