Tygart Media

Author: Will Tygart

  • Hood Canal Summer 2026 in Belfair: What’s Verified, What’s Pending, and How to Plan Smart

    Hood Canal Summer 2026 in Belfair: What’s Verified, What’s Pending, and How to Plan Smart

    Belfair, WA — Summer 2026 is taking shape on Hood Canal, and the picture for North Mason families and Hood Canal property owners is sharper in some places than others. As of May 3, 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has formally announced the Marine Area 12 Dungeness crab opener, but the Belfair State Park clam, mussel, and oyster opener has not yet been published to the WDFW Belfair beach page. Here’s what you can put on your calendar today — and what to keep watching.

    Marine Area 12 Crab: Confirmed for June 16 – Sept 5, 2026

    The verified anchor of the summer is crab. WDFW has confirmed the Hood Canal recreational Dungeness season for Marine Area 12 (which covers the Hood Canal stretch our community fishes most) opens at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and runs through Saturday, September 5, 2026. As in prior years, harvest is allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week — closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The daily limit remains five male Dungeness in hard-shell condition, with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches, recorded immediately on your Puget Sound catch record card.

    One important nuance specific to Hood Canal: the area north of Ayock Point follows a different schedule, and the area south of Ayock Point has had abundance issues that have driven recent winter closures. The summer recreational opener applies to Marine Area 12 broadly, but check the WDFW Hood Canal crab page before you set pots near Belfair, Union, or Tahuya so you’re fishing the right stretch under the right rule.

    Belfair State Park Shellfish: 2026 Dates Not Yet Posted

    Belfair State Park’s clam, mussel, and oyster harvest is the centerpiece of the south Hood Canal shellfish year for most North Mason families — 3,720 feet of shoreline at 1002 NE Beck Road, mostly known for oysters, with some of the most productive south-end mud flats on the Canal. As of this morning, however, the WDFW Belfair State Park beach page (wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches/270470) still shows the most recent published season as Aug 1 – Sept 30, 2025 only. The 2026 opener date has not yet been posted to that official page.

    If you’ve seen earlier dates circulating, treat them as preliminary until WDFW updates the Belfair beach page or issues a press release. The honest framing for now: the 2026 Belfair State Park shellfish opener is expected this summer, exact date pending. Add the WDFW “Find a Beach” tool to your bookmarks and check it the week you plan to harvest. Standard Puget Sound daily limits when the beach does open are 18 oysters, 10 clams, and 10 mussels per harvester, with kids 15 and under harvesting free without a license.

    The WDFW + DOH Dual-Check Rule (This One Is Non-Negotiable)

    Hood Canal’s shellfish year runs on two parallel approvals: the WDFW season must be open, AND the Washington Department of Health (DOH) health approval for that beach must be active. Either one can close a beach with little notice. Biotoxin closures, vibrio advisories, and seasonal water-quality flags can shut harvest down even when the WDFW calendar says open. The DOH Shellfish Safety hotline is 1-800-562-5632, and the DOH interactive map shows real-time beach health status for every approved beach on Hood Canal. Check both sources within 24 hours of any harvest trip — this is the rule every Belfair-area harvester learns once and never forgets.

    Belfair State Park Camping: All Three Loops in Play This Summer

    For families combining a beach day with a weekend on the water, Belfair State Park’s campground is the closest in. The park runs three loops totaling 90 standard sites, 41 full-hookup sites, two primitive sites, and one marine trail site:

    • Main Loop — year-round reservable: 15 full-hookup sites, 34 standard sites, three primitive sites.
    • Beach Loop — year-round reservable, full hookups, fits RVs/trailers up to 60 feet, immediate beach access.
    • Tree Loop — May through September only, vehicles 18 feet and under, no hookups.

    Reservations through washington.goingtocamp.com or (888) 226-7688. Summer weekends — especially Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day — fill months out. If your trip is August or later, book this week.

    The Free Option Right Now: Theler Wetlands

    You don’t have to wait for shellfish dates to use Hood Canal in May. The Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve at 600 NE Roessel Road off SR-3 in Belfair offers more than three miles of accessible trails through 139 acres of salt marsh and Union River estuary. May is peak migration on the Canal — shorebirds, herons, songbirds, and the start of summer waterfowl. Trails are free, open dawn to dusk, and the main boardwalk is ADA accessible. The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG), which manages the Theler Nature Center, is in the middle of a longer restoration of the facility — check pnwsalmoncenter.org for community program announcements.

    Why This Matters for North Mason

    Hood Canal’s summer recreation calendar isn’t a tourism brochure for North Mason — it’s the working schedule that families plan dinners around, that grandparents drive in for, that property owners build their summer guest list against. When the WDFW page hasn’t posted the Belfair opener yet, the right move isn’t to guess; it’s to lock down what’s confirmed (crab June 16, camping reservations now, Theler today) and stay ready for the rest. We’ll update this page the moment WDFW publishes the Belfair State Park 2026 dates.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does Marine Area 12 Dungeness crab open in summer 2026?

    Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) recreational Dungeness opens at 6 a.m. on June 16, 2026, and runs through September 5, 2026, with harvest allowed Thursdays through Mondays each week. Daily limit: five male, hard-shell, 6¼-inch minimum carapace.

    When does Belfair State Park shellfish season open in 2026?

    The 2026 opener has not yet been published to the official WDFW Belfair State Park beach page as of May 3, 2026. The 2025 season ran August 1 through September 30. Check the WDFW “Find a Beach” tool and the WDFW Belfair page (wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches/270470) for the official 2026 announcement.

    Do I need both a WDFW license and a DOH health approval to harvest at Belfair State Park?

    Yes. The WDFW shellfish/seaweed season must be open AND the DOH health status must be approved for the beach you’re harvesting. Either can close a beach with little notice. The DOH Shellfish Safety hotline is 1-800-562-5632 and the DOH interactive map updates in real time.

    How do I reserve a campsite at Belfair State Park?

    Reserve at washington.goingtocamp.com or call (888) 226-7688. Belfair State Park has three loops (Main, Beach, Tree) totaling 90 standard sites, 41 full-hookup sites, two primitive sites, and one marine trail site. Tree Loop is May-September only and limited to vehicles 18 feet and under.

    Where is Belfair State Park?

    Belfair State Park sits on 3,720 feet of Hood Canal shoreline at 1002 NE Beck Road, Belfair, WA 98528, at the south end of the Canal. The park is roughly three miles west of the Belfair town center off SR-300.

    Is the Theler Wetlands open right now?

    Yes. Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve at 600 NE Roessel Road in Belfair is open dawn to dusk year-round. Trails are free, more than three miles total, and the main boardwalk is ADA accessible. May is peak spring migration on Hood Canal.

    Related coverage: Tahuya River Preserve Reaches 190 Acres · Hood Canal Property Owners: Tahuya River Preserve and Water Quality · Original Belfair Bugle Hood Canal summer planner

  • A Mason County Family’s Guide to Theler Wetlands: What Kids Will See This Spring (and Why the Boardwalk Coming This Summer Matters)

    A Mason County Family’s Guide to Theler Wetlands: What Kids Will See This Spring (and Why the Boardwalk Coming This Summer Matters)


    Theler Wetlands is the closest thing Mason County has to a free outdoor classroom. The Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve in Belfair is open every day during daylight hours, costs nothing, and is engineered — quite literally — to teach. For a family with kids, especially kids interested in animals, water, or how the natural world actually works, a spring afternoon at Theler holds up against any paid attraction in the region.

    And the trip is going to get better. This summer, a 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk is going in through a freshly restored salt marsh — the final phase of a multi-year project that has been quietly remaking the south end of Hood Canal. Here is what a family should know about going now and going later.

    What Kids Will See at Theler Right Now

    Even mid-restoration, the preserve is full of activity in spring. The mudflats and tidal channels are nursery habitat for juvenile salmon. The grasses and shallow pools attract great blue herons, kingfishers, ospreys, bald eagles, and dozens of smaller songbirds passing through on migration. The Union River, which feeds the wetlands, is one of the few healthy spawning runs left for Hood Canal summer chum salmon — a federally threatened species.

    Kids who like to spot things will have plenty to count: bird species, salmon if you visit at the right time, otter and beaver sign in the channels, and seasonal flowers across the wet meadows.

    What the Construction Means for a Family Visit Now

    Honest version: parts of the trail loop are currently fragmented because of the restoration work. The earthwork phase finished in fall 2025 — that included removing a failing levee, replacing a small culvert with a much larger 15-foot-wide concrete one, and digging a new winding tidal channel. You can still walk most of the preserve, but you cannot complete the full loop yet.

    What that means in practice: short walks with younger kids work well right now. Bring binoculars. Plan to spend 30 to 60 minutes rather than building the day around a long hike. The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) posts current trail access at pnwsalmoncenter.org.

    Why the Summer 2026 Boardwalk Changes the Trip

    The big change is the boardwalk. WDFW and HCSEG plan to install a 1,200-foot piling-supported elevated walkway through the restored estuary this summer, built on the footprint of the levee that was removed. When it is finished, the entire Theler loop reconnects — and it does so by walking visitors directly through restored salt marsh.

    For a family, that means three things. First, the loop becomes friendly for kids who get tired on out-and-back trails. Second, the boardwalk gives small children eye-level views of marsh life — channels, fish, herons hunting — without anyone having to walk through mud. Third, it turns Theler into a year-round destination that holds up in every season.

    How to Make It a Real Outdoor Lesson

    A few angles that work especially well with kids:

    • Salmon and the Endangered Species Act. Hood Canal summer chum are federally listed as threatened. The Theler restoration exists because juvenile chum need shallow, low-salinity, food-rich estuary water to grow before they head out into the canal. Kids respond to the idea that an entire engineering project — culvert replacements, levee removal, a road raised — is being done on behalf of fish.
    • How a wetland actually works. Tidal channels fill and empty twice a day. The salt marsh filters water, slows storm waves, and stores carbon. A wetland is a machine, and Theler is a working one.
    • Birding 101. A pocket bird guide and a pair of binoculars turns Theler into a guided experience. Spring is migration season — there are species at Theler in May that aren’t there in July.

    The Practical Details

    The preserve is at 22871 NE SR-3 in Belfair, on the east side of Highway 3 before the town center. Parking is free. Open during daylight hours. Restrooms are typically available at the nature center; bring your own water for the trail. There is no entry fee. Dogs are subject to posted rules, so check the trailhead sign before bringing one.

    The drive from Shelton is about 25 minutes. From Belfair town center, two minutes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Theler Wetlands open to families this spring?

    Yes. The preserve is open during daylight hours every day. Parts of the trail loop are fragmented because of restoration work, so plan a 30 to 60 minute visit rather than a long hike. Current trail status is posted at pnwsalmoncenter.org.

    How much does it cost to visit Theler Wetlands?

    Free. There is no entry fee, and parking is free. The preserve is supported by WDFW and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group.

    What will kids actually see at Theler in spring?

    Migrating songbirds, great blue herons, ospreys, bald eagles, kingfishers, otter and beaver sign in the tidal channels, juvenile salmon (depending on the run timing), and seasonal wildflowers across the wet meadow.

    When will the new Theler boardwalk be finished?

    Construction is planned for summer 2026. The 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk runs through the restored salt marsh on the footprint of the removed levee, and once completed it reconnects the full Theler trail loop.

    Is Theler Wetlands stroller- or wheelchair-accessible?

    Currently, accessibility varies by trail section because of construction. Once the elevated boardwalk is completed in summer 2026, the loop will be substantially more accessible — the boardwalk is piling-supported, flat, and built for visitor traffic.

    Where is Theler Wetlands located?

    22871 NE SR-3 in Belfair, on Highway 3 just before the town center. About 25 minutes from Shelton, two minutes from Belfair town center.

    Related family coverage on tygartmedia.com: Things to Do in Mason County: The Definitive Guide, Tahuya River Preserve Reaches 190 Acres: What North Mason Needs to Know.

  • What the Theler Wetlands Restoration Tells Hood Canal Property Owners About Their Own Shoreline

    What the Theler Wetlands Restoration Tells Hood Canal Property Owners About Their Own Shoreline


    If you own waterfront property along Hood Canal, the project happening at Theler Wetlands in Belfair is worth understanding closely. It is one of the most carefully engineered shoreline restorations in the south Puget Sound, and the principles behind it — tidal reconnection, undersized-culvert replacement, set-back levee design — are the same principles increasingly showing up in shoreline permits, county code updates, and property-value assessments across Mason County.

    This is what Hood Canal property owners should know about the science, the timeline, and the policy direction Theler signals.

    What WDFW and HCSEG Actually Did at Theler

    The earthwork phase, completed in fall 2025, was substantial. The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife removed a failing levee that had cut off roughly seven acres of estuary from Hood Canal’s tidal flow for decades. They replaced a 12-inch metal culvert — far too small to handle natural tidal exchange — with a 15-foot-wide concrete box culvert. They dug a new sinuous tidal channel through the rehabilitated wetland. And they raised a section of Northeast Roessel Road to serve as a set-back levee, moving the line of flood protection landward instead of armoring the original shoreline.

    The summer 2026 phase is the visible one: a 1,200-foot piling-supported elevated boardwalk through the restored marsh.

    Why It Matters for Your Shoreline

    The mechanics of what Theler does — restoring tidal connectivity, replacing undersized infrastructure, and using set-back rather than armored levees — match what Mason County and Washington state regulators are looking for when shoreline owners apply for permits today. If you have a bulkhead, an undersized culvert under a private driveway, or a failing seawall, the next round of permit conversations is increasingly going to look like the conversations that produced Theler.

    Three takeaways for property owners:

    • Undersized culverts are the single most common shoreline restoration target. A 12-inch culvert blocking tidal flow is the kind of feature that gets flagged on more than half of Hood Canal property assessments. Replacement, not repair, is the direction of policy.
    • Set-back levees protect property value better than armored shorelines. A bulkhead that fails in 20 years drops shoreline value sharply. A set-back design, like the raised section of Roessel Road, holds up because it works with tidal processes rather than against them.
    • Restored estuaries support adjacent property values, not just salmon. Healthy salt marshes filter water, dissipate wave energy, and stabilize the shoreline upstream and down. Properties next to functioning estuaries tend to require less ongoing maintenance.

    The Endangered Species Act Layer

    Hood Canal summer chum salmon are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. That listing has direct consequences for shoreline permitting along the Union River, the canal’s south end, and any waterway with chum-bearing tributaries. Projects that improve summer chum habitat — like Theler — generally clear permits faster. Projects that may impair it face longer review timelines and more conditions.

    For property owners, the practical implication is that the closer your shoreline is to a chum-bearing estuary, the more aligned your project plans need to be with restoration-friendly design. Working with WDFW or HCSEG early in the process tends to be faster than fighting through a denied permit later.

    Public Access and Property Value

    The Theler boardwalk also matters for the broader north-Mason real-estate environment. Public-access amenities — restored trails, completed loop walks, accessible nature preserves — drive durable property values across waterfront and near-waterfront parcels. The Belfair area benefits when Theler is a complete, walkable destination rather than a half-closed construction site.

    Where to Watch the Project

    The preserve is at 22871 NE SR-3 in Belfair, off Highway 3 before the town center. HCSEG posts construction and trail-access updates at pnwsalmoncenter.org. WDFW’s Union River Estuary Restoration project page is the source for engineering and habitat detail.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a set-back levee and why does it matter for property owners?

    A set-back levee is a flood-protection structure built landward of the original shoreline, allowing the natural tidal zone to function. At Theler, a section of Northeast Roessel Road was raised to serve as the set-back levee. For property owners, set-back designs typically permit faster than armored shorelines and hold up longer.

    Why are undersized culverts a target for restoration?

    Culverts that are too small — like the original 12-inch metal culvert at Theler — block tidal exchange, prevent fish passage, and tend to fail in storm events. Washington state policy has shifted heavily toward replacing undersized culverts with appropriately sized box culverts that allow full tidal flow.

    How big is the Theler restoration?

    Approximately seven acres of estuarine wetland habitat at the southeast end of Hood Canal. The earthwork phase finished in fall 2025; the summer 2026 phase will install a 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk through the restored marsh.

    Does proximity to a restored estuary affect property value?

    Healthy estuaries filter water, dissipate wave energy, and stabilize shorelines upstream and down. Properties adjacent to functioning estuaries typically require less ongoing maintenance, and public-access amenities like the Theler boardwalk support area-wide real-estate value.

    What does the Endangered Species Act mean for Hood Canal shoreline projects?

    Hood Canal summer chum are federally listed as threatened. Properties along chum-bearing waterways face additional review when permitting shoreline work. Projects designed to improve habitat tend to clear permits faster than projects that may impair it.

    Related coverage on tygartmedia.com: Hood Canal Property Owner’s Guide to Shellfish Access at Potlatch, Hood Canal Property Owners: What the Tahuya River Preserve Means for Water Quality.

  • First Time Spot Shrimping on Hood Canal? A Mason County Resident’s Guide to the May 10 Opener

    First Time Spot Shrimping on Hood Canal? A Mason County Resident’s Guide to the May 10 Opener


    You don’t need to be a lifelong shrimper to fish the May 10 opener on Hood Canal. You do need a Washington recreational fishing license, the right gear in the boat the night before, and a clear understanding of one rule that catches first-timers every year: nothing in the water before 9 a.m.

    This is the practical, household-level guide for Mason County residents who want to take part in the 2026 spot shrimp season for the first time.

    Step 1: Get Your License

    Every adult on the boat who plans to keep shrimp needs a valid Washington recreational fishing license with a shellfish/seaweed endorsement. They are sold online at WDFW, at sporting goods stores, and at many gas stations and bait shops in Mason County. Buy it before May 10 — the morning-of license rush at local vendors is real.

    Children 15 and under do not need a license, but their shrimp count toward your boat’s totals and they have to follow the same daily limits.

    Step 2: Know the May 10 Window

    Marine Area 12 — Hood Canal — opens for spot shrimp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2026. That is the entire window. You cannot set traps before 9 a.m. and you cannot leave them in the water past 1 p.m. WDFW enforcement does run patrols during the opener, and tickets are common for traps set early.

    The full 2026 Marine Area 12 schedule: May 10, May 24, May 26, June 7, and June 21. Same 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. window each day. Additional dates may be announced based on how the fishery is performing.

    Step 3: Know the Limits

    Each licensed fisher gets 80 spot shrimp per day. The combined daily weight limit for all shrimp species (spot, pink, coonstripe, etc.) is 10 pounds, whole shrimp. Most shrimpers max out on spot well before they hit the weight cap.

    If your day’s catch is spot shrimp only, you can remove and discard the heads on the water — many veterans do, because shrimp keep better and pack tighter when iced down without heads. If you retain any other shrimp species, all heads stay attached until you’re back on shore so officers can verify the weight limit.

    Step 4: Gear and Bait

    You need shrimp pots rated for the depth — Hood Canal spot shrimp typically sit at 200 to 300 feet, so plan for at least 350 feet of line per pot, weighted enough to sink fast against any current. Spot shrimp are scavengers; canned cat food (especially fish-based varieties), fish frames, and prepared shrimp bait pucks all work. Most shrimpers bring two to four pots per boat.

    Mark your buoy clearly with your WDFW number. Unmarked or poorly marked gear gets confiscated.

    Step 5: Where to Launch

    From the Mason County side, the most-used Marine Area 12 launches are around Hoodsport, Union, and the south end near Belfair. Hood Canal narrows considerably at the south end, so most boats fishing from Belfair-area ramps will run north toward deeper water before setting pots. Plan launch time accordingly — 6 a.m. is not too early to be at the ramp on opening day.

    Step 6: After You Catch

    Get the shrimp on ice immediately. Spot shrimp are delicate and degrade fast in warm conditions. Freshly caught spot shrimp poached for two minutes in salted water with a squeeze of lemon is one of the best meals Hood Canal produces, and it is the reason Mason County families plan their May Saturdays around these openers.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time does Hood Canal spot shrimp season open on May 10?

    9 a.m. exactly. The fishing window runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pots cannot be set in the water before 9 a.m. and must be out of the water by 1 p.m. Marine Area 12 enforcement does ticket early-set gear.

    Do I need a special license for spot shrimp in Washington?

    You need a Washington recreational fishing license with a shellfish/seaweed endorsement. They are available online from WDFW, at sporting goods stores, and at many local vendors throughout Mason County.

    What is the daily limit for spot shrimp on Hood Canal?

    80 spot shrimp per licensed fisher, with a combined 10-pound daily weight limit for all shrimp species. If you keep only spot shrimp, you may remove the heads on the water.

    Can I take my kids spot shrimping?

    Yes. Children 15 and under do not need a license. They are still subject to the same daily limits, and any shrimp they catch count toward the boat’s total.

    What gear do I need for first-time spot shrimping?

    Shrimp pots rated for 200-300 foot depth, at least 350 feet of weighted line per pot, a clearly marked buoy with your WDFW number, and bait — canned fish-based cat food, fish frames, or prepared shrimp pucks all work. Most boats run two to four pots.

    More from tygartmedia.com Mason County coverage: First Time Shellfish Harvesting at Potlatch? A Beginner’s Guide, Hood Canal Shellfish Season Open Through May 31: Potlatch Beach Guide.

  • Hood Canal in May 2026: How a Spot Shrimp Opener and a Belfair Boardwalk Tell the Same Story

    Hood Canal in May 2026: How a Spot Shrimp Opener and a Belfair Boardwalk Tell the Same Story



    Hood Canal’s shoreline is doing two things at once this May. On Saturday, May 10, Marine Area 12 will open for spot shrimp at 9 a.m. — the only piece of Puget Sound with an opener two weeks before the rest of the region. A few miles up the highway in Belfair, the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve is heading into the most visible phase of a multi-year salmon restoration: a 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk through a salt marsh that, until recently, sat behind a failing levee.

    The two stories are not separate. The shrimp fishery exists because the canal still has functioning estuaries. The estuary at Theler is being rebuilt because Hood Canal’s summer chum — federally listed as threatened — need it to survive. For Mason County families, this May is a window into both halves of the same coastline.

    Marine Area 12 Opens May 10 — Two Weeks Ahead of the Rest of Puget Sound

    The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has set Hood Canal’s 2026 spot shrimp schedule with five confirmed openings in Marine Area 12: May 10, May 24, May 26, June 7, and June 21. Each window runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only. WDFW has flagged that additional dates may be added later in the season depending on stock assessments — the agency’s Medium account and the Marine Area 12 regulations page are the definitive sources for any mid-season changes.

    The daily limit across Puget Sound is 80 spot shrimp per licensed fisher, and the combined daily weight limit for all shrimp species is 10 pounds (whole shrimp). If a shrimper retains only spot shrimp, they may remove and discard the heads on the water; if they retain any other shrimp species, heads must stay attached until they are back on shore so officers can verify the weight limit on the dock.

    The May 10 opener carries unusual weight on Hood Canal because it is the only early opportunity in the region. Most of Puget Sound waits until May 24. That two-week head start is why launch ramps from Hoodsport up through Union toward Belfair are likely to be at capacity before the 9 a.m. window opens. Experienced shrimpers tend to be on the water before sunrise, traps rigged, ready to drop the moment the season starts.

    Theler Wetlands: The Levee Is Gone, the Boardwalk Is Coming

    While shrimpers fish the deeper waters of the canal, the south end of Hood Canal is in the middle of a quieter transformation. The Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve sits at the mouth of the Union River in Belfair — 22871 NE SR-3, just before the town center on Highway 3. For decades, a levee separated roughly seven acres of wetland from the tidal processes that built the marsh in the first place. As of fall 2025, that levee is gone.

    The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) and WDFW completed the major earthwork phase last year: a failing 12-inch metal culvert was replaced with a 15-foot-wide concrete box culvert; a sinuous tidal channel was excavated through the new estuary; and a section of Northeast Roessel Road was raised to function as a set-back levee. Summer 2026 brings the most visible piece of the project — construction of a 1,200-foot elevated, piling-supported boardwalk through the restored marsh, built on the footprint where the old levee used to be.

    For Mason County visitors, the practical effect is that the Theler trail loop, currently fragmented by construction, will reconnect. The preserve already draws birders, school groups, and weekend walkers; the new boardwalk turns the wetlands into a fully accessible loop through restored salt marsh — the kind of walk that, in much of Puget Sound, no longer exists.

    Why the Two Stories Belong Together

    Hood Canal summer chum salmon are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Union River, which empties into the canal at Theler, is one of the last spawning runs left for the species. Juvenile summer chum need shallow, low-salinity, food-rich estuarine water to grow before they head out into the canal. That is exactly what the Theler restoration is rebuilding.

    And juvenile salmon are not the only species that depend on a healthy canal. Spot shrimp, the prize of every May opener, live in deeper waters but rely on the broader ecological function of Hood Canal — water quality, dissolved oxygen, nutrient flow — that estuaries help maintain. When residents pull a trap full of spot shrimp on May 10 and walk a restored boardwalk in August, they are seeing two different parts of the same system.

    What Mason County Residents Should Do This May

    For shrimpers: confirm your Washington recreational fishing license before May 10, check the WDFW Marine Area 12 regulations page for any last-minute rule changes, and arrive early. The 9 a.m. start is hard — traps cannot be set in the water before then.

    For everyone else: the Theler preserve is open during daylight hours, and HCSEG posts trail-access status at pnwsalmoncenter.org. The current spring window is a chance to see the wetlands mid-restoration, before the boardwalk goes in. By late summer 2026, the loop should be walkable end to end for the first time in years.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does Hood Canal spot shrimp season open in 2026?

    Marine Area 12 opens for spot shrimp on May 10, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with additional confirmed openings on May 24, May 26, June 7, and June 21. WDFW may announce more dates later in the season. Hood Canal is the only Puget Sound area with an opening before May 24.

    What are the daily limits for spot shrimp in Hood Canal?

    Each licensed shrimp fisher may keep up to 80 spot shrimp per day, with a combined daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) for all shrimp species. Spot-shrimp-only retainers may remove the heads on the water; mixed-species retainers must keep heads attached until back on shore.

    Where is the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve?

    The preserve is located at 22871 NE SR-3 in Belfair, just off Highway 3 before the town center. It is open during daylight hours. Trail access is partially affected by ongoing restoration work; current status is posted at pnwsalmoncenter.org.

    When will the Theler Wetlands boardwalk be finished?

    WDFW and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group plan to construct the 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk in summer 2026. The structure runs through the newly restored estuary on the footprint of the removed levee and will reconnect the preserve’s currently fragmented trail loop.

    Why does the Theler restoration matter for Hood Canal salmon?

    Hood Canal summer chum are federally listed as threatened. Juvenile chum from the Union River need shallow, low-salinity estuarine habitat to grow before entering the canal. The Theler project removed a levee, replaced an undersized culvert, and dug a new tidal channel to restore that nursery habitat across roughly seven acres.

    Do I need a license to harvest spot shrimp in Washington?

    Yes. A valid Washington recreational fishing license is required for spot shrimp harvest. Licenses can be purchased online from WDFW or at license vendors statewide. Children 15 and under do not need a license but are still subject to daily limits.

    Is the Theler Wetlands trail accessible during construction?

    Sections of the trail loop are currently fragmented because of restoration work. Walking access is available during daylight hours, but the full loop is not yet reconnected. The 2026 boardwalk construction is the final phase that will restore continuous loop access.

    Related Mason County coverage on tygartmedia.com: Hood Canal Property Owner’s Guide to Shellfish Access at Potlatch, First Time Shellfish Harvesting at Potlatch? A Beginner’s Guide, Tahuya River Preserve Reaches 190 Acres.

  • Everett Council Will Take Up an Ordinance Wednesday Changing How the City Pays Its Appointed Officials — Here’s What Chapter 2.74 Actually Covers

    Everett Council Will Take Up an Ordinance Wednesday Changing How the City Pays Its Appointed Officials — Here’s What Chapter 2.74 Actually Covers

    Everett Council Will Take Up an Ordinance Wednesday Changing How the City Pays Its Appointed Officials — Here’s What Chapter 2.74 Actually Covers

    Featured snippet:

    Q: What is Council Bill 2604-24, and when does the Everett City Council vote on it?
    A: CB 2604-24 amends Chapter 2.74 of the Everett Municipal Code, which governs compensation and fringe benefits for the city’s appointive officers, classified nonrepresented employees, and councilmembers themselves. First reading is at the May 6, 2026 council meeting. Third and final reading is scheduled for May 20, 2026.

    Wednesday night at City Hall, the Everett City Council will take up the first reading of an ordinance most residents will never read but every resident pays for.

    Council Bill 2604-24 is on the May 6 agenda as a Proposed Action Item — a 1st reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 2.74 of the Everett Municipal Code, which is the section of city code that governs how Everett pays its appointed department heads, its classified nonrepresented employees, and its own city councilmembers. The third and final reading is scheduled for May 20, 2026, at the next regular council meeting after Wednesday’s vote.

    The ordinance itself is short on the agenda — one line on a single page of consent and action items. But the chapter it amends is the section of code that decides how much the city pays the people running its departments and what benefits they get for that work. For a city facing a projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap (covered earlier in this desk’s run log on April 21), how the appointed leadership is compensated is not a side question.

    This article breaks down what Chapter 2.74 actually does, what’s likely to be inside CB 2604-24, the calendar between Wednesday and May 20, and how residents who want to weigh in can do so before the third reading.

    What Changes for Residents

    Three things to know up front:

    The vote is not final on Wednesday. Wednesday is the 1st reading. The final vote is May 20. That gives residents two weeks to read the ordinance bill, watch the May 6 deliberation, and submit public comment before the council acts.

    This is not a salary-setting vote for elected councilmembers in isolation. Chapter 2.74 covers three categories: appointive officers (the people the mayor appoints to run departments), classified nonrepresented employees (city staff who are not covered by a union contract), and the city council itself. Any change to one article of the chapter typically gets discussed alongside the others.

    You can read the actual bill before the meeting. The full PDF of CB 2604-24 is posted to the city’s Agenda Center under the May 6, 2026 agenda packet. The link to the document — including any staff memo explaining what the changes do — is published on everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter at least 72 hours before the meeting under state public-meeting rules.

    What Chapter 2.74 Actually Covers

    The Everett Municipal Code organizes Chapter 2.74 into three articles, each covering a different category of city personnel:

    Article I — Appointive Officers. These are the department heads and senior staff appointed by the mayor — the people who actually run departments like Public Works, Parks, the Police Department’s civilian leadership, the Fire Department’s civilian leadership, and similar roles. Under existing code, the mayor sets the workweek for appointive officers as needed for “efficient functioning of city government.” Appointive officers who are exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act do not get premium pay for overtime, callbacks, or holidays, and no appointive officer gets longevity premium pay.

    The chapter also defines insurance benefits for these officers: basic and major medical, vision, and dental coverage for the officer and eligible dependents, with the full-time officer required to contribute ten percent of the cost of medical coverage.

    Article II — Classified Nonrepresented Employees. These are city employees who are not in a union bargaining unit. Their compensation and benefits are set through this chapter rather than through collective bargaining.

    Article III — City Council. This article covers how Everett pays its own councilmembers and council president, including any expense reimbursements and benefits.

    Chapter 2.74 is distinct from Chapter 2.72, which handles general employee compensation, and Chapter 2.70, which sets the broader Performance Management and Compensation Plan. The salary ordinance for represented employees lives elsewhere in the code.

    What’s Likely Inside CB 2604-24

    The agenda title for CB 2604-24 reads: “Adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 2.74 of the Everett Municipal Code, which pertains to appointive employee compensation and fringe benefits.”

    The agenda doesn’t say specifically which sections of the chapter are being amended. That’s standard format for first-reading agenda titles — the substance is in the bill PDF in the agenda packet, not in the headline. Residents who want to know exactly what changes the ordinance proposes need to download the bill itself from the May 6 agenda packet at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter.

    What is typical for ordinances of this type — based on how Chapter 2.74 has been amended in prior years — is one or more of the following: an adjustment to the cost-of-living formula, a change to the fringe-benefit contribution percentages, an update to the language defining which positions are “appointive” versus “classified,” a clarification of FLSA-exempt status for specific roles, or a reorganization of how the three articles interact.

    Residents reading the bill should look for: which sections are added, which are deleted, which are modified, and whether the changes are prospective (forward-looking only) or retroactive to a prior pay period.

    The Calendar Between Wednesday and May 20

    Everett ordinances generally get three readings before adoption:

    • 1st Reading: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. — Council Chambers, 3002 Wetmore Avenue. The bill is introduced, staff may offer a brief explanation, and councilmembers can ask questions. There is typically no full debate at first reading; the bill is “read” and held over.
    • 2nd Reading: would normally be May 13, 2026 — at the regular Wednesday meeting that week. The bill receives further consideration. Amendments are most commonly offered at second reading.
    • 3rd & Final Reading: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. — the agenda title for CB 2604-24 specifically lists “(3rd & Final Reading 5/20/26)” — meaning the final vote, in current city practice, is consolidated into a single agenda item on the third meeting in the cycle.

    If amendments are added between first and final reading, those amendments themselves can extend the process. Residents who want to follow the bill should set a reminder for May 20.

    How to Weigh In Before May 20

    Everett’s council meetings include a Public Comment period at the start of every regular meeting. Residents who want to comment on CB 2604-24 have several paths:

    In person at the meeting. Public Comment runs near the start of every regular Wednesday meeting. Residents arrive at Council Chambers, 3002 Wetmore Avenue, before 6:30 p.m. and sign up at the door. The standard time limit is three minutes per speaker.

    By Zoom. Register at everettwa.gov/speakerform no later than 30 minutes before the meeting starts. The city’s notice requires that you identify the topic you wish to address.

    By email. Send written comments to Council@everettwa.gov. The city notes that emailed comments submitted at least 24 hours before the meeting are distributed to all councilmembers and appropriate staff. Comments sent later may not reach councilmembers before the vote.

    By mail. 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9A, Everett, WA 98201. Allow time for delivery if you go this route.

    Comments on non-agenda items may be asked to be submitted in writing if the comment does not address an issue of “broad public interest,” per the city’s published guidance. CB 2604-24 is on the agenda for Wednesday and again on May 20, so it qualifies as an agenda item for both meetings.

    Watching the Meeting

    Wednesday’s meeting will be broadcast live and recorded. Two ways to follow along:

    Live and archived video: YouTube.com/EverettCity. The full archive of past meetings is searchable from there.

    Agenda and bill PDFs: everettwa.gov/citycouncil and the AgendaCenter for the May 6, 2026 packet.

    If you cannot watch Wednesday but want to be informed before May 20, the meeting recording typically posts within 24 hours and the official minutes — including the roll-call vote on first reading and any amendments offered — are added to the May 6 agenda page on the city website within a week.

    Why This Matters Inside Everett’s Bigger Budget Picture

    Earlier in this desk’s run log (April 21, 2026) we covered Everett’s projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap and the four levers the city is weighing to close it: the regional fire RFA, Sno-Isle library regionalization, another levy lid lift, and possible annexation. Three of those four require voter approval.

    How the city pays its appointive officers and classified nonrepresented employees is not the largest line in the general fund, but it is one of the lines the city has direct discretion over without going to voters. Any ordinance amending Chapter 2.74 in 2026 is happening inside that budget context whether the bill mentions the gap or not. Residents reading CB 2604-24 should look for whether the ordinance is structured to add cost, hold cost flat, or save cost — and whether the staff memo that accompanies the bill addresses the 2027 budget connection.

    That answer is in the agenda packet, not in the headline.

    What to Do Next

    Before Wednesday:

    • Download CB 2604-24 from the May 6, 2026 agenda packet at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter.
    • Read the staff memo (if attached) for the city’s explanation of what changes and why.
    • If you want to speak at Wednesday’s meeting in person, plan to arrive at 3002 Wetmore Avenue before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. To speak via Zoom, register at everettwa.gov/speakerform by 6 p.m.

    Between May 6 and May 20:

    • Watch the May 6 first-reading deliberation on YouTube.com/EverettCity to see which councilmembers engage and what they ask.
    • Submit written comment to Council@everettwa.gov at least 24 hours before May 20 to ensure councilmembers receive it before the final vote.
    • Track whether any amendments are filed between readings — those typically appear on the agenda for the second reading the week before final.

    On May 20:

    • The 3rd and final reading is scheduled for the Wednesday, May 20 meeting at 6:30 p.m.
    • Public comment is again accepted before the vote.
    • The roll call shows where each councilmember landed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does Chapter 2.74 of the Everett Municipal Code govern?

    Chapter 2.74 covers compensation and fringe benefits for the City of Everett’s appointive officers (department heads appointed by the mayor), classified nonrepresented employees (city staff not covered by union contracts), and the city council itself.

    When is the first reading of CB 2604-24?

    Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 3002 Wetmore Avenue.

    When is the final vote?

    Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The agenda item for May 6 specifically lists “(3rd & Final Reading 5/20/26).”

    Where can I read the actual ordinance bill?

    The PDF of CB 2604-24 is in the May 6, 2026 agenda packet at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter, along with any staff memo explaining the changes.

    How do I submit public comment?

    By email to Council@everettwa.gov (at least 24 hours before the meeting to ensure councilmembers receive it), in person at Council Chambers, by Zoom (register at everettwa.gov/speakerform no later than 30 minutes before the meeting), or by mail to 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9A, Everett, WA 98201.

    Does this ordinance set salaries for elected city councilmembers?

    Chapter 2.74 includes Article III on City Council compensation, but the agenda title for CB 2604-24 specifically references “appointive employee compensation and fringe benefits” — the appointed-officer side of the chapter. Residents who want to know which articles the bill modifies need to read the bill PDF.

    Is this connected to Everett’s 2027 budget gap?

    Everett is projecting a roughly $14 million 2027 general fund gap. How the city pays its appointive officers and classified nonrepresented employees is one of the discretionary lines in the general fund. The ordinance does not have to mention the gap to be relevant to it; residents should look at the staff memo for whether the city addresses the connection.

    Where do I watch the meeting?

    Live and archived at YouTube.com/EverettCity. The May 6 meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

  • Snohomish County Candidate Filing Opens Monday — If You’re Thinking About Running for Office, You Have Five Days

    Snohomish County Candidate Filing Opens Monday — If You’re Thinking About Running for Office, You Have Five Days

    Snohomish County Candidate Filing Opens Monday — If You’re Thinking About Running for Office, You Have Five Days

    Featured snippet:

    Q: When does Snohomish County 2026 candidate filing open and close?
    A: Filing opens at 8 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026. Candidates can file online through the Washington Secretary of State at sos.wa.gov/elections, or in person at Snohomish County Elections, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Admin West Building, 1st Floor, Everett.

    If you have ever told a friend “somebody should run against this person,” Monday is the morning when “somebody” turns into “you, by Friday at five o’clock.”

    Snohomish County’s 2026 candidate filing window opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 4, and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8. That’s the entire window. Five business days. After Friday at 5 p.m., the November 2026 ballot is locked, and any office without a candidate filed against the incumbent simply re-elects the incumbent by default.

    For Everett residents, that means this week is when the actual list of choices for November gets written — not by a campaign, not by a party, but by whoever walks in or logs on between Monday morning and Friday evening.

    What Changes for Residents This Week

    The most important thing for residents to know: the November 2026 ballot is decided this week, not in November. Any race with only one filed candidate is over before the primary even runs. Any race with two or more candidates from the same party in a top-two primary state like Washington heads to the August 4 primary, where the top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to November.

    That’s it. That’s the structure. Filing week is the gate. Everything downstream — the August primary, the October mailing of voters’ pamphlets, the November general — is downstream of who walked in this week.

    The Everett City Council itself is not on the 2026 ballot. The next Everett Council seats up are the at-large positions 6 and 7, scheduled for the end of 2027. So if you were thinking about a run at City Hall, this is not your year. But several other offices that touch life in Everett are open this cycle, including Snohomish County Council seats, county-wide constitutional offices, and judicial positions covering the courts that handle most everyday legal matters in the city.

    The full official list of offices on the 2026 ballot is maintained by Snohomish County Elections at the 2026 Candidate Guide linked from snohomishcountywa.gov/5729/Run-for-Office. Some offices file with Snohomish County Elections, others file with the Washington Secretary of State directly — the Candidate Guide tells you which is which for every position.

    How Filing Works

    Snohomish County Elections has set up four ways to file:

    Online (recommended). File through the Washington Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing portal at sos.wa.gov/elections. This is the path the county pushes hardest because it timestamps automatically, accepts payment, and produces a confirmation email. Most candidates file this way.

    In person. Walk in to Snohomish County Elections at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Admin West Building, 1st Floor, Everett, WA 98201. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the filing window. Bring identification. Bring payment for the filing fee.

    By email. Send a Declaration of Candidacy to elections@snoco.gov.

    By fax. Send to (425) 355-3444.

    The phone number for questions is (425) 388-3444. If you have any doubt about which office you’re filing for, which jurisdiction the office sits in, or whether your address falls inside the right district, call before you file. A misfiled candidacy is harder to fix than a delayed one.

    The Filing Fee

    Most positions with a salary require a filing fee equal to 1% of the annual salary for the office. So a position that pays $100,000 a year requires a $1,000 filing fee, due at the time of filing or no later than 5 p.m. Friday, May 8.

    Two important practical notes on the fee:

    First, the 1% rule is real money for some offices. If you are running for a position that pays well, plan for the fee in advance — it must be paid during the filing window itself.

    Second, candidates who cannot afford the filing fee can submit a petition with signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction in lieu of the fee. The signature requirements vary by office. Snohomish County Elections has the petition forms and the signature-count requirements for each position, available through the Run for Office page on the county website or by calling the elections office directly.

    What Sits Above and Around This Week

    Filing week sits inside a longer civic calendar that residents will see roll out across 2026:

    August 4 is the primary election. For races with three or more candidates, the top two advance regardless of party. For races with one or two candidates total, there is effectively no primary — both candidates simply move on to November.

    November 3 is the general election. Mail-in ballots get mailed roughly two weeks before election day. Washington is a vote-by-mail state with same-day registration through election day at the elections office.

    Ballot certification typically runs two to three weeks after election day. As the desk’s protocol reminds us: until the Snohomish County Auditor’s office certifies a result, every count is preliminary. November 3 results are not the final results. They are the early count.

    The sequence matters because what happens this week — who files for what office — determines what voters in Everett will see when their ballots arrive in October. If nobody files for an open seat, the seat stays open by default rules and gets appointed. If only the incumbent files, the incumbent is re-elected without a contest. If two or more file, voters get a choice.

    What to Do Next

    If you are thinking about running:

    1. Pull up the 2026 Candidate Guide from snohomishcountywa.gov/5729/Run-for-Office before Monday morning. Identify the office, the salary, and the filing-fee amount.
    2. Decide whether to file online (sos.wa.gov/elections) or in person at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett.
    3. Have payment ready — credit card if filing online, check or card if filing in person.
    4. File during business hours. If you wait until late Friday afternoon, you are competing with everyone else who waited.

    If you are thinking about supporting someone else who should run:

    1. Send them this article today. They have until Friday.
    2. Help them identify the office, find the filing fee, and walk through the Candidate Guide.
    3. If you live in the same district, ask them whether they would sign their name if you filed.

    If you are not running but want to follow what fills out this week:

    • Snohomish County Elections will post the candidate list shortly after filing closes Friday at 5 p.m. The list lives at the Candidates and Measures on the Ballot page (snohomishcountywa.gov/5722/See-Whats-on-the-Ballot).
    • Washington’s statewide candidate list is at voter.votewa.gov.
    • The Daily Herald, My Everett News, and the Snohomish County Tribune all cover filing-week results once the list is final.

    What This Costs the Public

    Filing week itself costs the public almost nothing — Snohomish County Elections runs as a baseline function of the Auditor’s office regardless of how many candidates file. The downstream cost is the August primary, which the county runs whether two candidates file or two hundred. The election infrastructure is paid for; the unknown variable is whether residents get a real choice on the ballot.

    That is the actual stake of filing week. Not money. Not partisan advantage. Just whether November 2026 is a real election or a paperwork formality for offices Everett residents pay for and live under.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does candidate filing open and close in Snohomish County?

    Filing opens at 8 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026. There are no extensions for any reason.

    Where can I file as a candidate?

    Online at sos.wa.gov/elections (recommended), in person at Snohomish County Elections, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Admin West Building, 1st Floor, Everett, WA 98201, by email to elections@snoco.gov, or by fax to (425) 355-3444.

    Is the Everett City Council on the 2026 ballot?

    No. The next Everett City Council seats up for election are at-large positions 6 and 7, which are on the November 2027 ballot. The 2026 ballot includes other positions that affect Everett, including Snohomish County Council seats, county-wide offices, and judicial positions.

    How much does it cost to file?

    For most paid offices, the filing fee is 1% of the office’s annual salary. The fee must be paid at filing or no later than 5 p.m. Friday, May 8. Candidates who cannot afford the fee can file a petition with signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction in lieu of payment.

    What happens if nobody files against an incumbent?

    The incumbent is re-elected by default. There is no general-election ballot contest for an unopposed seat under the same party.

    When is the 2026 primary?

    August 4, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. Washington is a top-two primary state — the top two finishers in any primary advance to November regardless of party.

    Where can I find the official list of every office on the 2026 ballot?

    The 2026 Candidate Guide on the Snohomish County Elections “Run for Office” page (snohomishcountywa.gov/5729/Run-for-Office) lists every office, the filing fee, and whether the office files with the county or with the state. The statewide list lives at voter.votewa.gov.

    Who do I call if I have questions about filing?

    Snohomish County Elections at (425) 388-3444. Call before you file rather than after.

  • Westmont-Holly: The South Everett Neighborhood the City Counts as One — and Why That Quietly Makes Sense

    Westmont-Holly: The South Everett Neighborhood the City Counts as One — and Why That Quietly Makes Sense

    Quick answer: Westmont and Holly are two adjacent south Everett neighborhoods that share one neighborhood association, the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association (WHNA). The City of Everett’s official neighborhood association directory lists them jointly because that’s how residents organized themselves — meeting together since the early 2000s on the first Monday of each month at Horizon Elementary at 222 W Casino Road. Westmont skews younger, denser, and more apartment-heavy. Holly skews older, more single-family, and slightly higher-income. Together they form one of the most diverse, most multilingual, and most under-the-radar parts of Everett.

    There are 21 neighborhoods on this desk’s rotation list, but if you ask the City of Everett, there are really 19 — because Westmont and Holly meet together, organize together, and run a single neighborhood association. The city’s official directory at everettwa.gov/334 lists “Westmont-Holly” as one entry, not two. Both everettwa.gov/571/Westmont and everettwa.gov/429/Holly redirect to the same Westmont-Holly page. That’s not a bureaucratic accident — that’s how the people who actually live there decided to do it.

    If you’ve driven Casino Road, Evergreen Way, or 100th Street SW lately, you’ve been in Westmont-Holly. The two neighborhoods together form the densest, most diverse part of south Everett — the corridor where the city’s apartment complexes, immigrant-owned restaurants, and oldest 1960s ramblers all sit side by side. This is where a real chunk of Everett actually lives, and it almost never gets profiled.

    Here’s what’s worth knowing about the joint neighborhood the city counts as one.

    The neighborhood association is the core of the story

    The Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association meets the first Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Horizon Elementary School (222 W. Casino Road), with occasional schedule shifts noted on the city’s calendar at everettwa.gov/Calendar.aspx. The association maintains its own site at westmont-holly.com, where bylaws, meeting minutes, emergency preparedness resources, and a links/resources page are published.

    This is one of the longer-running joint neighborhood associations in Everett. The city’s Council of Neighborhoods at everettwa.gov/338 — the body that coordinates between the 19 official neighborhood associations and city government — has carried Westmont-Holly as a single representative for years. The association is volunteer-led and currently looking for residents to help with newsletter posting, fliers, and event coordination, per their site.

    What that means in practice: if you live in Westmont, Holly, or anywhere in between, the place to plug in is the WHNA. Not two separate associations. One.

    Where exactly are these neighborhoods?

    Westmont sits in south Everett, roughly south of Madison and west of Evergreen Way, with the south-end portion bordering 100th Street SW and Airport Road. Holly sits adjacent — generally just east of Westmont, with much of the neighborhood north of 100th Street SW. The City of Everett maintains a neighborhood map at everettwa.gov/2255/Neighborhood-Maps that shows all 19 official neighborhood boundaries, including the joint Westmont-Holly footprint.

    For driving orientation: if you’re on Casino Road heading west from I-5, you cross into Westmont-Holly territory before you reach Highway 99 / Evergreen Way. Kasch Park (which we covered yesterday) sits right at the south edge of the neighborhood. The Mukilteo School District boundary cuts through here — the western and southern parts of the joint neighborhood are Mukilteo SD, the eastern parts are Everett Public Schools, and Horizon Elementary, where the association meets, is a Mukilteo SD school.

    Westmont: dense, young, multilingual, and renter-majority

    Westmont’s character is shaped by housing stock. The neighborhood is heavy on garden-style apartment complexes, four-plexes, and 1970s and 1980s multifamily buildings, with single-family homes and condos scattered through it. According to Homes.com and NeighborhoodScout data, roughly 80% of the resident population in the broader Westmont area rents.

    Median age is about 33 — younger than the city overall. Westmont is also one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse parts of Everett, with nearly half of households speaking a language other than English at home. The most commonly identified ancestry in the neighborhood is Mexican, at roughly 21% of residents, with significant Vietnamese, Filipino, and Russian/Ukrainian communities as well.

    Recent housing data from Homes.com puts the median sale price for Westmont homes at roughly $366,450 over the past 12 months — substantially below Everett’s overall median, reflecting the apartment-heavy housing mix. That price point makes Westmont one of the more accessible entry points into Everett homeownership for first-time buyers willing to consider condos and small single-family homes in a denser setting.

    The proximity to Paine Field and Boeing matters here. Westmont is roughly five miles south of downtown Everett and within easy commute distance of both Paine Field (the airport and Boeing’s commercial campus) and the Mukilteo ferry. For workers in aerospace and the trades — and there are a lot of them in this corridor — Westmont’s housing math has historically penciled out.

    Holly: older single-family stock and quietly stable

    Holly tells a different story than Westmont, even though they share the same association. Per Homes.com and Point2Homes data, Holly’s median sale price over the past 12 months is closer to $630,997 — up about 6% year-over-year — and the housing mix tilts more toward 1960s and 1970s single-family ramblers, condos, and townhouses. Detached homes are scattered throughout, and condos and townhouses cluster north of 100th Street SW.

    The income picture in Holly is closer to the regional average than Westmont’s, with average household income around $90,350 according to neighborhood-level estimates. White-collar workers make up roughly 70% of the working population. The renter share is lower than Westmont’s, but still substantial — most of the residential real estate skews renter-occupied, especially in the multifamily portion of the neighborhood north of 100th Street SW.

    Holly is more linguistically diverse than the Everett average but less so than Westmont. English is spoken by about 57% of households, with Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Tagalog all represented. The most commonly identified ancestry in Holly is Mexican at roughly 15% of residents.

    What it’s like to actually live here

    The everyday experience of Westmont-Holly is shaped by Casino Road and Evergreen Way. The corridor has the highest concentration of immigrant-owned restaurants in Everett — Vietnamese, Mexican, Salvadoran, Filipino, Cambodian, Russian, Ukrainian — and the food scene here is one of the genuine cultural assets of the city. We’ve covered Casino Road corridor work, Tabassum (the Uzbek food truck on Beverly Lane just west of the neighborhood), and the broader Casino Road corridor in earlier desk pieces.

    Kasch Park anchors the south end of the joint neighborhood with synthetic turf fields, a playground, and a popular community-event venue. Lions Park and Forest Park sit just to the north and east. The Interurban Trail runs along the eastern boundary, providing the same paved pedestrian/bike spine that connects Pinehurst-Beverly Park down toward Lynnwood.

    For families, the school question is real and worth understanding. Most of Westmont and parts of Holly are in Mukilteo School District (Horizon, Discovery, Mukilteo Elementary; Olympic View Middle; Mariner High). The eastern portions of Holly are in Everett Public Schools (Cascade High zone). Mukilteo’s 2026 bond — is directly relevant here because it funds capital projects at schools serving south Everett families.

    The transit picture is improving. Community Transit’s recent acquisition of the former Goodwill bins site at 11815 Highway 99 — sits just outside the joint neighborhood’s eastern edge. Casino Road is one of the most-used Community Transit corridors in the system. Sound Transit’s Everett Link extension, scheduled for 2041 service, will eventually bring light rail to the SW Everett station near Airport Road, with a station at I-5 and 112th SW just east of Westmont-Holly.

    Where the joint association fits in Everett’s bigger neighborhood story

    Westmont-Holly is part of a quietly shifting story about how south Everett organizes itself. For decades, the corridor was treated as a single undifferentiated chunk of “Casino Road” — usually framed in shorthand and not always favorably. The reality is that this part of Everett has 21 neighborhoods just like the historic core does, and the joint Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association is one of the more durable examples of residents organizing themselves around the city’s official Council of Neighborhoods structure.

    The other south-Everett neighborhoods we’ve spotlighted — Twin Creeks, Cascade View, Boulevard Bluffs, Pinehurst-Beverly Park, Glacier View — each have their own associations and their own meeting cadences. Westmont-Holly’s choice to consolidate is itself a model: when two adjacent neighborhoods share schools, parks, transit corridors, and housing markets, doing the work together is more sustainable than splitting volunteer energy in half.

    If you live in either neighborhood and want to plug in, first Monday of the month, 6 p.m., Horizon Elementary, 222 W. Casino Road is the door. Bring a neighbor.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why does the City of Everett list Westmont and Holly together as one neighborhood association?
    Westmont and Holly are two distinct neighborhoods, but they share a single neighborhood association — the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association (WHNA) — because residents organized themselves jointly. The City of Everett’s Council of Neighborhoods at everettwa.gov/338 recognizes WHNA as one of 19 official neighborhood associations, and both everettwa.gov/571/Westmont and everettwa.gov/429/Holly redirect to the same Westmont-Holly page.

    When does the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association meet?
    The Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association meets on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Horizon Elementary School, 222 W. Casino Road, Everett, WA 98204. Schedule changes are posted on the city’s calendar at everettwa.gov/Calendar.aspx and on the WHNA site at westmont-holly.com.

    Where exactly are the boundaries between Westmont and Holly?
    The City of Everett’s official neighborhood map at everettwa.gov/2255/Neighborhood-Maps shows the precise boundaries. In rough terms, Westmont covers the western and southern portion of the joint neighborhood — south of Madison, west of Evergreen Way, and bordering 100th Street SW and Airport Road. Holly sits adjacent, generally to the east, with much of the neighborhood north of 100th Street SW.

    What school district serves Westmont-Holly?
    Both districts. The western and southern portions are served by Mukilteo School District (Horizon Elementary, Discovery Elementary, Olympic View Middle, Mariner High). The eastern portions of Holly are served by Everett Public Schools (Cascade High zone). Families considering a move should verify the specific school assignment for their address through the district lookup tools at mukilteoschools.org and everettsd.org.

    How does Westmont compare to Holly on housing prices?
    Westmont’s housing stock is heavily multifamily — apartments, condos, and four-plexes — and the median sale price over the past 12 months is roughly $366,450 per Homes.com. Holly has more single-family ramblers from the 1960s–1970s and a higher median sale price closer to $630,997, up about 6% year-over-year. The neighborhoods share a single association but have meaningfully different housing markets.

    What’s the cultural and linguistic profile of Westmont-Holly?
    Both neighborhoods are among the most ethnically and linguistically diverse parts of Everett. In Westmont, nearly half of households speak a language other than English at home; the most commonly identified ancestry is Mexican (about 21%), with significant Vietnamese, Filipino, and Russian/Ukrainian communities. In Holly, English is spoken by about 57% of households, with Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Tagalog all represented; the most commonly identified ancestry is Mexican (about 15%).

    What parks and community spaces serve the neighborhood?
    Kasch Park, Everett’s largest athletic complex, sits at the south edge of the joint neighborhood at 8811 Airport Road. Lions Park and Forest Park sit just to the north and east. The Interurban Trail runs along the eastern boundary. We’ve covered Kasch Park in detail at the Kasch Park local’s guide.

    How do I get involved in the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association?
    The easiest way is to attend a monthly meeting (first Monday, 6 p.m., Horizon Elementary). The association’s website at westmont-holly.com has the bylaws, meeting minutes, and a contact page. WHNA is currently looking for volunteers to help with newsletter posting and event coordination.

  • Everett Public Schools Will Drop Naviance for SchooLinks This September — Here’s What Families Need to Know

    Everett Public Schools Will Drop Naviance for SchooLinks This September — Here’s What Families Need to Know

    Quick answer: Beginning September 2026, Everett Public Schools is replacing Naviance with SchooLinks as the platform every student uses for their state-required High School and Beyond Plan. The switch isn’t optional for the district — Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction selected SchooLinks as the universal statewide platform, and EPS is one of more than 200 districts moving to it. Naviance keeps running through the 2025–26 school year. The biggest practical change for families: SchooLinks is built for parents and guardians to log in too, so for the first time in a long time, you’ll actually be able to see your kid’s plan.

    If you’ve been a parent in Everett Public Schools for more than a couple of years, you’ve probably heard the words “High School and Beyond Plan” enough times to tune them out. The plan is a state graduation requirement, every student in grades 7–12 has one, and most parents have only the dimmest sense of what’s actually in it. That’s about to change.

    Starting in September 2026, EPS is switching from Naviance — the platform students have been using for years — to SchooLinks, the new statewide platform Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) picked for every district in the state. The transition isn’t a local district decision. It’s a state-level move, and Everett is just doing its part of it on schedule.

    Here’s what’s actually changing, why, and what it means for families across Cascade, Everett, Henry M. Jackson, and Sequoia.

    The state made the call, not the district

    Washington has required a High School and Beyond Plan for graduation for years. The plan starts in 7th grade and is supposed to follow the student all the way through high school — connecting their interests to their classes, their post-graduation training plans, and what they actually want to do for work.

    The problem was that every district was using its own platform. Some used Naviance. Some used Xello. Some used home-grown spreadsheets and Google Docs. When students moved between districts — and Snohomish County families move a lot — their plan didn’t move with them.

    In May 2024, OSPI announced that SchooLinks would be the new universal statewide platform. The 2025 OSPI Report to the Legislature laid out the transition timeline. Per state law, every district serving grades 7–12 has to be on SchooLinks by the 2026–27 school year.

    For Everett Public Schools, that means September 2026. Naviance keeps working through this current 2025–26 school year. Then the lights go out and SchooLinks comes on.

    What’s actually different about SchooLinks

    If you’ve ever helped a kid log into Naviance, you know the experience: the student logs in, parents don’t have an account, and the only way you find out what’s in the plan is if your kid shows you their screen.

    SchooLinks is built differently. The platform includes family access — meaning parents and guardians can log in directly, see their student’s plan, see what classes are mapped to what career interests, and engage with the planning process without having to lean over their teenager’s shoulder. EPS has flagged this as one of the biggest practical changes for families.

    The platform itself is the kind of career-and-college planning toolkit you’d expect in 2026. Students use it to set goals, plan coursework four years out, explore career fields, look at financial aid, and build out a résumé. The big difference from Naviance is that SchooLinks is designed to be the system of record for the state’s High School and Beyond Plan, which means the plan you build follows the student between districts and across the state.

    Why this matters for Everett specifically

    Everett Public Schools enrolls roughly 19,000 students across 26 schools, and the district has been running one of the higher-performing High School and Beyond Plan implementations in the state — the 2024–25 graduating class hit a record graduation rate well above the state average, and the district credits in part the work students do in their HSBP.

    The risk in any platform transition is that the plans students have already built in Naviance get stranded. EPS has said Naviance will continue through the 2025–26 school year, which gives counselors a runway to migrate plans, train staff, and roll the new platform out without dumping a half-finished plan on a junior six months before graduation. Families with a senior graduating in spring 2026 will finish their HSBP entirely in Naviance. Families with a 7th–11th grader will see the change next fall.

    The district has set up an email — hsbp@everettsd.org — for families with questions about the transition. School counselors are the front-line resource, and counselors at each high school will have specific guidance on what to do with existing Naviance plans during the transition window.

    How this connects to Career Connected Learning

    EPS has been pushing Career Connected Learning (CCL) for years now, and the SchooLinks transition fits into that bigger picture. CCL is the framework that ties classroom learning to extended learning (camps, after-school programs, clubs) and work-based learning (internships, apprenticeships, job shadows). The High School and Beyond Plan is the through-line that connects all of it for the student.

    In practice, that means a Cascade High student interested in aerospace can map a four-year course plan in SchooLinks, link it to Boeing-area internships through CCL, and track it all in one place — with their parents able to see the same view. That’s the use case the state is optimizing for, and it’s the use case Everett’s been building toward at the district level.

    What Everett families should do right now

    If your student has an active Naviance plan, you don’t need to do anything urgent. Naviance is still the official platform through June 2026.

    What’s worth doing in the next few months:

    Ask your student to show you their current plan. Even before SchooLinks rolls out, the High School and Beyond Plan is a real document and a real graduation requirement. Most parents don’t know what’s in it. Now is a good time.

    Check the EPS High School and Beyond Plan page at everettsd.org/college-career-readiness/high-school-and-beyond-plan for transition updates as fall 2026 gets closer.

    Watch for SchooLinks family-account information in late summer or early fall 2026. The whole point of the platform change is that you’ll be able to log in. Take the opportunity when it shows up.

    Reach out to your student’s school counselor if you have a junior or senior in spring 2026 and you’re worried about plan continuity. Counselors will have the most accurate, school-specific guidance.

    The bigger picture is that Washington’s High School and Beyond Plan is finally getting a single platform every district uses, every student carries with them between districts, and every family can see. Everett’s part of that’s happening this September.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does Everett Public Schools switch from Naviance to SchooLinks?
    SchooLinks officially launches for EPS students and families in September 2026. Naviance continues to be used through the 2025–26 school year, so seniors graduating in spring 2026 will complete their High School and Beyond Plan entirely in Naviance.

    Why is EPS making this switch?
    The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) selected SchooLinks as the universal statewide High School and Beyond Plan platform for all districts. Every Washington district serving grades 7–12 is required to be on SchooLinks by the 2026–27 school year per state law.

    Will parents and guardians have access to SchooLinks?
    Yes — that’s one of the biggest changes. SchooLinks includes family access, allowing parents and guardians to log in and view their student’s High School and Beyond Plan and progress directly. Naviance did not support family logins for most districts.

    What is the High School and Beyond Plan?
    The High School and Beyond Plan is a state graduation requirement in Washington. Every public school student starts the plan in 7th grade and updates it through high school, mapping career interests to coursework, post-graduation training, and college planning.

    Will my student lose their Naviance plan when the switch happens?
    EPS has not published specific migration details yet, but the district has committed to a smooth transition with Naviance running through the full 2025–26 school year. Families with specific concerns about plan continuity should contact their student’s school counselor or email hsbp@everettsd.org.

    How many other Washington districts are on SchooLinks?
    OSPI announced in 2024 that 156 districts plus tribal compact schools, technical colleges, and charter schools committed to SchooLinks for the 2025–26 school year, joining 45 districts that launched the platform in 2024–25. By 2026–27, every district serving grades 7–12 will be on it.

    Does this affect Cascade, Everett, Jackson, and Sequoia high schools differently?
    No — the transition applies district-wide. Counselors at each high school will provide school-specific guidance on existing plans, but the platform itself is the same across all four EPS comprehensive high schools.

    Where can families ask questions about the transition?
    Email hsbp@everettsd.org or contact your student’s school counselor directly. The EPS website at everettsd.org/college-career-readiness/high-school-and-beyond-plan is the canonical source for transition updates.

  • Everett Art Walk Returns Thursday May 21 — A Free Three-Hour Tour of a Downtown That Quietly Built a Real Gallery Scene

    Everett Art Walk Returns Thursday May 21 — A Free Three-Hour Tour of a Downtown That Quietly Built a Real Gallery Scene

    Q: When and where is the May 2026 Everett Art Walk?
    A: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, across more than a dozen galleries, lofts, coffee shops, bars, and ceramic studios in downtown Everett. It’s free, no ticket, no RSVP — start anywhere on the map and walk.

    Verdict: GO. Three reasons stacked: (1) downtown Everett’s art ecosystem is denser than people outside the 98201 ZIP code realize, and the Art Walk is the one night each month it all opens its doors at the same time; (2) the price is zero; (3) the third Thursday format means you can show up after work, eat hors d’oeuvres on someone else’s tab, and still be home by ten.

    The Everett Art Walk runs the third Thursday of every month, year-round, 5 to 8 PM officially — and several of the participating venues stay open past 8 because the walk has built that kind of scene. May 21 is the next one. If you have lived in Snohomish County for any amount of time and never walked it, this is the month to fix that.

    What the Art Walk actually is

    It is not a festival. It is not a one-off pop-up. It is the Everett gallery district behaving like a gallery district — coordinated hours, coordinated openings, coordinated artist receptions, every third Thursday of the month, organized through everettartwalk.org and a downtown community of working artists who decided years ago that downtown Everett was worth showing up for.

    More than a dozen venues participate. The roster shifts month to month, but the anchors stay constant. A typical Art Walk night you can hit Schack Art Center on Hoyt Avenue, walk one block to ArtSpace Everett Lofts (the live-work building right next door), cross over to Hewitt Avenue for Heath Heathen’s studio at 1806 B Hewitt upstairs, drop into Lucky Dime for Collage Night, swing by Obsidian Art Gallery, end at Port Gardner Bay Winery on Rucker Avenue with a glass of red and a stack of new artist statements in your hand. Every venue is within a five-block walk of every other venue. You do not move your car.

    The April 16 walk is the most recent one we have a verifiable line-up for, and the April line-up is the structural template. Schack hosted Water Ways: Healing the Circle of Water and Life — the spring exhibition that runs through May 16 — and the gallery stayed open past 8 PM for the walk. ArtSpace Everett Lofts opened from 5 to 8 PM with resident artists in their live-work studios. Heath Heathen took text-only studio appointments at 5 to 9 PM. Lucky Dime hosted Collage Night with Penny — a recurring third-Thursday hang where you cut, paste, layer, and build something unexpected with strangers. Salish Sea Ceramics ran a free community seed-planting workshop. Obsidian Art Gallery featured graffiti-and-stencil work by Dakota Dean. Artisans PNW (Books & Coffee) hosted Author TJ Poortinga and a live Noise Jam set with Esoteric Everett. Zamarama Gallery opened a tribute exhibition for Pacific Northwest artist R. Allen Jensen.

    The May 21 walk will do the same shape with a fresh roster. Watch everettartwalk.org the week of the walk for the venue-by-venue line-up — most of the participating spaces post their May features in the seven days before the third Thursday.

    Why this Art Walk matters more than you think

    Everett has been quietly building a real arts ecosystem. Schack Art Center anchors the visual arts side at 2921 Hoyt Avenue — the premier visual arts destination between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., per schack.org/about. The Historic Everett Theatre, built in 1901 as the Everett Opera House, books touring acts that should be playing rooms three times its size. APEX Everett opened on Everett Avenue with Kings Hall as its anchor concert room. Tony V’s Garage on Hewitt Avenue is the loudest small-venue rock-and-roll club north of Seattle.

    The Art Walk is the seam where the visual arts side meets all of it. Many of the artists showing on May 21 also design posters for HET shows, paint album art for bands playing Tony V’s the next weekend, and sell ceramic mugs to coffee shops three blocks away. You walk the Art Walk and you start to see the network. You stop seeing downtown Everett as a thing to drive past on the way to Seattle and start seeing it as a thing to drive to.

    The venues to hit on May 21

    Below is the standing roster pulled from everettartwalk.org and the city’s calendar. Specific featured artists for May will post within seven days of the walk; what is below is the list of participating spaces you can plan a route around.

    Schack Art Center — 2921 Hoyt Avenue. The big one. Open until 8 PM. The Water Ways exhibition closes May 16, so the May 21 walk falls between shows — Contemporary Northwest Artists opens May 28. You may catch artists hanging work or staffing previews. Free admission as always.

    ArtSpace Everett Lofts — 2917 Hoyt Avenue, right next door to Schack. A 41-unit live-work building for working artists. On Art Walk nights the loft gallery on the ground floor is open 5 to 8 PM and several resident artists open their individual studios upstairs. This is the closest you will get in Everett to the open-studio model used in bigger arts cities.

    Lucky Dime — Hewitt Avenue. A bar that doubles as an Art Walk venue. Collage Night with Penny is the recurring third-Thursday format: tables full of magazines, scissors, glue sticks, and strangers building something between sips. No skill required. Free to walk in, drinks at bar prices.

    Obsidian Art Gallery — Hewitt Avenue. Contemporary work, edgier than most of the roster. Spray paint, stencil work, graffiti-adjacent pieces.

    Port Gardner Bay Winery — 3006 Rucker Avenue. Wine tasting with rotating artist features on the walls. The end-of-walk move for a lot of regulars.

    Tabby’s Coffee — 2702 Hoyt Avenue. Coffee, tea, and a modest gallery wall that turns over for each walk.

    Salish Sea Ceramics — A working ceramics studio that opens for the walk and frequently runs free hands-on workshops on Art Walk nights (April was a seed-planting workshop; May’s activity will post on everettartwalk.org).

    Zamarama Gallery — Contemporary fine art, often with Pacific Northwest themes.

    Artisans PNW (Books & Coffee) — Independent bookstore plus coffee shop. Hosts author readings and live music sets on Art Walk nights. April was an author event with TJ Poortinga and a Noise Jam set with Esoteric Everett.

    Heath Heathen Studio — 1806 B Hewitt Avenue, Suite 1, upstairs. Working artist studio, open 5 to 9 PM by text appointment (206-353-4971). The studio model — text the artist, walk up the stairs, see the work in the place where it is made — is rare in this part of Snohomish County and worth the climb.

    Gold E Lofts — 1705 1/2 Hewitt Avenue. Loft studios with rotating artist features.

    A note: this list is not exhaustive and the participating-venue roster changes month to month. Check everettartwalk.org for the May 21 confirmed list seven days out.

    How to walk it well

    Three pieces of practical advice from people who walk it every month.

    Park once, walk everything. Free street parking is generally available on Hoyt, Hewitt, Wetmore, and Colby in the late-afternoon-into-evening window. The Everpark Garage on Wall Street is the backup if street parking is tight. Every Art Walk venue is inside a five-block radius. You do not need to move the car.

    Eat before, drink during. Most venues serve hors d’oeuvres or light snacks. Wine and beer are available at Port Gardner Bay Winery, Lucky Dime, and several of the bar-adjacent venues. For a real dinner before, downtown Everett has restaurants on Hewitt and Colby.

    Talk to the artists. Most first-time walkers underuse this part. The artists are in their studios. They want to talk about the work. Ask what the piece is, ask what it took to make, ask what they are working on next. The cost of entry is one good question.

    Cross-Desk Handoff

    If you are pairing the Art Walk with dinner, downtown Everett has dinner options within two blocks of every Art Walk venue. Tygart Media’s food desk is the place to go for current restaurant-by-restaurant recommendations within walking distance of the walk.

    What the Art Walk does for the city

    Free public arts programming that runs every month, year-round, with a coordinated roster and an active organizing committee, is the kind of cultural infrastructure most Snohomish County cities do not have. Everett does. Every third Thursday is a small, repeated argument that downtown Everett is worth being in after dark — and the argument has been getting more convincing since the walk first formed. May 21 is the next chance to add yourself to the argument.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Is the Everett Art Walk free? A: Yes. There is no admission fee, no ticket, no RSVP. Walk in to any participating venue between 5 PM and 8 PM (some stay open later) on the third Thursday of every month.

    Q: What time does the May 2026 Everett Art Walk start and end? A: The official window is 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Several venues stay open past 8 PM — Heath Heathen Studio runs studio appointments until 9 PM, and the bar-adjacent venues (Lucky Dime, Port Gardner Bay Winery) typically remain open well into the evening.

    Q: Do I need to RSVP or buy tickets? A: No. The Art Walk is a free, walk-in event. Show up at any participating venue between 5 and 8 PM and start your route from there.

    Q: Where do I park for the Art Walk? A: Free street parking is generally available on Hoyt, Hewitt, Wetmore, and Colby in the late-afternoon-into-evening window. The Everpark Garage on Wall Street is the paid backup. All Art Walk venues are within a five-block radius — park once, walk the whole route.

    Q: How many venues participate in the Everett Art Walk? A: More than a dozen galleries, lofts, coffee shops, bars, and studios participate, with the exact roster shifting month to month. Anchors include Schack Art Center, ArtSpace Everett Lofts, Lucky Dime, Obsidian Art Gallery, Port Gardner Bay Winery, Tabby’s Coffee, Salish Sea Ceramics, Zamarama Gallery, Artisans PNW, Heath Heathen Studio, and Gold E Lofts.

    Q: Is the Everett Art Walk family-friendly? A: Most venues are family-friendly during the 5-to-8 PM window. Bar venues (Lucky Dime, Port Gardner Bay Winery) follow standard 21+ rules at the bar but typically welcome families in the gallery space. Schack Art Center, Tabby’s Coffee, Artisans PNW, and the loft galleries are family-friendly throughout.

    Q: How do I find out which artists are featured for a given Art Walk month? A: Check everettartwalk.org in the seven days before the third Thursday — most participating venues post their featured artist for that month’s walk a week out. The Everett Art Walk Facebook page (@everettsartwalk) and the city’s calendar at everettwa.gov also list featured highlights.