In 1974, the tugboats and crews of the Puget Sound returned to the beautiful waterfront of Olympia to celebrate the end of the summer season.

This gathering was the start of Olympia Harbor Days, an annual FREE family festival dedicated to the community as a celebration of maritime heritage hosted by the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association, supporting South Sound maritime history and the tugboat tradition since 1974. In 1978, Harbor Fair, an arts, crafts, food and music festival, was added.