Blaine Harbor Music Festival returns July 9-15

People out and about in Blaine July 9-15 will have the opportunity to hear world-class artists perform daily – for free. The Blaine Harbor Music Festival is back in full swing with more participants and events than years prior.

Pacific Arts Association (PAA) is the nonprofit behind organizing the week-long event where campers ages 12-20 are offered a wide selection of music lessons. The music instructors put on public concerts every day at noon at G Street Plaza and 7 p.m. at several locations. Campers’ talents are showcased during public performances at the end of the week. 

The festival and camp started in the early 2000s and continued until Covid-19 halted operations in 2020. The following two years were spent scaling up to pre-pandemic levels.

“We’re coming back big time this year with the most that we’ve had in a very long time,” PAA co-president Kitty King said.

Camp registration is still open and organizers are happy with the goal-exceeding turnout, King said, adding that she will recruit campers as late as opening day.

Among the evening concerts is Rockin’ the G Street Plaza, a Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club Big Band swing dance and the campers’ Friday showcase.

Rockin’ the G Street Plaza is a new event that King said is sure to draw a crowd. The high-energy music event is free and will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12. Food and beer will be available for purchase. The event will also coincide with Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s Night Market by the Sea that will sell local products 5-9 p.m. on the plaza.

A ticketed event will take place Thursday evening, so plan ahead. A swing dance will start at 7 p.m. in the outdoor pavilion of Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club. The event features legendary Greg Hopkins directing the Big Band with special guests Greta Matassa and Clipper Anderson. There will be appetizers, desserts and a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased for $50 at blaineharbormusicfestival.org.

Camp students will demonstrate what they learned during a 7 p.m. Friday performance at the Blaine Performing Arts Center, 975 H Street. King said this event is often the most fulfilling for students.

Don’t forget to wish the staff and campers farewell at the last event of the week. Jazz-by-the-Sea brings free student music performances and an arts street fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at G Street Plaza.

For a full concert schedule and performers, visit the festival website, blaineharbormusicfestival.org.

Professional singer and songwriter Camille Bloom is one of the renowned musicians instructing the camp. Bloom has returned for every camp since she was invited over 10 years ago.

“Staff and community at this camp are so closely knit, it feels like a homecoming every year,” she said in an email.

This year, Bloom is excited to increase collaboration between students. She hopes to see rock musicians and songwriters team up to complement each other’s skills.

Bigger and better things are everywhere this year, King said. She is excited to see the community’s response after three years of scaled-back events.

“I think people looked around and said, ‘I’m missing this stuff,’ and took things for granted that happen every year,” King said. “Then when it’s not there, you go, ‘I really liked that, I hope we get it back.’ And so we’re here. We made it back.”