Discovery Days set for this weekend

By Tara Nelson

Organizers of the Birch Bay Discovery Days and annual arts and crafts festival said spectators at this year’s event can anticipate Captain George Vancouver, the little mermaid, as many as 50 parade entries, and lots and lots of candy.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. near the Bay Rim Park condominiums on Blaine Road.

About 50 individuals and businesses entered the parade last year and organizers expect at least the same this year.

Meanwhile, the annual arts and crafts festival on July 15 and 16, has been moved to Birch Bay State Park.

Genee Haws Kay, president of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, said the chamber directors had been looking for a space near the water for some time but the state park became available only after parking fees were removed earlier this year.

Last year, the festival had been hosted at the Birch Bay RV Park above Bay Center Market but vendors complained about a lack of visibility.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s one of the few spaces remaining, with the growth of Birch Bay,” she said. “Still, everyone is excited. We’ve been getting emails and applications since we’ve announced the location. It’s a good thing.”

The arts and crafts fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16. Set-up spaces will be available starting at 3 p.m. Friday, July 14. Parking will be available but horse-drawn wagon rides will offer transportation to and from the festival leaving from the C Shop.

More than 60 vendors
Some of the festival vendors this year include the scrapbooking business, Memories for You 2, Jill Nymeyer of Bayside Treasures selling bird baths and yard art; Blaine artist Robert Hogan; DeeDee’s Yard Art and Birdhouses; Kathy Unruh’s quilts, pillows and tablerunners; Dixie Tamcke’s oils, watercolors prints and cards; Donna Noto-Diaz’s gemstones and handmade jewelry; Novak-Elenbaas’ paintings, woven pillows, turned vessels; Shelly Smit’s windspinners, suncatchers, and home and garden decor; Susan Swapp’s two-dimensional art, original and prints of oil paintings; Nancy Erickson’s candles, soaps, keds crafts, handmade sewn items; Dee Trecker’s hand beaded jewelry and ornaments

Local artwork
The festival will also include educational booths as well as four artists from Nor-Bell Group including “The Cupboard is Bears,” “Lynda’s Quilting & Needle Art,” “June’s Yard Art & Gifts,” “Candi Gerard jewelry & gifts,” and watercolors and prints from 13-year-old Blaine artist Tricia Morell and 12-year-old Isaac Marconis of Bellingham.

Children’s activities
Children’s activities include face painting by Blaine high school cheerleaders puppet lessons and a game wheel by Dawn Clawson, a “Bouncy House,” kites by Bayside Kites, and henna tattoos by Elfen Design.

Food vendors
Food vendors include Curt’s Kettle Corn, Bay City Ice Cream, Haagen Daz Ice Cream & Walk About Tacos, Bode’s Bavarian Sausage, Hempler’s Polish Sausage, GTC Coffee and Espresso.

Other vendors
Don Heaverlo, of D-Stress Biofeedback will offer a coupon special for free 20 minute BioEnergetic demonstrations.

For more information, contact the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce at 371-5004.