The Holiday Harbor Lights celebration is sure to draw a festive crowd to Blaine on Saturday, December 7.
There will be plenty of activities the whole weekend, including shopping, a Blaine history museum, kids’ activities, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, horse-drawn carriage rides and – if everyone is on their best behavior – a visit from Santa Claus.
The main attraction will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the G Street Plaza in downtown Blaine, which will be closed to traffic between Martin and G streets. At that time, there will be a countdown and the city of Blaine’s 20-foot Christmas tree will be lit. The Blaine school band and choir will be caroling, and members of the public will be invited to join in the singing.
At about 4:45 p.m., Santa is expected to arrive in Blaine from the North Pole. He will arrive on a horse-drawn trolley. After stepping off his trolley and interacting with the crowd for a few minutes, he’ll invite the kids to follow him down the street to Border Town Pizza, where his winter wonderland will be waiting.
From 5 to 6 p.m., kids can line up at Border Town Pizza to meet and take photos with Santa. Free goodies will be distributed, and while they are waiting, kids can attend a petting zoo in the Border Town Pizza parking lot. There will also be free rides on Santa’s trolley, which seats about 10 people, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Earlier in the afternoon, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 will be hosting its annual Holiday Lights Dash at 2 p.m. in Lincoln Park. Attendees can park in the Cost Cutter plaza and register starting at 1 p.m. It is also possible to pre-register online at bbbparkandrec.org. The event will feature a family-friendly run and walk, with 12 obstacles including a candy cane forest, a gingerbread tree and a gum drop pass. There will also be slides and hoops for kids to jump through.
The cost to participate in the Holiday Lights Dash is $30 for families with up to five members, $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages five to 17 and free for children under age five. Attendees are encouraged to dress in holiday attire. Strollers, wagons and sleighs on wheels are welcomed for younger family members. Participants will receive a race medal, and will be able to enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and chili.
Meanwhile, the Blaine Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an art show and history museum from noon until 6 p.m. on both Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 at the Blaine Pavilion, 635 8th Street. The art show will feature about 20 vendors selling fine art, fused glass, jewelry, ornaments, art cards and prints. Some will offer live demonstrations of their work.
The art show will be accompanied by a mini museum featuring vintage photos of Blaine. People will be able to browse artifacts and old newspapers dating back to the early 1900s. “There will be a couple of people there who can answer questions about Blaine in the early days,” said chamber of commerce secretary Carroll Solomon. “A lot of people are bringing some of their old family photos.”
Other activities that weekend include a holiday boutique and craft fair on Friday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Semiahmoo Resort. Presented by the Semiahmoo Women’s Club, the event will include a $35 buffet luncheon with reservations required by Sunday, December 1. The Blaine Library will also host a holiday book sale on both Friday and Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
On Friday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. a Christmas market will take place at St. Anne Catholic Church, 604 H Street. There will also be an open house at Day-to-Day Dance Studio that day from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The studio is located in the Cost Cutter plaza at 1733 H Street, Suite 410.
For more information about Holiday Harbor Lights and other events taking place, please visit blainechamber.com or call the Blaine Chamber of Commerce at 360/332-6484.
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