The Victorian coastal town of Port Townsend, Washington, hosts the largest wooden boat festival in North America every year. Founded in 1978 by a community of “saltwater hippies,” the festival has now become one of the world’s largest gatherings to commemorate the culture and craft of wooden boats and independent boat builders. With 300 wooden boats and 100 hands-on demos and presentations, the Wooden Boat Festival celebrated its 46th year on Sept. 8–10, 2023, at the historic Port Hudson Marina.