Whidbey Island, the largest island in Puget Sound, is very community-focused, and local events are frequent — sometimes every day! Keep reading if you’re interested in learning which Whidbey Island events you should not miss.
Note that some events are subject to change, while others will be added to the calendar as the year progresses. Stay up to date by checking the local events page here.
State Park Free Days
Whidbey Island is known for being home to some of the most beautiful state parks in the entire state of Washington. Usually, most of these parks require a pass or ticket for entry, but visitors can enter state parks for free on certain days! This year-round recurring event takes place once or twice per month.
Outdoor activity is more critical than ever right now, and each island has excellent choices. For a comprehensive list of all the islands that participate, click here.
This year’s Free Days dates are as follows, not including dates that have already passed:
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March 9 (Billy Frank Junior’s Birthday)
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March 19 (State Parks’ 108th Birthday)
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April 22 (Earth Day)
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June 11 (National Get Outdoors Day)
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June 12 (Free Fishing Day)
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June 19 (Juneteenth)
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September 25 (National Public Lands Day)
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October 10 (World Mental Health Day)
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November 11 (Veterans Day)
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November 25 (Native American Heritage Day)
Take advantage of the free admission and get some fresh air, exercise, and spend time in the wilderness!
The Langley: First Saturday Art Walk
Another recurring local event is the Langley First Saturday Art Walk, where art lovers of all kinds can come together. The event takes place on the first of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and is described as a “happy hour for art.” Treat your inner artist by strolling the streets of Langley to visit galleries that are open late.
Penn Cove Mussel Festival
Photo courtesy of Whidbey Island, Penn Cove Mussel FestivalEach March, celebrate the Penn Cove Mussel Festival in historic downtown Coupeville by enjoying the area’s world-famous mussels. Kick off the weekend at the Mussel Mingle, listening to music, meeting up with friends, and of course, dining on the “bold, briny, and blue” mussels.
In addition to delicious tastings, attendees can listen to live music at the beer and wine garden, partake in the chowder tasting competition, and hop aboard a mussel farm boat tour. The kids are sure to love the Fishin’ Off the Pier event as well as the scavenger hunt.
Oak Harbor Music Festival
Photo courtesy of Whidbey IslandFor a decade, the Oak Harbor Music Festival has been delighting Whidbey Island residents and visitors alike with fantastic musical performances. Hosted in Downtown Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island’s north end, the festival features artists in a variety of genres including folk, rock, R&B, blues, country, jazz, and more.
Over 30 bands and artists are featured across two main stages, and festival attendees can plan on enjoying a drink and bite to eat at two beer gardens, food vendors, and sidewalk cafes. With no admission fee, this festival is free to enjoy for everyone!
Whidbey Gardening Workshop
If you’re a gardener, this may be the event for you. The Whidbey Gardening Workshop offers the opportunity for those who love gardening to spend three days learning from informed and seasoned gardeners. The event has been widely attended over the last 33 years and is the ultimate experience for passionate gardeners and green-thumb enthusiasts.
The schedule for the weekend is as follows:
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Friday, March 4: Choose from six interactive field trips and learn first-hand from experts on and around Whidbey Island.
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Saturday, March 5 - Choose three of 30 focused in-person classes that cover a variety of gardening subjects,
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Sunday, March 6: Choose three of the 12 webinar classes on more unique, niche gardening topics.
For pricing information, click here.
Whidbey Island Fair
The Whidbey Island Fair is a fun and interactive fair that will take place from July 28 - 31. Its purpose is to demonstrate how spectacular and memorable Whidbey Island is as a place to live.
The purpose of the fair is education, and it will feature quality exhibits on livestock, horticulture, crops, and more. Plenty of entertainment is provided all day long, and it will serve as a place to gather with family and friends to celebrate and relax.
There will also be rides and other fun activities for kids to enjoy, including a farm that allows kids to see animals up close and lessons on handiwork. While this event is educational, it is also a place to have fun and spend the day with your family, surrounded by the community.
Ragnar Relay
The Ragnar Relay is a very popular event that features teams of 12 runners making their way from Blaine all the way to Langley over two days and one night. It will take place on July 15 and 16.
Throughout the run, teams will pass the phenomenal views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges, crossing over the iconic Deception Pass Bridge to enter Whidbey Island. They will finish with a much-deserved celebration in Langley at the Village by the Sea.
If you would like to attend as an observer, feel free to come and cheer on those who are running.
Langley Mystery Weekend
Photo courtesy of Whidbey IslandPerhaps the most unique and whimsical event on this list is the Langley Mystery Weekend. Amateur detectives search along the seaside village of Langley for clues, question an odd group of characters, and attempt to solve a murder. It’s all fictional, of course, and the clues will definitely be enough to keep everyone guessing.
Enjoy a weekend of laughing, eating, shopping, and scouring to try to complete the task of figuring out the murder and the mystery.
The mystery is called A Cereal Mystery and takes place on February 26 and 27. Entry is $15 for adults and $12 for youth and military. Better get your tickets fast, though — the clues are already out, and you can take this opportunity to get a head start on your theories. You can book your tickets here, and if you require accommodations, you can go here.
Are you interested in Whidbey Island homes for sale?
If you want to know more about Whidbey Island waterfront homes for sale or other Whidbey Island real estate, contact Mike Konopik for more information!
*Header photo courtesy of Whidbey News-Times, Whidbey Island Fair
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Recommended Reading: 7 Amazing Local Seafood Restaurants on Whidbey Island