If you enjoy the energy and jostle of a crowd, Lake Union's the place to be this weekend. The fireworks on Sunday night, for example, will draw tens of thousands to Gasworks Park and surrounding viewpoints. The Big Six of South Lake Union restaurants with outdoor seating (McCormick & Schmick's Harborside, Duke's, Chandlers, Daniel's Broiler, Joey, and Bluewater) will be jammed. But there's another way to enjoy the waterfront during daylight hours: The Center for Wooden Boats.

Now, Crosscut has been talking a lot lately about Seattle's maritime heritage, and the presence or absence of the Wawona from Lake Union, but the spirit of controversy will give way to the simple pleasures of boating this weekend: boat rides, demonstrations, activities for kids, music.

The annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival, as it's formally known, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It's free (donations accepted). Additional information, including suggestions for parking, are on the Center for Wooden Boats' website.