Update: This article was updated on November 24 to include changes to the Holiday Harbor Lights festival that were made after the article was published.
Holiday Harbor Lights, hosted by the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2), will once again brighten downtown Blaine as it welcomes family, friends and visitors for a full day of celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 29.
Starting at 10 a.m., attendees can explore a street fair featuring a variety of local vendors including Full Steam Coffee, Salish Sea Pottery, Desert Pine Chiropractic and more.
Friends of Blaine Library will host its biannual book sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The book sale, which will benefit the nonprofit, will have books, DVDs and CDs for purchase at the library, 610 3rd Street.
Santa will be available for meet-and-greet sessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. near G Street Plaza. The Grinch will also roam the event beginning at noon.
A holiday craft bazaar will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ the King Community Church, 674 Peace Portal Drive.
Live music will fill the G Street Plaza from noon to 3:30 p.m. After, the Blaine Middle and High School bands and choirs will perform carols in the plaza until 4:30 p.m. The celebration will continue with the tree lighting ceremony at 4:45 p.m. in the plaza.
Free tractor train rides and horse-drawn carriage tours will run from 1 p.m. until around 5 p.m. Families can also enjoy carnival-style games at the event.
For more information on Holiday Harbor Lights, call BBBPRD2 at 360/656-6416.
Holiday Harbor Lights will coincide with the second night of Blaine Harbor Music Festival’s second annual Night Market and Luminary Walk fundraiser. The music festival’s event will be held 4-9:30 p.m. Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29 at the Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street.
The Night Market will feature local vendors selling food and art, live music, a wreath auction, a 21-and-older Yule Garden and more. The Luminary Walk, a guided walk glowing with festive lights, will also return this year.
Tickets for the Night Market and Luminary Walk may be purchased in advance at bit.ly/3LNzLgT. Entry fees are $10 per adult, $5 per child aged 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.
Construction for the city’s Downtown Revitalization Project is not expected to interfere with the holiday events, said Gary McSpadden, assistant director of Blaine Public Works. Crews will close Peace Portal Drive in front of Starbucks to vehicle traffic for most of the festival, McSpadden said, adding that vehicles can detour to the other side of downtown through D, 6th and H streets.
