Did you know Tacoma has 46 miles of shoreline? That's right. We're a martime city, baby, and the 20th annual Martime Fest is here to make sure you know it. Appreciate the Port of Tacoma for more than its sulfurous stench.

The festival will celebrate all things watery. Both days will have a full lineup of live entertainment. Entertainment includes everything from puppet shows to hypnotists to an outdoor showing of "Dolphin Tale." There are, of course, plenty of bands on tap, too.

What really makes Maritime Fest a standout among our many summer T-Town festivals is that it is full of boats. Visiting boats include the S.S. Virginia (a 1922 freight and passenger boat); the Verite (a replica of an 18^th-century French longboat operated by our local Sea Scouts); Joe the tugboat; Army Reserve landing craft; and more. Tours and boat boarding is allowed on most of the boats on display. Going all pirate and taking over boats is not.

Free tours also help make this festival pretty dang cool. Tour the Port on the Lady Mary or on a train-for free!

Martime Fest takes place at Thea Foss Park and Foss Waterway Seaport on August 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.