Drayton Harbor Days kicks off August 6-7

Photo by Steve Guntli from Drayton Harbor Days 2015.

By Stefanie Donahue

Blaine’s pirate-themed Drayton Harbor Days event celebrates its ninth straight year on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7.

The event, centered at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center at 235 Marine Drive, will feature activities for all ages. Expect to see games, crafts, food and the popular annual raft race.

The Prestigious George Raft Race requires participants to build a vessel out of recycled materials to race through Drayton Harbor.

Victory is claimed for the boat that makes it first to the finish line, next to where the historic Plover ferry is docked.

Captain Richard Sturgill has participated in the race for years and plans to skipper the handcrafted “Salishan Black Bear” across the rocky waters for the race at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 6.

Sturgill cofounded Drayton Harbor Days and is also the director of Drayton Harbor Maritime.

This year, he’s determined that his pirate-styled raft, built from a dump truck liner and pieces of an old dock, along with a few “secret” new features, will get his team the George Raft Trophy.

For those not interested in dipping their toes in the water, Drayton Harbor Days features a variety of events on land. Expect to see prize drawings, a costume contest and about 40 vendors offering food and shopping opportunities, said Carroll Solomon from the Blaine Chamber of Commerce.

Blaine’s nautically themed Marine Park Playground will be open for its first Drayton Harbor Days, she added.

For a full list of events scheduled during Drayton Harbor Days, please visit blainechamber.com.