There’s a music festival happening — Wilmington and Raleigh bands, local bands playing great music, for free. There’s a marine market — new boats, antique boats on display, seafood to eat and nautical art for sale. There’s a farmer’s market — strawberries are in season and a fresh-roasted, fresh-ground, cup of joe awaits.

Anyone who says there’s nothing to do in Washington is gravely mistaken.

This Saturday, you’d be hard pressed to find something not to do in Washington. BoCO Music Festival starts in Festival Park at 10 a.m. As the day wears on into evening, the bands will get a little faster, a little louder, culminating in the rare Beaufort County performance by our local boys, Carolina Still.

So music isn’t always your thing? Take a walk through the Marine Market, down Water Street and Stewart Parkway to a dream come true for every boat owner (and wanna-be boat owner), where any and everything nautical may be found.

While every Saturday brings fresh produce to Saturday Market on the corner of Stewart Parkway and Main Street, this Saturday, make the market your first stop on an all day downtown adventure.

The dual festivals did not plan themselves. Three organizations have been working together for months to present this day: the Washington Harbor District Alliance, the Beaufort County Arts Council and the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association.

The question is why? Why would they work together to bring vendors in, musicians in, fresh produce in? Because it’s the right thing to do. Washington is a jewel of a town with a beautiful waterfront, and like any beautiful thing, it’s meant to be shown off. It’s meant to shine.

Come down to the waterfront Saturday and help Washington shine. Take pride in these organizations that work to make Washington everything it can be. Take pride in the many volunteers who donate their time to making such events happen.

And if that’s not enough to convince you to come on down, you should know that 1) it doesn’t cost a thing to attend and 2) there will be fire (in a hula-hooping performance at dusk). Everybody loves free stuff. And who can resist a good fire show?