Volunteer

Join the fun!

Support this amazing community event by volunteering! The Wooden Boat Festival is powered by over 500 wonderful folks who help out in every aspect of the festival.

Whether you are a people person who thrives on being in the center of the action, or someone who is happiest working behind the scenes, the Wooden Boat Festival has a role for you.

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.

Signing up for volunteer roles is easy and can be done directly through our registration website when the positions “go live” in mid-July. Take a look at the list below and click on role titles to learn more about each position.

  • Docks Safety Patrol
  • Donor & Other Events
  • Festival HQ/Information Tent
  • Grounds/Recycling Crew
  • Gyotaku (Fish Printing)
  • Harbormasters
  • Kids Boatbuilding Crew
  • Main Gate Crew
  • Merch Tent Crew
  • Orientation Crew
  • Parking & Traffic Crew
  • Signage-Wrangler
  • Volunteer Check-in Crew
  • Wee Nip Bar Crew
  • Will Call Crew

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. If you have previously volunteered with Northwest Maritime or the Wooden Boat Festival, you’ll be logged in when you use the same email address and same name you used initially.
  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 your reference.
  4. Visit the registration page early and often, to select your preferred roles, and to check back as shifts may reopen due to cancellations.
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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