As the year starts to come to a close, Whatcom County lights up with holiday happenings! Spend this 2022 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 25 - December 31, 2022
Enjoy the holiday spirit in the Whatcom Museum's historic Old City Hall! Explore a variety of themed, decorated holiday trees in the Rotunda Room, participate in holiday craft-making, and enjoy the dazzling décor.
December 10
The community is invited to adorn their bodies and bikes with lights and pedal on the South Bay Trail between Fairhaven and Downtown!
Fairhaven Route: Meet at Hillcrest Church (1400 Larrabee Ave) at 4:30 PM, ride leaves at 5:00 PM
Downtown Bellingham Route: Meet at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave) at 4:30 PM, ride leaves at 5:00 PM
Both groups will meet at Boulevard Park for hot cocoa and festivities. Call Mary at WTA with questions: 360-788-9316
December 10
Visit Semiahmoo Resort for a special tree lighting event! Enjoy live music and hot beverages as you help celebrate the holiday season. Don't miss a visit from the Grinch between 6:00 – 7:00 PM, a Christmas scavenger hunt for the kids and special holiday shopping deals.
December 9-10 & 16-17
Volunteers of the Ferndale Heritage Society will again host a “Lighted Christmas Stroll Through Pioneer Village." This free event is a “giving back to our community” labor of love.
The second and third weekends in December (9-10 and 16-17), Pioneer Village will be open Friday and Saturday evenings 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
No access inside the cabins, but join in on the scavenger hunt for Elves!
December 18
Run, skip, or walk in this Santa themed 5k 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!
Downtown is excited to #ShineBrightBham. Visit Downtown and savor the season’s spirit, decor, and lights with your friends and family. Enjoy events, 30+ decorated window displays, and interactive contests and scavenger hunts.
Make sure to vote on your favorites as you stroll - you could win a prize!
Hotel Bellwether comes alive with holiday magic and welcomes you to a Winter Wonderland the entire month of December! Join them for their annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival benefiting Skookum Kids, a volunteer-staffed community organization that supports children transitioning into foster care.
View over 20 trees creatively decorated by local businesses and our very own Bellwether Bella, official "Canine Concierge." Vote for your favorite tree by contributing monetary or gently used clothing donations, and be entered to win a night in the Lighthouse Suite.
STAY MORE, SAVE MORE DURING FAIRHAVEN WINTERFEST
Create new memories in Fairhaven this winter! Take in the seasonal sights and sounds of Winterfest, beginning November 26, and enjoy staying in the heart of the Village.
November 18 - December 24
Start this beautiful holiday season off with Allied Arts 43rd Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts! Starring over 100 local artisans and craftspeople presenting their holiday goodies; consisting of one-of-a-kind gifts, specialty food and treats, stunning jewelry, and paintings. From fragrant handcrafted soaps to homemade sweet treats, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.
December 10
All items created by local artists and crafters! Live music! Time to kick your holidays into high gear! Raffle to support Ferndale Community Services.
ATM ON SITE!
December 10
Looking for a truly local Christmas gift and live music? Join your Fairhaven neighborhood craftspeople in our Holiday Pop Up Market.
Shop Tie-dye goods, Cards & Calendars, Soaps & Candles, Hand Dyed Yarns, Jewelry, Botanical Crafts, Prints & lots more cool Fairhaven made gifts!
December 10
Head to Kulshan Brewing's K2 location in the Roosevelt neighborhood for their second annual Holiday Makers Market! Browse gifts and goods from over 30 local and sustainably focused creatives.
The Holiday Makers Market will benefit The United Way of Whatcom County, with 10% of artist sales and $1 of every pint sold between 5-9 p.m. being donated!
December 11, & December 19-23
Featuring Native American Artists and Artisans | Handmade gifts by local vendors. Jewelry | Arts | T-shirts | Baskets | Food items | More
December 13
It’s the cutest shopping expurrience around! NEKO Cat Cafe's Pawliday MarCat is back in the Bellingham Cat Room with 6+ local makers & artists!
With the help of 20+ feline purrsonal shoppers from NEKO’s pride of adoptable kitties: you can grab a drink, stock up on unique purresents, and get some kitty snuggles in the purrocess! Each kitty shopping session is 45 minutes of purrfection! Tickets are required, so don’t furget to reserve in NEKO’s online store! Makers Include: Gaudy by Nature Goods, Shelby Graffics, Hoag Road Maker Co, Evergreen Essential Co, Seawitch Botanicals, Garden of Maya, & more!
December 18
Bellingham Vegan Winter Market Presented by Bellingham Veg Fest and V Go’s Grocery. Delicious food, holiday gifts, gingerbread-house building, raffles and music!
Bellingham’s only vegan winter market provides holiday shoppers with thoughtful and intentional local vegan goods. The event takes place at V Go’s and features local businesses vegan foods and holiday delights. Shoppers are invited to bring their own bags and containers to reduce waste.
For more information contact Info@bellinghamvegfest.org.
December 1 at Mount Baker Theatre
December 10 at Jansen Art Center
December 14 - 17 at Mount Baker Theatre
December 16 at Jansen Art Center
December 19 & 20 at Mount Baker Theatre
December 31 at Mount Baker Theatre
December 31
Ring in the New Year Great Gatsby style, at Galloways' 5th Annual New Year's Eve party and imbibe in an evening of bubbles, hand-crafted cocktails, and scrumptious bites!
Reserve one of six VIP Tables in the main bar for $120, and receive a bottle of bubbles, a charcuterie plate, plus entries to win raffle prizes. Your VIP Table will be ready at 10:30 PM. VIP Tables can accommodate up to four guests.
The Niche Bar and Cocktail Porch will be available for walk-in, open seating. Reservations are not required, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Embrace the Deco Era ambiance and dress in your best Gatsby-themed attire. Galloway's will be open at 3 PM, and last call is at 12:15 AM.
December 31
Join the Fun in Birch Bay! This fun annual New Years' Tradition takes place each year on December 31st at 7:00 p.m. Get a biodegradable or battery-powered LED road flare and head to the shores of Birch Bay. Feel free to participate along the shoreline anywhere between Birch Bay State Park and Birch Bay Village.
At 7:00 p.m. sharp, everyone lights their flare. The effect is beautiful and the entire bay looks like a string of red Christmas lights. Please visit the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce website for information on how to get your complimentary road flare (please note: only one per family).
You can purchase additional road flares at many of our local businesses, including Pacific Building Supply, The Bay Center Market, and more!
December 31
Celebrate New Year's Eve at Semiahmoo. Join us for a roaring 20s-themed evening featuring a grand buffet dinner, dancing, live music, and a hosted champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight.
Schedule of events:
Dinner 7-9pm
Live music and dancing 9pm-midnight
This event is 21+
Ticket prices start a $45+fees. Reserve by December 26, 2022
January 1
An annual Bellingham tradition! Celebrate the New Year in style with a walk-run around Lake Padden followed by a shockingly fun dip in the water. Yes, it's cold and yes you should do it! Bring your enthusiasm, towel, a change of clothes, and shoes that can get wet!
Walk/Run: 11 AM
Dip: 12 PM sharp!
January 1
Celebrate the New Year with the 40th Annual Polar Bear Plunge! If you are brave, a plunge into the icy cold waters of Birch Bay is a great way to start your new year!
Join us at Beach Cat Brewing Company (located at 7876 Birch Bay Drive) to register your plunge, receive your certificate, and warm up in a warming tent provided by WECU.
Registration: 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Plunge at 12 p.m.!
January 1
Celebrate the start of 2022 with Recreation Northwest! Join your guide as we gaze up at the expansive night sky!
Have you ever wondered what constellations make up the night sky or the mythology tales that accompany these? Come out to Fairhaven Park and let’s hope for a clear sky.
January 4
The solution to pollution is a New Year’s resolution… to attend a beach cleanup! To combat plastic pollution in the Salish Sea, RE Sources will be hosting beach cleanups, as well as cleanups along rivers and lakes. The first cleanup of the year will be on January 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham. Bagels will be provided by The Bagelry, a Bellingham favorite since 1984!
