Not a bodybuilding event, but a different sort of mussel—the undersea kind. Whidbey Island salutes its signature food with live music and plenty of Penn Cove mussels (including 10 top-secret mussel chowder recipes vying for votes in the tasting competition). Ticketed boat rides hosted by Penn Cove Shellfish show off where the morsels are grown, and a mussel eating contest is not for the faint of heart.

The Central Washington town of Wenatchee isn't quite ready to let go of winter. In fact, they dump truckloads of snow into downtown streets so skiers and snowboarders can do tricks on metal features (hence the rails title) in a formal competition. Meanwhile, spectators can try more mellow outdoor experiences like snowshoeing and sliding on demo snowboards. Per the "ales" part of the event, the annual fest boasts well-stocked beer gardens.

The 14th annual music event takes over downtown Walla Walla with performances at hotels, restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms. Stages fill with 30 touring and local acts and—this being Walla Walla—there are plenty of winery tastings and good nosh to be found between shows.

With some of the best bird-watching in the state, the Birch Bay area turns into spotting central over three days. Between formal workshops, speakers, and live raptor experiences, birders meet each other and see what waterfowl they can locate through binoculars. Plus, guided field trips cart birders as far as the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in British Columbia.

Happy 112 years, state parks—be careful with all those birthday candles. To celebrate the anniversary of the Washington State Parks founding, all entrance and parking fees that would usually require a Discover Pass are waived. Select from our favorites, or peruse the map of Washington's more than 140 separate properties.

Pacific treasures star in Ocean Shore's annual foodie fest, from elaborate crab dinners to a Sunday crab benedict breakfast. Outside of food, the festival boasts a clam gun decorating contest, live music, and a vendor village to peruse between seafood bites. 

Crystal Mountain Resort collabs with Browne Family Vineyards for a quintessential Washington winter dinner: Ticketholders start the afternoon with a guided two-hour snowshoe tour through Bullion Basin before warming up with an aprés meal and wine tasting. 

Missed the globe-trotting Van Gogh experience during its Seattle residency? Spokane now hosts the immersive art installation through the end of the month, providing an extra chance to gaze at two-story projections of Van Gogh's work, don a VR headset, and craft in real time.