Coupeville resident John Weber looked like a kid in a candy store as he wandered around the Island County Historical Society Museum Saturday afternoon.

As he traced his way through the displays of model ships of all kinds he deconstructed and analyzed each one at length with his eyes.

“This is fantastic,” he said.

Weber, a steam locomotive and steam engine enthusiast, was just one of countless people who visited the museum Saturday and Sunday to stroll through a model ship display that sailed into town as part of the first ever Wharf Fest.

Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association president Mary Alice Sterling said everyone involved in organizing the first Wharf Fest couldn’t be more pleased this week with the outcome.

“Everyone had such a good time,” Sterling said. “There was something for everyone set at a pace everyone could enjoy.”

Wharf Fest was an event for the ages — all of them.

“There was definitely a multi-generational feel with grandparents out there enjoying the boats with the grandkids and young families sharing time together,” Sterling said.

Festivities began Thursday evening with a presentation by Peter Fromm on the area’s maritime transportation history and continued Friday with “Ferry Tales” brought to life by storyteller Jill Johnson.

Saturday and Sunday brought two days of kids activities, strolling musicians and plenty more nautical and steam-inspired fun.

Capt. Jack Sparrow and his crew of pirates were seen playfully plundering around town. Sparrow and crew were on their best behavior while visiting Coupeville, although they couldn’t resist showing off their sword fighting skills down on the wharf.

Of course, Sparrow had himself in mind as he shamelessly dropped that he and the crew would next appear at the Pirate Charity Fund-raiser July 21 at Windjammer Park that will raise funds for the Island County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“It’ll be a jolly good time, right,” Sparrow barked.

There was plenty for the kids to do from face painting and driftwood decoration to a hula hoop contest judged by Capt. Jack.

Fifteen minutes after most all of the hula hoops had fallen to the ground, two top twirlers left the crowd wondering how long these young ladies were going to keep those hoops a twirling.

Phoebe Vrable, 7, maintained a steady yet slow pace to save her energy while 8-year-old Carlie Rosenkrance twirled at a speedier rate.

“I just wanted to keep going,” Vrable explained of her strategy.

A couple of clowns worked overtime to twist out all the requests for balloon swords, puppies and doe-eyed rabbits.

Plenty of people boarded the wagon and took a hayride thanks to buckaroos from the M-Bar-C Ranch program in Freeland.

Saturday Kapaw’s Ice Cream owner Paul Whelan said his shop saw a flurry of business that day as people ordered chilled sweets to beat the mugginess of the day.

“It’s been fun seeing all face paintings the kids come in with,” Whelan said.

Whelan slipped out of the shop long enough to walk down the wharf and peek at some of the steamships moored at the dock.

The Shifty Sailors were especially jolly, strolling the wharf singing their colorful repertoire of sea chanteys and other salty tunes.

“This has been a wonderful chance to relax and come spend time with family,” said Coupeville resident Mary Boardman.

Boat builder Chuck Cannon came to Wharf Fest from Point Roberts to glean some inspiration for his next vessel. While Cannon usually crafts sailboats, his wife suggested he look for an unusual endeavor.

“She figures I have one boat left in me and why not have it be different,” he said.

Down on the dock Saturday, Cannon chatted with the visiting steamboat captains and learned there will be much to think about if he builds a steamboat.

“You have to really look at how big of a boat you want to build and how big the propeller will be,” he said. “Otherwise you could really have some problems.”

Maybe next year we’ll see Cannon and his boat at Wharf Fest.

Dave Hogan of Everson brought his 14-foot wooden steamboat with a 1936 Davis hull and 35-year-old Stewart Turner engine.

Steam is a family legacy for Hogan who follows his father’s enthusiasm.

“I’ve loved steamships since I was 10 years old,” Hogan said.

He still remembers his father’s 23-foot launch “Quick Step.”

Hogan, membership coordinator for the Northwest Steam Society, said it’s important to spread the enthusiasm for steamships before the legacy fades.

“Our membership fluctuates, right now about 275 to 300 members, but the group is growing older each year,” he said.

Angelika Schlager and her husband Wolfgang came to Coupeville from Bellingham aboard their steam launch “Rose.”

Angelika said she’s had an appreciation for steamboats since she visited Windermere, England in the mid-1980s.

“They have a whole museum of steamships there,” she said. “It’s quite remarkable.”

Island County Historical Society Museum director Rick Castellano said due to its popularity, the model boat exhibit will remain on display at the museum through July 8.

Castellano is already setting sail with predictions for next year’s festival.

“Expect next year’s Wharf Fest to only get bigger, better and warmer,” he said.