The NOTC stopped at Larrabee State Park, located between Bellingham and Mount Vernon. Head Ranger Amber Forest is in the foreground, with the famous Larrabee band shell in the background.
The New Old Time Chautauqua-Washington State Parks Tour wraps up its road show in late June, bringing mirth and merriment to state parks and nearby communities in Whatcom County. The final leg of the NOTC tour includes events at Birch Bay and Peace Arch state parks, Lummi Nation and Blaine.
The NOTC is America’s only traveling or circuit Chautauqua. This month, the NOTC-State Parks tour brings family fun, educational experiences, food and entertainment to six state parks in three areas of the state — desert, mountain and sea. The stops in Whatcom County represent the “sea” area of the state.
The Whatcom County part of the tour runs from Thursday, June 28, through Saturday, June 30, with Birch Bay State Park as its anchor site. The park is located at 5105 Helweg Road, Blaine. (Driving directions)
Birch Bay State Park, Friday, June 29
- 9 a.m. — Community service project.
- 4 p.m.— Workshops presented by park staff and partners at Birch Bay State Park’s British Petroleum (BP) Heron Center. Topics include the history of Birch Bay State Park, demonstrations on how to build a campfire and how to catch crabs, a talk on bird photography, a beach walk, crafts for children and more.
- 6 p.m.—Potluck at BP Heron Center. All are welcome. Speakers will make presentations during dinner, and music and dance will follow the potluck.
Peace Arch State Park, Saturday, June 30
19 A St., Blaine, Washington
- Noon — Parade from Blaine Middle School (975 H Street, Blaine) to Peace Arch Historical State Park. This colorful parade will feature costumed jugglers, unicycle riders, dancers, little faeries and other merry-makers accompanied by NOTC’s lively marching band. Local residents and community groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.
- 1 to 4 p.m. — Three sessions of interactive workshops take place at Peace Arch State Park, led by Chautauquans and community members on topics including juggling, acrobatics, mask-making, trash-fashion creation, samba dance and drumming, folk singing, magic, clowning, discussions on alternative energy, health education, storytelling and more. Workshops last around 45 minutes each and anyone can lead one. Contact Makaela Kroin, (360) 902-8635.
- 7 p.m. — NOTC presents the Really Big Show including music, juggling, comedy, acrobats and more at the Blaine Performing Arts Center (975 H Street, Blaine).
About the New Old Time Chautauqua
The New Old Time Chautauqua is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization of 60-plus volunteer performers, educators and staff whose mission is to travel throughout the Greater Northwest to small towns and Native Nations to promote community through education, entertainment and laughter. The NOTC was founded in 1981 by the Flying Karamazov Brothers and Dr. Patch Adams. For the last 37 years, the NOTC has brought the Chautauqua concept to towns in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Northern California, British Columbia and Alaska. For more information, visit: http://www.chautauqua.org/
About the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program
The New Old Time Chautauqua events are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts Program, with funding provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as support from the Washington State Parks Foundation.
For more information about the Folks and Traditional Arts in the Parks program, including upcoming events, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts, or contact Makaela Kroin, Program Coordinator, at Makaela.Kroin@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8635.