This coming weekend is jam-packed with festivities for the greater Whatcom area. With tree lightings and sleigh rides in Blaine, ornament making in Lynden and pop-up markets and visits with Santa in Bellingham, it's clear that Whatcom is ready to jump back into the Christmas spirit.
Bellingham
Friday, Nov. 29, the Whatcom Art Center is putting together a Holiday Art Show that will be open through Dec.1. The weekend display, featuring five local artists, will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with opportunities to partake in art classes, shows and popups.
On Nov. 30, The Fairhaven Association (FA) will host the 2024 Winterfest. Winterfest is the FA’s all-encompassing event that includes a community tree lighting, old-fashioned carriage rides, visits with Santa, an art market, live entertainment from the Bellingham Showstoppers and Pyro Dancers, a luminary walk on Padden Creek Trail and the Night Light bike route in Fairhaven and Victorian carolers.
“We’re busy over here at the Fairhaven Association,” said Executive Director Heather Carter. “All 160 members and promoters are plum-loaded with things to do. I encourage everyone to check out Enjoy Fairhaven to see the latest updates.”
Old-fashioned carriage rides near Village Green during Fairhaven Winterfest 2016. This year, carriage rides will be on Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec 21, from 12 to 3 p.m. // Photo by Heather Carter
The FA is presenting the Fairhaven Frequent Shopper Card, which is a stamp card anyone can take with them throughout the festivities. Each small business will give you a stamp for every five dollars spent, giving you the chance to win a weekly prize in a drawing after receiving 10 stamps.
Frequent Shopper Cards can be found at the Fairhaven Visitor Kiosk or the People’s Bank inside Haggen Grocery on 12th St.
Also on Nov. 30, Hardware Sales Rentals is hosting a Hardware Holiday Wonderland. There, pictures with Santa will be available for $5 alongside free crafting materials for anyone who wants to write notes to Santa.
Joining in on the fun, Firehouse Arts Events Center will be setting up shop in their performance space on Nov. 30, from 1 to 6 p.m. 16 local vendors will be set up with booths displaying handmade goodies, accompanied by three live musical performances throughout the day. Their adjoined cafe will be open all day.
“Come get a coffee, walk around, hear live music and support local vendors. It’s the best of all worlds,” said Terese Dalton, a Firehouse employee.
A Holiday Makers Market will be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 and then again from Dec. 21 to Dec. 22. Various vendors will be available throughout the weekends, providing the perfect opportunity to find unique holiday gifts.
On Dec.1, the Shop Small Holiday Market will be hosted by Boundary Bay Brewery from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The following day, Santa will be visiting the same location from 12 to 3 p.m.
On the same day, Allied Arts of Whatcom County will have its 45th annual Holiday Festival of the Arts where you can experience more holiday magic and find more unique gifts for friends and family.
More information all all things Bellingham can be found here.
A young member of the Night Light Bike Parade is pictured outside Hillcrest Church in Bellingham, Wash. during Winterfest 2023. This year’s ride will be on Dec. 14, with a special opportunity to win a prize for “Best Decorated.” // Photo by Heather Carter
Blaine
Blaine is going all out on Nov. 30 with their annual tree lighting ceremony, taking place at 4:45 p.m. in the G Street Plaza. In the late morning before the tree lighting, there is a Christmas Bazaar at Christ the King Church on Peace Portal Dr., followed by an exclusive chance to meet the Grinch at the Blaine Welcome Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Each visitor will receive a special gift from the master of holiday shenanigans: an onion.
The Blaine High School Band and Choir will perform at 3:30 p.m. which will segway into an opportunity for all of you out there on the nice list: a chance to meet with Santa. Horse carriage rides will be free to the public until 7 p.m.
“This is our last event of the year, so we like to go big,” said Farmer’s Market Manager and Chamber volunteer Donna Read. “Everyone is welcome to come and bring their friends and family for some holiday fun.”
On BLANK day, the Blaine Public Library and high school marching band will be leading an evening luminary walk with hot cocoa and treats galore. Food trucks, 10-15 local vendors and s’mores kits will be available for your pursuing pleasure from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Lynden
On Nov. 30, an encaustic ornament-making class will be taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jansen Art Center. Encaustic is a painting method that involves applying a heated mixture of beeswax, dammar resin and pigment to a surface, such as wood, and then fusing it in with heat.
On the same day, a Fuse Glass Gnome Ornament class will be taking place at the Jansen Art Center from 1 to 2 p.m. There, participants will create whimsical gnome ornaments from pre-cut elements, where there will be a wide selection of colors and skin tones to choose from.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Vanessa Ewart-Northrop (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a third-year Journalism major with a NewsEd focus. In her free time, Vanessa likes to see live music, do crafts with her friends and spend time with her cat Pigeon. You can reach her at vanessaewartnorthrop.thefront@gmail.com.
