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Penn Cove Water Festival
May 10 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
A Historic Celebration of Culture
The Penn Cove Water Festival is a celebration of Native American Culture. It brings together canoe racing, story-telling, entertainment, crafts and culture. Penn Cove was one of the major tribal settlements before the Europeans came. The festival was a major event in the first part of the 20th century but tapered off.
The Penn Cove Water Festival features annual tribal canoe races, Native arts and crafts, demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, authentic Native foods, children’s activities, exhibits and displays.
Festival Schedule:
- 11:00-11:30am: Welcome / Announcements with PCWF President Gary Piazzon, Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes, Samish Elder Rosie James and PCWF Native American Advisor Lou LaBombard (Seneca)
- 11:30-11:50am: Dedication of Festival in Memory of Tsimshain Haayuuk Elder Doreen May Nathan and Artist Roger Purdue
- 12:00-12:45pm: Shifty Sailors (Songs of the seas)
- 1:00-1:45pm: Peter Ali (Flute Music)
- 2:00-2:45pm: Swil Kanim (Violin/ Stories)
- 2:45-3:00pm: Lou LaBombard (Storytelling in Museum)
- 3:00-3:45pm: Rona Yellow Robe & Bruce Witham (Songs/ Stories)
- 4:00-5:00pm: Tsimshian Haayuuk Dancers (Traditional Dancing)
For Performer Descriptions visit https://www.penncovewaterfestival.org/schedule
In-between performances, we’ll hear updates of the Canoe Races that can be viewed from the Wharf, along Front Street and/or at the Boat Launch in Capt. Coupe Park.
- MC: Rick Castillano
- Canoe Racing Announcers: Freddy Lane & Michael Vendiola
- Lou LaBombard will be telling Native American Myths and Legends in the Coupeville Museum downstairs.
May 17th, Native American Myths and Legends at Pacific Rim Institute around the bonfire at 7:30 by Lou LaBombard (Haudenosaunee) Anthropologist/lecturer/storyteller
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