A heroic day is planned at Blaine Marine Park with a comic festival and superhero fun run on June 13.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 will host the Blaine Comic Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the Superhero 5K Fun Run occurring from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“This is all things nerd, which means anyone who likes having fun, whether it’s ‘Star Wars,’ anime or comic books,” said Olea Mills, event coordinator for the parks district. “We just want people to come out and have fun with their friends and family.”
The comic festival will feature a vendors fair with comics, games, collectibles and cards for sale, along with local crafts, face painting and a caricature artist. A Dungeons & Dragons dungeon master will run small campaigns, and there will be an area with other board games.
The parks district encourages superhero 5K participants to either walk or run in their favorite superhero costumes. Check-in will be 9:30-10:45 a.m. before racers cross the starting line at the park.
The race travels south along Peace Portal Drive, turns east on Boblett Street and briefly winds through 4th, Martin and H streets before looping back through 6th, C, 4th, B and 2nd streets to the park.
No roads will be blocked for the race. Mills encouraged drivers to use extra caution as participants walk and run on the edge of the roads.
After the race, there will be adult and children costume contests with prizes from local businesses and vendors.
The fair will have several options for food, including hot dogs, curry, ice cream and coffee.
Mills said the parks district wanted to build on the Blaine Borderline 5K it hosted last year, and she thought a comic-themed festival could appeal to all ages.
She reached out to the owners of the Comics Place, a downtown Bellingham store that organized Pacific Nerdwest Comic Con last October in Bellingham. As part of its support, the Comics Place is offering free comic books at Border Town Pizza, starting June 4.
“Come out and have fun,” Mills said. “We encourage costumes.”
