As the year starts to come to a close, Whatcom County lights up with holiday happenings! Spend this 2024 holiday season supporting the incredible local businesses around Whatcom County while filling up on holiday cheer.
Check out our full Events Calendar for the most up-to-date information!
November 6
Get creative and design the cozy gingerbread house of your dreams! In this 3 hour ceramics class you be constructing a ceramic gingerbread house of your own design sure to become a family holiday treasure.
Register today at Jansenartcenter.org
November 14
Get your holiday shopping season started while sipping an array of regional wines as 18 Downtown Bellingham shops host pop-up tasting rooms and offer exclusive deals and discounts! As an attendee, you'll receive tasting tickets to redeem for samples of the wines of your choice, and if you find a favorite, you can take a bottle (or two!) home by making a purchase right at the tasting location!
November 30
Encaustic is the perfect medium to add something unique to your Christmas decorations or gifts. We'll work on small ornament boards to create jewel-like Christmas ornaments using the exciting medium of encaustic, an ancient method of painting with beeswax. Encaustic ornaments have a soft glow that goes well with Christmas lights, and sparkle can be added with foil leaf and other additions.
If you've been looking for a way to try encaustic, this is a good small project that will include an abbreviated intro and some Christmas cheer! A great class to do as a Christmas project or gathering with friends.
Register today at Jansenartcenter.org.
Schedule of Events!
Nov. 30-Dec. 14 Letters to Santa / Find the mailbox on the Village Green stage
Nov. 30-Jan. 1 Frequent Shopper Cards – Spend & Eat locally this holiday season and win!
Nov. 30 SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY #ShopLocal in Fairhaven, Visit w. Father Christmas & Carriage Rides (Noon – 3pm), Victorian Carolers on the Green (3pm – 4pm), Live Entertainment and Tree Lighting (10th & Mill) (4pm – 5pm)
Dec. 7 Visit w. Father Christmas & Carriage Rides (Noon – 3pm), Firelight Stroll (Lk Padden Creek Trail, Harris Ave.) (5pm – 8pm)
Dec. 12 Tales of the Season Live Reading at Village Books (Starts at 6pm)
Dec. 14 Visit w. Father Christmas & Carriage Rides (Noon – 3pm), Lighted Bike Parade
Dec. 21 Visit w. Father Christmas & Carriage Rides (Noon – 3pm), Victorian Carolers on the Green (1pm - 2pm)
December 6, 7 ,13, & 14
Feel the warmth of the season with high tea at Willowbrook Manor. Sweets, scones, savories and a pot of delicious Willowbrook tea are served in a setting like that of an English country estate.
Reservations required.
December 7
Embrace the magic of the holiday season and be part of the community tradition of lighting Downtown's tree! Join us at 5:30pm for free cocoa and cookies, activities, and more (details on website). Then, join the countdown to 6pm when the tree comes to life in a burst of lights!
Stay with us and take your family photos until 7pm, making your Saturday night Downtown a memorable night filled with festive joy!
December 14
Get ready to celebrate as we mark the 40th year of Jingle Bell Run, the original festive race for charity brought to you by the Arthritis Foundation. Wear your favorite holiday gear, and let's jingle all the way toward a cure! With every step, we're funding critical research for treatments and a cure, as well as supporting life-changing resources and programs.
Don't miss out on this special occasion to make a real difference while celebrating four decades of impact with the Jingle Bell Run. Let's lace up, hit the pavement, and jingle our way toward victory over arthritis!
December 14
Deck the trails and deck out your bike for Bellingham's Lighted Bike Parade. Costumes encouraged, holiday cheer required! FREE and open to everyone.
The bike ride will take place rain or shine.
4:30 pm - Meet up
5:00 pm - Riders depart on out-and-back route down the South Bay Trai
5:20- 5:30 pm - Arrive at Depot Market Square for music, cocoa, and activities!
6:00 pm - Riders depart Depot Market Square (self-guided).
Hosted by: WTA, City of Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham Association, Whatcom Smart Trips and Western Washington University.
Nov. 2
Join us at our popular Yule Boutique! You won't want to miss our famous 15-foot-long table loaded with cookies, candies, and cakes. Also featured are handcrafted gifts, soup mixes, holiday decorations and vintage collectibles. Free admission. All proceeds support Assistance League of Bellingham's five community programs in Whatcom County.
Nov. 15 & 16
Red Barn Market is coming back to the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. With over 110 amazing handpicked vendors this market is sure to include something for everyone. It's the perfect way to start the Holiday season!
Nov. 16
Fall into the Holidays and shop local this November 16th, from 10am-3pm at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center's 3rd Annual Craft Fair. This year we invite you to shop and support over 30 local small businesses and community organizations.
This year's craft fair will take place at a new location, 140 E. Bellis Fair Parkway, located near Winco Foods across from Bellis Fair Mall.
For more information: https://whatcomcoa.org/events/ or 360-733-4030 ext. 1020.
Nov. 16
Discover the magic of the holiday season at the Blaine Middle School Holiday Market! Browse over 50+ local crafters and artisans, including Blaine student vendors featuring candy, candles, jewelry, apparel, skin care, toys, ornaments and so much more. This event benefits Blaine Middle School PTSO supporting students and staff.
Nov. 22 - Dec. 24
Experience the holiday magic and find the perfect gift as Allied Arts presents its 45th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts. Starring over 100 booths with local artisans and craftspeople presenting their holiday goodies, find one-of-a-kind gifts, specialty food treats, stunning jewelry, beautiful artworks from paintings to photographs, scented soaps and bubbles for a personal spa, and more. Fill your weekends with live local music, artist demos, and workshops. Bring the kids in for free and enjoy fun, family art projects. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy!
The festival is open seven days a week, 10:00am – 6:00pm, except for December 3rd when we are open 11:00am – 9:00pm for Downtown Art Walk, and December 24th when we close early at 3:00pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving
Nov. 30
Go big by shopping small this holiday season! Find unique and delightful gifts at Downtown Bellingham's array of boutiques, shops, and galleries stocked with special finds and one-of-a-kind items. Skip the craziness at big box stores and find the perfect items for your lists (or yourself!).
Nov. 30
Our most popular market event of the year! The FireHouse space becomes a festive holiday bazaar, with wall-to-wall handmade goods and specialties by local artisans and vendors, with live music by Pam Wooster and other favorite local musicians. The perfect seasonal shoportunity!
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 & Dec. 21-22
Bellingham Makers Market is bringing back your favorite holiday market and we are SO excited! Get into the festive spirit and discover unique gifts while showing your support for local artisans at our Holiday Market.
The perfect way to stock up on gifts for all of your loved ones, from hand-crafted soaps, sustainable goods and exquisite art to delectable food items, stylish clothing, aromatic candles, and stunning jewelry.
Dec. 1
Bring the whole family to experience the Assumption Catholic School Christmas Bazaar, Sunday, December 1st from 9am-3pm. More than 40 local artists and crafters will be showcasing their handmade gifts. There will also be an assortment of wrapped baked goods for sale and a used book sale. All books priced at $3! It's the perfect opportunity to find special treasures and goodies for your friends and family while supporting local businesses.
Dec. 14
Get ready for a whimsical winter wonderland at the Children's Holiday Market! Join us for a day of festive fun and creativity as little artisans and entrepreneurs show-case their delightful gifts and goodies. This heartwarming event celebrates the joy of giving and the ingenuity of young minds while featuring tons of unique gifts for friends and family. Open to the public.
Dec. 7
Join us on December 7th for our annual Holiday Market! If you would like to have a booth at this event, fill out our online vender application before November 1st!
Dec. 14
Shop local with us on Saturday, December 14th, for our fourth annual Holiday Makers Market benefitting the United Way of Whatcom County! Our Holiday Makers Market aims to support local creatives who strive to be sustainable and environmentally conscious in their craft.
Kulshan will donate $1 per pint sold during the market, and all participating makers will donate 10% of sales in lieu of a vending fee to United Way of Whatcom County. We’re thrilled to be able to bring people together to support creatives in our community, and give back to a great cause!
Spend $50 in Fairhaven Village and get entered to win a prize!
Pick up a SHOP LOCAL Card at the Fairhaven Visitor Kiosk (inside Finnegan's Alley - 1106 Harris) or the Peoples Bank inside Haggen.
Fill out as many cards as you want for a chance to win weekly prizes! $50 per card - shop and dine at your favorite village businesses. Have your cashier initial or stamp a star for every $5 spent, completed cards can be dropped off at the same locations as pick up (Visitor Kiosk & Peoples Bank).
A card will be drawn on the following dates: 12/5, 12/12, 12/19 & 1/2.
GREAT LOCAL PRIZES...
Cards will be available through November 30-January 1st (or until they run out). *Some rules and exceptions will apply
December 7
Mount Baker Theatre
December 4
Mount Baker Theatre
December 15
Mount Baker Theatre
January 1
It’s back and cooler (pun intended!) than ever. Kick the New Year off on the right foot with a stroll or jog around beautiful and serene Lake Padden. Then get ready to take the plunge into the chilly and invigorating lake with all the other hearty souls. Bring your enthusiasm and resolutions! Pack a towel, change of clothes and shoes that can get wet (a must have!)
11am: Resolution Walk/Run
12pm: Polar Dip!
