NEAH BAY — Makah Days — celebrating its 85th anniversary — will be all about health and wellness this year.

The annual three-day celebration of Makah cultural heritage, which begins today, will include traditions such as slahal games, historic dances and canoe races.

Less traditional will be modern dances, fireworks and a softball tournament.

The theme this year is “A Journey to Wellness.”

The theme will be emphasized by the tribe’s Wellness Committee serving as the grand marshals of the parade at 10 a.m. Saturday.

“We are always excited about the parade,” said Rose Jimmicum, chairwoman of the Makah Days Committee.

Entries for the parade include the Coast Guard, local law enforcement, neighboring tribes and even family-specific floats.

Family, culture

Meri Parker, director of the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce, said Makah Days is a time for celebration of culture and family.

“Many people who don’t live in Neah Bay will be here for the weekend,” she said.

Among those will be a reunion of her own family of more than 160 people.

“We’ll even have our own float in the parade,” she said.

The cultural dances will be complemented by modern dances for youngsters tonight and Saturday night.

Makah royalty, fireworks and slahal — a traditional gambling game — also will ramp up the fun for the weekend.

Most Makah Days events are free. Parking is free unless a visitor intends to explore beyond the Makah Day events.

Visiting Shi Shi Beach, Cape Flattery or hiking other trails requires a $10 recreational pass.

The passes are available at Washburn’s General Merchandise, 1 Bayview Ave., and at the Makah Cultural & Research Center, which is on the left from state Highway 112 upon entering Neah Bay.

Neah Bay is at the west end of state Highway 112, at the most northwestern tip of the contiguous United States. The state highway becomes Bayview Avenue, the main roadway through Neah Bay.

Vendors from throughout the Northwest will have goods to sell.

Makah Days began Aug. 26, 1913 when the first American flag was raised over Neah Bay, said Ticishway Tholt, who researched the history for the program.

“Today, we celebrate culture and heritage over this three-day period,” she said.

“We dedicated it to our ancestors and beloved elders, as they are the ones who have passed on these cultural teachings to us.”

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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.