Summer on the southern Washington coast is pure, unfiltered joy. The fog burns off by mid-morning, the beach stretches out like a golden runway, and the calendar overflows with festivals, fishing tournaments, and community celebrations that have been drawing families back for generations. In Grayland, summer isn’t just a season — it’s a way of life, measured in campfire smoke, kite strings, and the satisfying crack of fresh Dungeness crab legs.
At our resort, we see families return year after year, their kids growing taller each June, the traditions deepening. They come for the summer beach Grayland WA experience that you simply can’t replicate anywhere else — wide-open beaches without the crowds of Long Beach or Ocean Shores, a packed festival calendar, and world-class fishing just minutes offshore. Here’s everything waiting for you this summer.
Pirate Daze: Westport’s Wildest Weekend
Mark your calendar for June 26 through 28, because Pirate Daze is the unofficial kickoff to summer on the Cranberry Coast, and it’s every bit as rowdy and wonderful as the name suggests. Westport’s annual pirate festival transforms the marina district into a swashbuckling carnival with over 100 vendors, live music on multiple stages, a spectacular parade through town, and — the undeniable highlight — a real tall ship anchored in the harbor.
The tall ship tours let you climb aboard and explore below decks, learning about maritime history from costumed crew members who stay in character with impressive commitment. Kids can get their faces painted, compete in treasure hunts, and earn their junior pirate certificates. Adults, meanwhile, can sample craft beverages, browse handmade jewelry and coastal art, and enter the costume contest — which gets more elaborate every year.
The Pirate Daze parade winds through downtown Westport on Saturday morning, featuring local businesses, school groups, classic cars, and enough candy thrown from floats to fuel a week of beach adventures. We recommend arriving early to snag a curbside spot, then wandering to the Westport Marina for fresh fish and chips afterward.
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Fourth of July: Booming Bay Fireworks & Tokeland Parade
The Fourth of July on the Washington coast hits different. There’s no traffic-clogged freeway to fight through, no packed stadium — just open beach, salt air, and one of the most spectacular small-town fireworks displays you’ll ever see.
The Booming Bay Fireworks show launches from the Westport Marina at dusk, and the reflections off the harbor water double every burst. We’re talking a full 30-minute professional show that rivals anything in Seattle, viewed from the marina boardwalk, the beach, or the deck of a chartered boat if you’re feeling adventurous. Our guests often watch from the Westport jetty or drive to the marina and tailgate — either way, it’s an unforgettable evening.
Earlier in the day, the tiny town of Tokeland hosts its beloved Fourth of July parade at 11 AM. It’s beautifully small-town — tractors, fire trucks, local kids on decorated bikes, and the whole community turning out to wave flags and cheer. After the parade, grab lunch at the historic Tokeland Hotel and explore the peninsula before heading back for evening fireworks.
Many of our guests spend the entire Fourth of July week at the resort, turning it into a proper family reunion with beach bonfires, crab boils, and kid-friendly beach games that run from sunrise to well past sunset. Our cottages and private event spaces are perfect for large group gatherings.
Windrider’s Kite Festival & Run Like the Wind
July 10 through 12 brings the Windrider’s Kite Festival to the Grayland area, and the wide, windy beaches here are absolutely ideal for it. Professional kite flyers from across the Pacific Northwest bring massive show kites — we’re talking 50-foot octopuses, dragons, and whales that undulate overhead like living creatures. The festival includes kite-making workshops, stunt kite demonstrations, and open flying sessions where anyone can join in.
The steady coastal winds that average 10 to 15 mph in summer make Grayland one of the best kite-flying beaches in Washington. Even if you miss the festival, you can fly kites here any day of the summer — the conditions are almost always perfect. Pick one up at a local shop in Westport and spend an afternoon on the sand.
If you’re a runner, mark July 12 for the Run Like the Wind event, which offers half marathon, 10K, and 5K options along the stunning coastal route. The course runs along the beach and through coastal forest, with ocean views for most of the distance. It’s a well-organized community event with a festive finish-line atmosphere, and the post-race celebration is the perfect excuse to indulge in local seafood.
Danny Digger’s Birthday Celebration
On June 6, the coast’s most beloved mascot celebrates his birthday, and it’s a delightful kid-friendly event that perfectly captures the spirit of this community. Danny Digger — the razor clam mascot — hosts games, activities, and beachside fun that introduces young visitors to the clamming tradition that defines this stretch of coastline. It’s small, it’s charming, and it’s the kind of event that makes kids fall in love with the coast.
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Summer Fishing: Salmon, Albacore & Bottom Fish
Summer transforms Westport into one of the premier sportfishing ports on the Pacific coast. The salmon season runs strong through the summer months, with Chinook (king) salmon and coho (silver) salmon available on both ocean and bay charters. A half-day trip typically puts you on fish within an hour of leaving the marina, and the captains here have been running these waters for decades.
From July through September, albacore tuna arrive offshore, and the fishing charters shift to longer trips — typically 10 to 14 hours — that chase these powerful, fast-moving fish 30 to 60 miles offshore. Albacore trips are an adventure unto themselves, with the possibility of hooking into 20- to 40-pound fish that fight hard and taste incredible as fresh sashimi or grilled steaks.
For families or less experienced anglers, bottom fishing trips target lingcod, rockfish, and sea bass in the relatively calm waters near the harbor mouth. These trips are shorter, more sheltered from ocean swells, and almost guarantee action — making them perfect for kids and first-timers. Several charter operations in Westport offer family-friendly trips with all gear provided.
South Beach Art Gallery
From July 1 through September 30, the South Beach Art Gallery opens its doors to showcase the work of local and regional artists. Housed in a charming coastal building, the gallery features paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed media inspired by the landscape, wildlife, and maritime culture of the Cranberry Coast. It’s a wonderful rainy-afternoon option (yes, even summer has the occasional drizzly day), and the rotating exhibits mean there’s always something new.
The gallery also hosts artist receptions and workshop weekends throughout the summer — check their schedule for watercolor classes, plein-air painting sessions, and photography walks led by local artists who know every hidden cove and viewpoint.
Surfing, Beachcombing & Endless Beach Days
Summer brings the mellowest surf of the year to the Washington coast, making it ideal for beginners learning to surf in Westport. The Half Moon Bay area in Westport, protected by the jetty, offers gentle, consistent waves that are perfect for first-timers. Several surf shops in Westport rent boards and wetsuits, and lessons are available for all ages.
The miles of beach in front of our resort are perfect for the simple summer pleasures that never get old — building sandcastles, flying kites, searching for agates and shells, skipping stones, and watching the sunset paint the sky in oranges and pinks. The beach activities in Grayland are endless, and the uncrowded sand means you can always find your own private stretch of coastline.
For outdoor adventures beyond the beach, explore the hiking trails through coastal forest, rent bikes for the paved paths, or take a day trip to explore the broader region. The top things to do in Grayland could easily fill a week — and many of our summer guests stay exactly that long.
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Family Reunions & Group Getaways
Summer is our busiest season for family reunions, and we understand why. Our cluster of cottages and tiny homes creates a natural village where extended families can spread out across multiple units while still gathering around a shared fire pit or picnic area. The beach becomes your backyard, the ocean your swimming pool, and the sunset your evening entertainment.
We’ve hosted reunions where four generations of crabbers teach the youngest members how to bait a pot, where grandparents watch grandchildren catch their first wave, and where cousins who live in different states reconnect over s’mores and stargazing. If you’re planning a group trip, we recommend booking early — our summer weekends fill fast, especially around the Fourth of July and Pirate Daze.
Planning Your Summer in Grayland
The drive from Seattle takes about three hours, and the transition from freeway to forest to ocean is one of the best road trips in the state. Pack sunscreen, layers (coastal mornings can be foggy), and a sense of adventure. Our packing list has everything you need.
For a full weekend itinerary, we suggest arriving Friday evening, spending Saturday at a festival or on a fishing charter, and reserving Sunday for beach time and fresh seafood market browsing before the drive home. But honestly? A weekend barely scratches the surface. This is a place that reveals itself slowly, one tide cycle at a time.
Summer in Grayland is the season of long days, warm sand, and memories that last. We can’t wait to share it with you.
Book Your Summer Stay
Planning a trip to Grayland or Westport? Ocean Spray Beach Resort offers cozy beach cottages and tiny homes just steps from the Pacific Ocean. Check availability and book your stay today.
