School’s out for summer and without a routine, it can be difficult to keep kids entertained. Here are some events and activities happening in Whatcom County to help keep boredom at bay.
Festivals and outdoor events
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 will host free Family Field Days on July 14, July 28, Aug. 11 and Aug. 18 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Blaine Marine Park, 272 Marine Drive. No registration is required, but children must have an adult present to supervise them.
For aspiring World Cup players, BBBPRD2 will host a youth soccer pop-up on July 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Blaine Marine Park Amphitheater. Children ages 6 through 12 are welcome, and registration is required, at $5 per child. Bring comfortable running shoes and water. Register at bit.ly/3SsyLCl.
On July 17 and Aug. 14, BBBPRD2 will host free kid’s Splash Days at 3rd and Martin streets. Inflatable sprinklers and the Sugar Shack ice cream truck will be set up. Hot dogs and other refreshments will be available for purchase. No registration is required.
The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Sand Sculpture Competition on Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive. This all-day event includes the competition itself as well as live music, food trucks and a beer garden. Register to compete at bit.ly/4y2omNS.
Also on Aug. 1 will be the Drayton Harbor Pirate Festival at Blaine Marine Park, hosted by BBBPRD2. The festival starts at 10 a.m. and will include a vendors’ market, live music, a costume contest and an “Anything But a Boat” race. For more information or to register to participate in the boat race, visit bit.ly/4eGGVzx.
U-pick farms
Check with farms to see what is in season and available.
Barbie’s Berries, 7655 Melody Lane, Ferndale. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Bellingham Country Gardens, 2838 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Breckenridge Blueberries, 3595 Breckenridge Road, Everson. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Cascade Blueberry Farm, 2667 Willeys Lake Road, Custer. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Grandpa’s Farm — Blueberries, 9222 Benson Road, Lynden. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Haugen’s Raspberry Farm, 577 E. Pole Road, Lynden. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Kamm Creek Farm, 850 Hampton Road, Lynden. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Generations Blueberry Farm, 2298 Stickney Island Road, Everson. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Shumway’s Berries, open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Strawberries available at 6010 Sniper Road and 6006 Sniper Road, Everson. Raspberries, blackberries and tayberries available at 3957 Mt. Baker Highway, Everson, 5571 Finsrud Road, Everson and 7845 Noon Road, Lynden. Blueberries available at 7845 Noon Road, Lynden.
Library events
Whatcom County Library System’s summer reading program for students runs through Saturday, Aug. 1. Each week, six new activities are released. Complete four of the six to earn a sticker on your summer reading card, and complete all six to earn a completion button.
Through July, WCLS will host storytime for children aged 2 through 6 years old. Storytime at the Blaine Library, 610 3rd St., will be on Tuesdays, July 14 and 21, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Storytime at the Point Roberts Library, 1431 Gulf Road, will be on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Teddy Bear Picnics also will be held for kids aged 2 through 6 years old. There will be activities such as reading stories and singing songs, and children are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal. Blaine Library’s event will be hosted at Blaine Marine Park on Tuesday, July 28, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Point Roberts Library’s event will be hosted at the library on Wednesday, July 29, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Kids Book Swaps will be held for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, where children can also decorate a canvas tote to bring their new books home. Blaine Library’s book swap will be on Tuesday, July 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. and Point Roberts Library’s book swap will be on Wednesday, July 22, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Camp Half-Blood for Tweens will be hosted at Blaine Marine Park Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. Camp is open to children in fourth through seventh grade, and registration is required at bit.ly/4yay9l2.
For Dungeons & Dragons fans, D&D Camp will be hosted for kids in sixth through 12th grade. Blaine Library’s camp will be Thursday, July 23, and Friday, July 24, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Point Roberts Library’s camp will be Wednesday, July 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration is required at bit.ly/3R2kxHF.
Arts and crafts
For crafty kiddos of any skill level, check out Home Farm’s summer arts and crafts classes, offered on Saturdays in July and August. Children aged 6 through 12 may attend, and the farm will open early to allow participants to walk the farm grounds, visit the pigs and play on the playground. Classes cost $45 plus tax for each child, and registration is required at bit.ly/4vc1bPe.
BBBPRD2 has hosted spring and summer rock painting events at Blaine Community Center, 764 G St., with the next two on July 13 and Aug. 10 from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rocks will be added to the Community Rock Garden. Rock painting is open to all ages and costs $5 per person.
WCLS will also host a rock-painting event at Blaine Library for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade on Tuesday, July 14, from 1 to 2 p.m.
A kid’s craft fair will be held at Blaine Library on Tuesday, July 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. Children aged 5 through 13 years old are invited to register to sell homemade crafts or treats. The fair will be open to the public to shop, and all items will be priced at $5 or less. Registration is available at bit.ly/4eIoP01.
Children 8 years and older are welcome to register with a parent to attend BBBPRD2’s paint and sip event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at L&L Bakery, 477 Peace Portal Drive, Suite 101. Registration is required and costs $35 per person, which includes one hot chocolate or equivalently priced drink. Register at bit.ly/4eCjNlL.
Movies
Starting July 10 with “Zootopia 2,” BBBPRD2 will host outdoor summer movies at no cost in the grassy area across from Hill’s Chevron, 568 Peace Portal Drive. Movies begin at dusk; just bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free popcorn will be available at Blaine Visitor Information Center. Visit bbbparkandrec.org and select community events to view the full showing schedule.
On rainy days, catch a movie for just $1 per ticket Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m. at Regal Barkley Village, 3005 Cinema Place, Bellingham. The Summer Movie Express will run through Aug. 13. Movies on the $1 lineup are all family-friendly films, including “KPop Demon Hunters,” “The Wild Robot” and “Muppet Treasure Island” among others.
Music
WCLS is hosting the Whatcom Grooves Summer Series, which are free outdoor concerts usually held on Saturday evenings from July 11 through Aug. 29. Because space is limited, WCLS recommends registering beforehand. The Hot Tomatoes will perform on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Point Roberts Library. Sarah Goodin will perform on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Blaine Library. To view the full lineup and register to attend, visit bit.ly/3QB5p46.
WCLS will also host a “Let’s Make Music and Dance” activity for children in kindergarten through fifth grade at Point Roberts Library on Wednesday, July 15, from 1 to 2 p.m.
