Volunteer

Join the fun!

We have an incredible community of over 500 volunteers who come together each year to make this Festival happen. Volunteering for the Festival is a great way to meet new friends, experience the Festival from the inside, and simply have some fun! We offer a variety of roles, each with many shifts to fit your schedule.

If you volunteer for three shifts, you'll also receive a volunteer t-shirt and a 3-day Festival pass! Not ready to commit to three shifts? No problem! We can still use your help, and you'll get into the Festival for free on the day(s) you work.

How to Volunteer For Wooden Boat Festival

We are excited to bring back Wooden Boat Festival in 2022 after a 2-year hiatus!  We are committed to hosting activities and events that are fun, educational, and follow all federal, state, and local safety recommendations.

Outdoor activities present a low risk of COVID - we do not anticipate requiring proof of vaccination or masking this year.  Depending on case loads at the time, masking may be recommended for indoor or crowded areas.  Please respect your neighbor's choices to keep themselves safe - WBF is a mask-friendly environment!

As with any of our activities: please stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, and be considerate of those around you!

Read more about our Festival COVID policies.

Wooden Boat Festival Volunteer
Shifts Are Live!

Volunteer shifts for the 2024 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival are now open for sign-up through our new registration system! Click the button below to view available shifts and sign up today.

Browse Shifts & Sign Up

Step 1

If you are new to volunteering with Northwest Maritime Center, please begin by filling out our general volunteer application.  If you have previously filled out the general volunteer application, wonderful! Please complete a new waiver form here for this year.

Step 2


Shifts go live six weeks prior to the Festival, and will be listed on the website! Read below to find out about each role – there will be many shifts for you to choose from.

Visit early to select your preferred roles and shift times. Visit this page frequently because cancellations often re-open roles and shifts.

Step 3

Now that you have your Festival schedule all squared away, take a moment to learn about or brush up on being a Festival Volunteer. Our Festival Checklist has some quick helpful basics. Use the checklist below to maximize your experience and to set yourself up for success. Wooden Boat Festival Volunteer Checklist
Volunteer Sign-Up Tips
  1. After completing the General Volunteer Application, explore volunteer roles and select your shifts.
  2. Use the same name and email for all shifts and avoid scheduling conflicts. Follow all system prompts.
  3. You’ll receive a confirmation email for each shift—keep these for reference.
  4. Click on role titles for descriptions, and check individual shifts for additional details.
  5. Visit the registration page often, as shifts may reopen due to cancellations.
  6. Area Captains may contact you before the Festival from their personal email/phone—please respond to these messages.
  7. Can’t volunteer? Support us by donating treats to the Volunteer Lounge. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for pickup—no parking required!
Volunteer Role Examples

Here is a list of some of the Festival volunteer opportunities. Click the boxes to learn more about each role. When volunteer shifts open for registration (usually in July), you can visit our registration website to sign up for the roles that interest you! 

Join our Volunteer Opportunities email list to be the first to know when shifts are open for registration!

Volunteer Role Descriptions

Helpful Tips: If you've already filled out the General Volunteer Application (or, for returning volunteers, if you've filled out this year's release waiver) it's time to read about the different volunteer roles, then select your shifts. Please use the same name and email address for each shift you select. Make sure your shifts don’t conflict with each other. Be sure to follow all the system prompts. Check your inbox! You should receive a confirmation email for each shift you sign up for—retain these for future reference.

Some Area Captains send their volunteers important information prior to Festival from their personal e-addresses and phone numbers. Just during Festival time, please open emails and answer calls from unrecognized contacts. It’s not spam, it’s your Captain! Plan on attending the in-person Volunteer Orientation in August.

Oh no, unable to volunteer this year? We will miss you! You can still support our volunteers by baking/preparing/purchasing a treat or dish to drop by the Volunteer Lounge in Festival Village.


Have questions?

We're excited to welcome you to our Wooden Boat Festival Volunteer Community and we want to make it easy for you to get involved; don’t hesitate to contact the Volunteer Coordinator Tracy Thompson, at volunteer@woodenboat.org or 360-385-3628, ext. 115 | 360-316-1570 (text OK)

We Love Our Volunteers

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