Holiday parades return to Bellingham

Residents of Bellingham and surrounding areas have three options for holiday light celebrations on Saturday, December 5. The events span the waterfront, the South Bay Trail, and a route through Lynden. All three gatherings are free to the public.

The Bellingham Yacht Club will host its annual Lighted Boat Parade on Bellingham Bay. The event begins near the Fairhaven Ferry Terminal. Boats will make two passes by a review vessel anchored near the southern end of Boulevard Park. Fleet Captain Rachelle O'Halleck is coordinating the event with club volunteers. The annual theme for this year is Mele Kalikimaka, which means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian style.

Participation in the boat parade requires online registration. The registration is free and includes entry into a decorating contest. Awards will be given in several categories. After the parade, participants and spectators can gather at the yacht club clubhouse for a soup contest. U.S. Coast Guard Station Bellingham will provide a nearby safety resource during the event.

A third event, the Bellingham Lighted Bike Parade, will take place along the South Bay Trail. The ride is open to everyone and will occur rain or shine. Participants should meet at Depot Market Square at 4:45 p.m. The group ride begins at 5 p.m. Riders are expected to return to the square between 5:20 and 5:30 p.m. Free hot chocolate will be available upon arrival. Cookies from GIRLnDOG Cookies will also be for sale.

The bike parade is hosted by the Whatcom Transportation Authority, the City of Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, Whatcom Smart Trips, and Western Washington University. Riders may choose to continue on a self-guided ride at 6:15 p.m.

In Lynden, the Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade will travel along Front Street. The Lynden Chamber of Commerce has organized the event since 1991. It marks the city's 100th anniversary celebration from that year. The parade is now in its 36th year. Entries gather at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds for check-in and judging. The parade begins at 6 p.m.

Gary Vis of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce stated that the parade has never been canceled. In 2020, organizers held a drive-by event with 26 illuminated floats parked along the street. That format attracted tens of thousands of spectators from Everett, Seattle, and Olympia. The typical parade features 40 to 50 entries and draws approximately 15,000 spectators.

Local farms, businesses, schools, and churches contribute to the Lynden parade. Entries include illuminated tractors, berry harvesters, milk tankers, and hay wagons. The Lynden Chamber describes the event as an old-fashioned parade with small-town heart. Sponsors such as North Pacific Concrete Pumping and the City of Lynden cover event expenses. Spectators may also attend a pancake breakfast at the Lynden Community Center from 8 to 10 a.m.