That jolly old elf Saint Nick is making the rounds to public places throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County to hear the Christmas wishes of all the good little girls and boys.
Haven’t caught up with him yet? There’s still time before the reindeer fly! Here’s where you can find him:
One of my family’s favorite places to visit with Santa is at the Olde Fashioned Christmas at Ferndale’s Pioneer Park.
If you haven’t been to Pioneer Park, seeing the 12 log cabin structures saved from homesteads around Whatcom County is worth the trip alone. When those cabins are decorated for the yuletide and volunteers dressed in pioneer-era costumes are there to greet you, the experience is all the sweeter.
The cabins are outfitted with period decor, furnishings and tools, and many have fun hands-on crafts, old-fashioned games and even cookie baking for visitors to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Then, of course, there is Santa himself. Bring your own camera to snap a photo with him and your kids.
Just like Clement Moore describes in his poem about this “right jolly old elf,” Santa will disappear just as quickly as he came, so be sure to catch him during his limited engagement at the Old Fashioned Christmas from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8 this year.
Father Christmas, resplendent in his Victorian Christmas attire, visits with families at the Fairhaven Village Inn on Saturdays during Fairhaven’s Winterfest, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 21. Santa also makes a special appearance on opening night of Winterfest, Friday, Nov. 29, from 3-5 p.m. at the Gazebo near the Village Green.
Fairhaven is merry and bright during Christmastime, and Saturdays during Winterfest are filled with fun holiday activities, including free horse-drawn carriage rides and the “Signs of the Season” treasure hunt with local merchants.
Too busy with all the season brings to visit Santa on Saturdays? Children also have the chance to send their letters direct to Father Christmas by placing them in the mailbox located on the Village Green.
If you’re looking for a winter wonderland for your Santa pic, photos at the Mount Baker Ski Area are about as close to the North Pole as you can get in Whatcom County. Real snow-covered trees and mountains are the backdrop for these photos. And because it’s so close to home for Santa, he uses his trusty snowmobile and gives the reindeer a day off.
“We always tell my son that Mount Baker is Santa's last stop to hear what people want for Christmas before he heads back up to the North Pole on his snowmobile to get it all ready before Christmas Eve,” says Kristen Donahue. “Last year Logan told Santa we could go up with him and visit the elves as we have our own snowmobiles!”
Check the ski area’s website, mtbaker.us/events, to get details on exact times, location and pricing. Photos are cash only, and proceeds benefit the Mount Baker Snow School.
A Bellingham classic! Yeager’s Toyland in the basement of the outdoor goods store has been the place families go to give Santa their wish list for years. It’s also a great place to scope out some of your classic favorite toys such as Lincoln Logs and baby dolls. It is also a great spot for Santa to fulfill his all the requests on his list – from craft kits to fishing poles. Families can take their own photo with Santa or have the Lyon’s Club photographer take a portrait.
Bellis Fair is a winter wonderland at Christmastime, making a visit with Santa at his workshop all the more magical. With online scheduling, you can miss waiting in the lines to see Santa – which is a huge benefit when visiting Santa at the mall since the wait times can be prohibitive with little ones. Bring your furry kids on Mondays, from 5 p.m. to close, for Pet Nights with Santa. And, if you visit before Dec. 14, you’ll save on some photo package pricing, which increases the last 10 days of Santa’s visits to the mall.
Transformed into a Christmas paradise, Bellewood Farms is a must see during the holiday season. Take a free photo with Santa, enjoy live music, horse-drawn sleigh-rides, caroling, cookie decorating and hot apple at Whatcom County's local apple farm.
These are just a handful of the places St. Nick will be making an appearance this holiday season. Do you have a favorite not covered here? Tell us in the comments below.
