Love is in the air at the heart of historical Fairhaven — and just in time for Valentine’s Day! Fairhaven’s third annual Chocolate Walk will commence on February 10. Heather Carter, executive director of the Fairhaven Association, recently sat down with WhatcomTalk to highlight all the sweet details for the popular event.
“Based on past interest, we’ve increased the number of our tickets by 30 percent,” says Carter. “We’re selling 350 tickets this year versus the 225 we sold last year. Everyone just loves this event, which is so exciting.” The same number of hosts will participate, including 17 village businesses and the Hub in Finnegan’s Alley.
The pricing structure will change a bit this year. “For $35,” Carter says, “a single ticket gets a map of all the locations, as well as a collection bag; each location will have a different flavor of chocolate.” This year, all chocolates are Washington-made.
North Harbor Wealth Management is the main presenting sponsor and Carter is excited to include a lot of fun add-ons to the walk. Participants can follow a chocolate treasure map to enjoy the neighborhood’s unique merchants while collecting an array of delicious cocoa delights.
The Chocolates
In a creative and thoughtful twist, Carter matched each chocolate to a host that corresponded with the chocolate’s characteristics. “It’s been fun to make sure there’s something different in each area — a different taste, a different flavor, or a different look,” she says. “It’s a guided experience.”
While strolling through Fairhaven, take the opportunity to find the featured Bellingham chocolatiers on the map. “KU’L Chocolates and Chocolate Necessities are participating this year and will have chocolates featured in the walk,” says Carter. “There is an Anacortes company called Beach Castle Sweets. Then we’ve got more mainstream types like Seattle Chocolate Company, Boehm’s, Chukar Cherries, and Spokandy, which makes really cool, flavored chocolates.”
The Walk and More
Ticketing will again be paperless, and the Fairhaven Association will hand out supplies and start the walk at the Hub in Finnegan’s Alley.
The weekend before the Chocolate Walk will feature the return of Fairhaven Art Walk, an event put together by a collection of local artists. “The Art Walk will take place the weekend before the Chocolate Walk on Saturday, February 3,” Carter says. “The Art Walks were on hiatus for a while, with COVID, but our group of artists will be having one again on the third.”
After the Chocolate Walk, Fairhaven will present the annual Dirty Dan Murder Mystery Weekend throughout the historical neighborhood. “It will have a sort of ’70s-type feel, and the theme is called ‘The Case of Fairhaven’s Fallen Flower,’” says Carter. “It’s the first time we’ve gone out of the 1800s. It’s a totally different storyline and we’re using local authors to write it. The people who own Cryptid Escapes are writing our story this year.”
Don’t forget to purchase tickets for the Chocolate Walk and keep your calendars open for the other fun and popular events coming to historic Fairhaven!
Merchant Hosts:
- Fairhaven Association Hub
- 12th Street Shoes
- Adored Boutique
- Bella Rose Boutique
- Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
- Berkshire Hathaway Bayside Realty
- Current & Furbish
- Fairhaven Coffee
- Gallery of Echo Chernik
- Lululemon
- Redwood Group Realty
- The Garden Room
- Three French Hens
- Village Books
- Whatcom Art Market
- Whimsey
- babygreens
- Quinn & Foster
Featured Chocolatiers:
- Chukar Cherries
- Seattle Chocolate Company
- Boehm’s Chocolates
- KU’L Chocolate
- Spokandy
- Beach Castle Sweets
- Chocolate Necessities
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