County leaders urge Washington State Ferries review after widespread cancellations disrupted County Fair travel

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — County officials said repeated Washington State Ferries cancellations during the County Fair weekend strained ferry customers and fair operations and left some passengers and animals stranded, prompting a call by council leaders for an after-action review and a written response from ferry leadership. Council member McVeigh — who emailed WSF about the disruptions after the fair — told the council that cancellations of several scheduled sailings left visitors and livestock waiting at terminals. She said county staff, ferries personnel and moving companies worked to reroute a mainland vessel so fairgoers could return, but the disruptions left some residents and animals without timely transport. Why it matters: The county fair is a major community event that depends on reliable vessel capacity for people and equipment, including livestock. Officials said the episode highlights fragility in ferry service during peak events and urged more predictable contingency planning. Council members described a mix of operational challenges and communication failures. County Manager Jess Hudson and other staff said they would pursue inclusion in WSF’s promised after-action review; the council also discussed sending a formal letter to WSF leadership and the governor’s office to request an acknowledgement of impacts and improved procedures for future events. Sheriff and fair staff praised volunteer and private efforts to help. County staff singled out private water-taxi operators and individuals who helped transport passengers when scheduled sailings were canceled. Council members also suggested WSF consider reserved barge capacity for animal transport during fairs and clearer standby allocation for oversized loads. What’s next: The council said it will seek a written after-action report from Washington State Ferries, request participation in the agency’s review, and consider a formal council letter to WSF and the governor’s office documenting the community impacts and asking for changes to contingency planning for future large events.