New ferry connects Whidbey and Everett for World Cup watch parties

Whidbey residents now have a new way to reach Everett’s World Cup crowd without driving, circling for parking or waiting in a vehicle line: a 45-passenger foot ferry that makes the Langley-to-Everett crossing in about 30 to 45 minutes for roughly $10 to $12 one way, or $16 to $20 round trip.

The Harbor Hopper began service June 4 and is scheduled to run through Aug. 29 as a pilot program. The first-ever seasonal passenger-only ferry connection between Everett and Langley is operating aboard the chartered Hat Island Ferry on most Thursdays and Saturdays, with two trips each way on operating days. Because space is limited, the port is urging riders to reserve ahead, although walk-ons will be accepted if seats remain.

The Port of South Whidbey and the Port of Everett are treating the route as more than a novelty ride. Port leaders say the pilot is meant to test demand and determine whether a permanent passenger-only ferry between Everett and Whidbey could work, while also creating a car-free option between Snohomish County and Whidbey Island. The service was made possible in part by Community Connector sponsor Whidbey Telecom, with the Hat Island Community Association also partnering in the launch.

The timing lines up with Everett’s World Cup programming at Boxcar Park, where the City of Everett, Port of Everett and Snohomish County Sports Commission are hosting four free, all-ages Waterfront Watch Parties on June 11, 12, 18 and 19. Those events are part of Everett’s official Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 fan zone and will include live match broadcasts, entertainment, food and drink, family activities and a waterfront setting designed to draw people to Waterfront Place.

For Island County residents, the route turns a regional sporting event into a practical day trip. The June 11 and June 19 matches start at noon, with watch parties opening at 10 a.m., giving riders time to cross Possession Sound, join the crowd and still get home the same day. The Port of Everett says the monthlong “Pathway to the Pitch” celebration is meant to bring more visitors to the waterfront throughout June, and the new ferry gives South Whidbey a direct stake in whether that traffic becomes a lasting seasonal pattern.