Holiday activities on deck through December

By Stefanie Donahue

Thanksgiving may be at the forefront, but festive folks from Blaine, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay are already thinking about the month to come – a slew of holiday events are scheduled through December.

Starting this Friday, November 25, the Santa Train at Miniature World is back. It will run on weekends through December 11 and then daily December 16-23.

Volunteer Jim Zell carefully checks garlands and wreaths on November 21 before Blaine Public Works installs them throughout downtown. The festive decorations will go up prior to the Holiday Harbor Lights community tree lighting at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 at the H Street Plaza. Photo by Debbie Harger.

Semiahmoo Resort will host a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 25. Guests are invited to arrive as early as 3:30 p.m.

Through December, the resort will also offer a series of holiday-themed events, including a Christmas dinner and a movie, brunch with Santa and family gingerbread house building. Visit semiahmoo.com for

more details.

Beginning Saturday, December 3, the public is invited to take part in Blaine’s Holiday Harbor Lights festival. Eventgoers will have the chance to ride through town on a horse-drawn carriage at no cost to view artful holiday displays, including the “Land of Sweets” Christmas village.

The annual tree lighting will begin at 4:30 p.m. at H Street and Peace Portal Drive and will feature music, caroling, hot cocoa and even a pit stop from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Festive fitness fiends can take part in the Holiday Harbor Lights Obstacle Dash at 2:30 p.m. on December 3. The fun run is presented by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 and Lets Move Blaine and is also sponsored by local businesses. The dash starts at the H Street Plaza and spans 1.5 miles. The event includes obstacles for all ages and fitness levels. As always, costumes are encouraged.

The public can later peruse an arts and crafts bazaar at the Blaine Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 2 and 3 at 763 G Street. The event will feature raffles, lunch, the Cookie Lane treat sale and goods produced by local crafters. Don’t forget Santa, he’s penciled in a stop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center on December 3.

Local author Debu Majumdar is participating in the bazaar for the first time this year and plans to bring several written works, including four of his children’s books set in an Asian Indian village. Each book carries a theme and all were developed out of stories he used to tell his children when they were young, he said.

“They would ask to hear them over and over again,” Majumdar said. “Now, the stories are available for all children to enjoy.”

His four children’s books and a novel titled “Sacred River: A Himalayan Journey” will be for sale at the event.

Later in the month, Blaine-based Day to Day Dance Studio will perform “The Enchanted Toy Shop” at the Blaine Performing Arts Center at 975 H Street at 7 p.m. on December 17.