2025 OHD Volunteer Schedule and SignUp
This is a free public event rain or shine. Volunteer positions are mostly out-of-doors and require standing or walking during the entire shift. Some may require moderate lifting.
We welcome students over 16 who are looking for community service projects and hours. Students under 18 need to have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
If you sponsor a large community group with volunteers please contact the OHD Executive Director.
Volunteers will receive a free shirt and name badge.
Apply to be a volunteer below.
Olympia Harbor Days Volunteer Job Descriptions 2025
Food Platforms: Assemble - Wednesday 8/27 10AM until finished Disassemble - Monday 9/1 10AM until finished
Level and screw down platforms in Food G’Alley and set railings. Disassemble for storage. Bring electric screwdrivers and work gloves. These are the platforms that the late Kiwanian Layton Johnson built.
Load-in Helper: Friday 8/29 9am to 3pm Ice Pick-Up Helper: Location/Time TBD
Meet, greet and supervise vendors as they arrive to help them find their assigned booth space and answer questions i.e. – restroom locations, parking options, nearest bank, coffee etc. No lifting or helping vendors required!! Ice pick-up does require lifting bales of ice and placing them in mobile ice chest. Gloves needed.
Information Center at the Harbor House: Daily Friday 8/29 – Sunday 8/31 – Shifts Vary
Check in/out volunteers, hand out maps/programs, answer questions, sell buttons & books, provide information, answer ordinary questions, keep lost and found items, help make pirate hats with families, and open the treasure chest for kids.
Set-up: Wednesday 8/27 - Friday 8/29 Clean-up: Sunday 8/31 & Monday 9/1 – Shifts Vary
Assist in booth marking, banner hanging, bringing items out of storage, and setting up the Harbor House, recycling areas, signage and more. Involves working with the area Key Clubbers and being a role model.
Festival Greeters: Friday 8/29 – Sunday 8/31 – Shifts Vary
Volunteers are stationed throughout the festival, including the Harbor House information center, and extend a greeting to festival attendees, hand out maps, point out donation boxes, restrooms, answer questions, and keep an eye on things, reporting anything suspicious. Positions are at specific corners and/or roaming.
Race Course: Set-Up: Thursday 8/28 8AM Take-Down: Tuesday 9/2 9AM
Help set-up and take-down the race course on a tugboat! Move buoys, lines, and anchors. From storage, onto a tugboat and then set in the water and vice versa after the races. Work can be strenuous but fun. Work gloves needed. Water proof gloves provided.
Skippers Dinner: Saturday 8/30 Set-Up: 3pm – 5pm Take-Down: 8pm – 10pm (Signup for both shifts and stay for dinner)
Help with banquet set-up and take-down at the Olympia Yacht Club with Mary Hall and Karen Fraser. Volunteers help to set up tables (they are heavy), chairs, linens, decorations, etc. Stay the whole time and enjoy a delicious Lucky Eagle Casino cedar smoked salmon dinner served at 7pm and the skipper awards.
Festival Clean-Up: Sunday 8/31 and Monday 9/1 Shifts Vary
Help with bringing all festival signs, banners, tents, collection boxes, garbage cans, etc., back to the Harbor House and then to the storage unit. Walk and scan the festival grounds to make sure we leave nothing behind.
All volunteers should check-in upon arrival and check-out at the Harbor House.
Nametags, maps, supplies, 2-way radios and emergency information will be provided.
Free parking for volunteers is at the corner of Market and Marine Drive.