Port of Bellingham Sets 35th Holiday Port Festival for Early December

The Port of Bellingham will hold its 35th Annual Holiday Port Festival on December 5 and 6, 2026. The event is scheduled for the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 355 Harris Ave. Admission is free for all visitors. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. This marks the 35th year of the holiday tradition in the city.

Local performance groups will provide the soundtrack for the weekend. More than 700 performers from over 25 local bands, orchestras, choirs, and dance groups will take the stage. Live music and dance performances will fill the terminal throughout the day. Visitors can also take photos with Santa Claus. Santa visits are scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The Port will display dazzling gingerbread creations for the public to view.

Food options will be available inside and outside the terminal. Port Fairhaven Fish & Chips will serve its regular menu inside the building. Two food trucks, Sugar & Spice and Piroshky Piroshky, will be on-site. These vendors will offer sweet treats, hot beverages, and savory food items. The goal is to keep visitors fueled during their time at the event.

The Annual Gingerbread Contest is a key part of the festival. Creativity is the main focus of this competition. Entries can include charming cottages, winter wonderlands, and imaginative Northwest-inspired designs. Contestants do not need to use gingerbread for their structures. Graham crackers, pretzel-stick fences, cereal rooftops, and candy windows are all acceptable materials. The only requirement is that the creation be visible and edible.

The contest is free and open to participants of all ages and skill levels. This year includes an optional themed category called A Sweet Northwest Winter. The total number of contest divisions is 10. Ribbons will be awarded to the top three entries in each category. Visitors can vote for the People's Choice Award during the festival. The winner of this award will receive two whale-watching cruise tickets donated by San Juan Cruises. Many participants also donate their creations to a silent auction. The proceeds from that auction will benefit a local charity.

Specific dates apply to the gingerbread contest entries. The online entry form deadline is Wednesday, November 25. Participants must deliver their structures on Wednesday, December 2. Public display will occur during the festival on December 5 and 6. On Saturday, December 5, the Bellingham Yacht Club will host a Lighted Boat Parade. Decorated boats will travel from Squalicum Harbor to the cruise terminal. The parade is expected to begin around 5 p.m. and last until 6:20 p.m. Weather conditions may cause the parade to be cancelled. Boats will leave Squalicum Harbor at 5 p.m. for this annual community event.