Night market and luminary walk added to holiday festival

A full day of holiday festivities is bringing back familiar traditions to downtown Blaine while also starting a new holiday market and luminary walk on Saturday, November 30.

The newest addition to the Holiday Harbor Lights’ lineup is a fundraiser for the Blaine Harbor Music Festival, which will hold the night market and luminary walk from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Blaine Public Library.

Blaine resident Talliah Hennig said she came up with the idea after over a decade of attending the Holiday Harbor Lights’ tree lighting with her family and feeling there wasn’t much to do after the lighting. When Blaine Harbor Music Festival organizers asked her to plan event fundraisers, she knew exactly what to do.

“It’s very quaint that the whole community comes out, the lights come on, the music plays, but after that there’s really nothing,” Hennig said. “Everyone dissipates.”

Inspired by European Christmas markets, there will be about 20 vendors selling quilts, pottery, candles and other crafted items. There will also be live music, crafts for children, and a tree lighting and tree falling contest. Those stopping by can also grab food and drink with available food trucks, hot cocoa, mulled wine, beer and a fire to roast s’mores.

A luminary trail will twinkle with tea and Christmas lights from the library, along Cain Creek to the Que Onda building.

Tickets for the market and luminary trail will cost $10 for general admission, $25 per family and $5 for drinks. Tickets can be purchased at the event or before the event at bit.ly/4hSZUXd.

“I see this becoming a tradition,” Hennig said.

As for Blaine holiday classics, Holiday Harbor Lights will kick off in the morning with the Friends of Blaine Library book sale fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Blaine Public Library’s meeting room, 610 3rd Street.

The festival will have a holiday craft bazaar with live music from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at CTK Blaine Church, 674 Peace Portal Drive. Coffee will be served in front of the church during the bazaar.

Caroling with the Blaine school district’s choir and band will take place 3:30-4:30 p.m. on G Street Plaza, followed by a tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. on the plaza.

The festival will have free horse-drawn carriage and miniature train rides 5-7 p.m. departing from the plaza. Santa Claus will be taking photos and handing out candy canes 5-7 p.m. at the Blaine Visitor Information Center, 546 Peace Portal Drive.

The Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 canceled the Holiday Lights Dash, which was scheduled for December 7, due to low registration. The Blaine Senior Center also won’t hold its pancake breakfast this year.