2022 Local Activities

LYNDEN — Join the Lynden Community/Senior Center for a festive pancake breakfast and bring your camera to take a picture with Sinterklaas. Breakfast includes pancakes with (optional) peppermint sprinkle, scrambled eggs, sausage, and hot chocolate. After breakfast stop by our Christmas market for some holiday shopping. Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8 a.m.-noon with a seating every half hour. Cost is $10 adults/$5 kids ages 8 and younger. Reservations suggested. The Lynden Community/Senior Center is at 401 Grover St. For more information, call (360) 354-2921 or email info@lyndencommunitycenter.org.

LYNDEN — Celebrate Christmas in Lynden on Dec. 3 with the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt.

Join Downtown Lynden’s Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. for fun and prizes. The elves are back and running wild, visiting businesses all over Lynden. Can you find all of the elves?

Join in on the fun at the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt and win one of three prizes valued at more than $300 each. First 500 participants get free antlers.

Pick up your card at Elf’s Headquarters, next to the big red mailbox at the corner of 5th and Front streets.

LYNDEN — Come join us with for Lynden’s annual kick-off to Christmas holiday season celebration, the Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, presented to the community by Edaleen Dairy.

Visitors and locals will be treated to holiday carolers and a dazzling display of lighted trucks, cars, floats, wagons, farm equipment and more. The procession starts at the Fairway Center and travels along Front Street from 18th Street through downtown Lynden to 3rd Street, giving spectators an opportunity to enjoy an array of wonderful Christmas shopping experiences in the stores of Lynden before the parade.

Bring your lawn chairs, grab your blankets and mittens and dress for a cool winter’s evening chill while joining thousands of other families, friends, and soon-to-be friends in welcoming that most wonderful time of the year.

Just a reminder that our local restaurants can be very busy that evening, both before and after the event, so give a call a day or so before to see if they are taking reservations.

Front Street will closed to traffic in downtown at 3rd Street starting at 4:30, and closing at 19th Street at 5 p.m.

On-street parking is best north of Grover Street, just please remember not to be a grinch and park in or block someone’s driveway, and be generous

with your patience as folks from near and far seek parking space.

Call the Lynden Chamber of Commerce at 360-354-5995 for more information.

FERNDALE — Volunteers of the Ferndale Heritage Society will host the 29th annual Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration on Dec. 2-3.

“It’s truly a step back in time as we help you begin your holiday season,” says event organizer Linda Harkleroad.

Changes implemented last year due to our overcrowding caused by enthusiastic visitors will be part of the event again. After touring the cabins, visitors will venture into the Pioneer Pavilion where all the children crafts, refreshments and a visit to Santa will be happening.

While inside buildings, guests will follow any state mandated requirements if there are any in December.

Pioneer Village is home to 15 historic log cabins. Children can visit the one-room schoolhouse to write a personalized letter to Santa or access the template and write those letters prior to attending the event. Deliver those letters to the one-room post office for mailing to the North Pole.

Visit ferndaleheritagesociety.com to print the “Dear Santa” letter template, or see page 13.

Shoppers of all ages find inexpensive trinkets for their loved ones at the Parker House cabin, which is now the general store. The stately Shields House offers baking scents, and the Foster house will showcase a huge working model train display.

The log church offers quiet reflection time. Gentle giants, known as the draft horses, greet visitors in the Barr Barn. Many local entertainers and musicians volunteer their talents for your enjoyment. Only certified service animals allowed within all the fenced areas (Pioneer Village), per City Municipal Code 12.26.010 C. 3.

Olde Fashioned Christmas is open from 4-9 p.m. Dec. 2-3. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Pioneer Park is at 2004 Cherry St., Ferndale.

For more information, call (360) 384-6461 or visit www. ferndaleheritagesociety.com.

FERNDALE — Due to the overwhelming turnout at last year’s Lighted Stroll, volunteers of the Ferndale Heritage Society will again host a Lighted Christmas Stroll Through Pioneer Village event from 5–8 p.m. Dec. 9-10 and again from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 16-17. Admission is free.

Thanks to those board stamped concrete sidewalks, you won’t even get your feet wet as you stroll around the cabins, see all the park lit up, hear Christmas music and see costumed volunteers greet you as you feel the holiday cheer spill into the winter air.

Young guests are encouraged to prewrite their letters to Santa and mail them in the Santa mailbox that will be located by the Barrett Post Office.

The letters need to have their names and a legible mailing address to help Santa return them. Hot beverages will be provided onsite, compliments of Whatcom Educational Credit Union, to keep you warm as you stroll. Bring your cameras as a photo booth will be created at the Barr Barn lean to.

Unfortunately, Santa hasn’t committed to make an appearance, but you just never know. An addition this year will be a seek-and-find the Christmas Elves challenge.

Pioneer Village is home to 15 historic log cabins. Only certified service animals allowed within all the fenced areas (Pioneer Village), per City Municipal Code 12.26.010 C. 3.

Pioneer Park is at 2004 Cherry St., Ferndale. For more information, call (360) 384-6461 or visit ferndaleheritagesociety.com.

• In partnership with the City of Bellingham, the annual lighting of Downtown’s holiday tree is at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave. Hot cocoa and cookies, caroling and artisan vending. For more information, call 360527-8710 or email nathalie@ downtownbellingham.com. • The Holiday Port Festival is a free, family-friendly event held Dec. 3-4 at the Bellingham Terminal, 355 Harris Ave. This is one of the Port’s signature events for the community and includes the Holiday Port Quest, an online Gingerbread house display, and the Lighted Boat Parade Viewing. Call 360-676-2500 for more information. • The community is invited to adorn their bodies and bikes with lights and pedal on the South Bay Trail between Fairhaven and downtown on Dec. 10 for the annual Lighted Bike Parade.

Fairhaven Route: Meet at Hillcrest Church (1400 Larrabee Ave) at 4:30 p.m., ride leaves at 5 p.m.

Downtown Bellingham Route: Meet at Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave., at 4:30 p.m., ride leaves at 5 p.m.

Both groups will meet at Boulevard Park for hot cocoa and festivities. Call Mary at WTA with questions: 360788-9316 • Run, skip, or walk in the Santa 5K at Cordata, at the fabulous Cordata and Julian Parks. Participants are welcome to run as fast as humanly possible or take an hour while enjoying a coffee and chatting with friends. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Fun for the entire family, with prizes and given for fastest times as well as other festive categories. Registration incudes your own Santa hat. Admission is $15 - $25, with $5 for kids.

Visit bellingham.org for more information.