Holiday Harbor Lights festival returns December 3

Holiday lights wrapped around downtown trees highlight the impending return of Blaine’s winter festivities. 

Blaine’s annual Holiday Harbor Lights festival is making its grand return on Saturday, December 3. The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Blaine Senior Center’s pancake breakfast. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice will be served at the center, 763 G Street, until 11 a.m. Breakfast plates are $7 for adults and $5 for kids under 6 years old. 

St. Anne’s Church will host a Christmas market and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 604 H Street. The Christmas market will have crafts, baked goods and raffle prizes. It will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2.

Blaine Library will hold its book sale in the Blaine Community Center pavilion, 635 8th Street. The book sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The holiday bazaar will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 648 Peace Portal Drive, between Peace Arch City Cafe and Jack Niemann’s Black Forest Steak House. The bazaar will have at least 25 vendors selling soaps, knit scarfs, jewelry, photography, custom dish towels and woodwork, said Sheila Wood, Blaine Chamber of Commerce executive director. 

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2’s 10th annual Holiday Lights Obstacle Dash will start at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 1800 H Street. Participants are encouraged to dress in their best holiday wear – whether that is a Christmas sweater or reindeer antlers – as they run or walk through the holiday-themed obstacle course. The obstacle dash costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-17 years old, $30 for a family of up to five people and is free for children under 5. Preregistration is available online at bbbparkandrec.org and registration will be open 12-1:30 p.m. at the obstacle course. 

Blaine High School and Blaine Middle School students will perform live music and carol 4-5 p.m., bringing holiday spirit to G Street Plaza. Blaine Christian Fellowship will give out free hot chocolate and cookies 4-5 p.m. in G Street Plaza.

 The Christmas tree lighting will start at 4:45 p.m. on G Street Plaza, followed by free horse-drawn carriage and mini-train rides in downtown 5-7 p.m. People also have the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will travel from the North Pole to the Blaine Welcome Center, 546 Peace Portal Drive 5-7 p.m.

“The Harbor Holiday Lights event brings a good sense of community,” Wood said. “It’s more of the Blaine community that comes to this event.”