This year, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance tried something new.
For the first time, we set up a community booth at the Anacortes Waterfront Festival, June 6th and 7th. While thousands of people were enjoying the waterfront, live music, boats, and local vendors, we saw an opportunity to do something a little different: create a welcoming place where people could learn more about downtown, share their ideas, and connect with one another.
It turned out to be much more than an information booth.
Sparky Steals the Show
Without question, the biggest attraction was Sparky, our tiny Japanese fire truck.
Many people know Sparky as the cheerful little truck that waters downtown’s flower planters throughout the summer, but for many Waterfront Festival visitors it was their first introduction. Families lined up to take photos, kids climbed aboard with huge smiles, and adults were just as curious about Sparky’s story as the children were.
What started as a fun photo opportunity became a natural conversation starter. While families waited for photos or chatted about the truck, they also learned about the Downtown Anacortes Alliance and the work happening downtown every day.
Helping Shape Downtown’s Future
We also invited festival-goers to help us think about the future of downtown.
Using a simple penny-voting activity, visitors cast their votes for the types of improvements they’d most like to see through the Downtown Streetscape Plan. It was an easy, engaging way to gather feedback while helping residents understand that planning for downtown isn’t something that happens behind closed doors—it’s something the community helps shape together.
In addition to the voting activity, visitors shared ideas, asked questions, and left comments that will help inform future conversations about downtown improvements.
Joining the First Waterfront Passport
This year also marked the launch of HF Sinclair’s inaugural Waterfront Festival Passport, an interactive activity that encouraged attendees to visit participating organizations and businesses throughout the festival.
We were excited to be one of the first organizations invited to participate. The Passport brought many new visitors to our booth who may not have otherwise stopped, giving us the opportunity to introduce the DAA’s work to residents and visitors alike.
Growing Our Volunteer Community
One of the most rewarding parts of the weekend happened behind the scenes.
The booth was staffed through 21 volunteer shifts, and we intentionally paired new volunteers with experienced board and committee members whenever possible. Rather than simply filling time slots, we used the festival as an opportunity for people to experience the organization from the inside.
New volunteers learned about DAA projects, met community leaders, discovered committee opportunities, and experienced firsthand how much fun it can be to serve alongside others who care deeply about downtown.
Several volunteers commented afterward that the booth felt less like a booth and more like a community gathering place—a space where conversations happened naturally and people lingered because they enjoyed being there.
That’s exactly the kind of community we hope to build.
Looking Ahead
None of this would have been possible without the incredible volunteers who donated their time throughout the weekend. Their enthusiasm, warmth, and willingness to share the DAA’s story made the experience memorable for everyone who stopped by.
We’re also grateful to Rick Star, Rockfish Grill, and Anacortes Brewery for championing the DAA and selecting us as their nonprofit partner for the festival, as well as to the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce and HF Sinclair for creating new opportunities like the Waterfront Passport that encourage organizations to connect with the community in meaningful ways.
Our first Waterfront Festival booth exceeded our expectations. It helped us gather valuable community feedback, introduced new people to the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, welcomed future volunteers into our organization, and reminded us that one of the best ways to strengthen downtown is simply by creating spaces where people can come together.
We look forward to being back next year.
Photo Credit: volunteers including Ernie Hayden
