Join Bounday Bay Brewery for two spooktacular events on October 30 and 31.
Boundary Bay Brewery will be hosting two events Halloween Week: The Nightmare on Railroad and The Annual Halloween Bash.
Boundary Bay Brewery and Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, BAAY, team up for the first time to present The Nightmare On Railroad, a haunted house and show on October 30 through 31. The haunting spans through the Beer Garden, Alleyway and the “New Mountain Room.”
“A haunted house is such an integral part of Halloween, we’re thrilled to partner with BAAY to bring a great experience to our community,” said Boundary Bay General Manager Janet Lightner. “We really hope to help showcase how great the BAAY organization truly is.”
BAAY actors will be putting on two different shows: an all-ages experience from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and 21+ from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Entry fee is $5.
The Annual Halloween Bash starts at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31. The featured band will be Scary Monster and the Super Creeps, a David Bowie cover band.
“Scary Monster and The Super Creeps were a natural and perfect choice for entertainment on Halloween night,” Lightner said. “The stars couldn’t align any better.”
Tickets cost $5. This event is 21+ only.
The Boundary Bay kitchen will close at 8 p.m. to accommodate the event.
Food trucks will be available on Railroad Avenue and in the alleyway behind Boundary Bay Brewery. Featured trucks: Simmering Tava and Cicchitti’s Pizza.
The Port of Bellingham announced today that Sunil Harman will join the team on November 2nd to manage the Ports aviation operations. Sunil brings a wealth of experience in the aviation industry, having worked at large hub airports (JFK, LGA, MIA, SAN) and small and non-hub airports (TLH and VPS). Sunil also has extensive experience in General Aviation airports (OPF, TMB, TNT, X51 and X46).
Sunil’s over 30 years’ knowledge and experience developing and managing airports as engines for economic development, trade and commerce in the global marketplace will be an asset for the growth of Bellingham International Airport.
Sunil currently serves on the Board of Airports Council International – North America, where he represents the interests of small and non-hub primary commercial air service airports in the United States and is a long serving member of International Air Transport Association’s International Industry Working Group.
Join Make.Shift Art Space on Friday, November 6 for Mods. Saints: rites, riots, and relics.
Make.Shift Art Space is hosting “Mods. Saints: rites, riots, and relics” featuring art work by Christina Miglino for the November Art Walk and the month of November. The exhibit opening will be during the November Art Walk on Friday, November 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Artist Christina Miglino looks at what a modern saint would be and represent today while using her past experiences in the Catholic Church to explore her present day experiences in life. She uses traditional elements of artistry and ritual to ask questions about faith means in the world currently both in and apart from the church.
“In my process crafting Mod. Saints, I have loved playing with formality and structure, and what it means to break out of more calculated art making,” Miglino said. “Controlled chaos is a motivator.”
This work incorporates various media such as hand-sewn embroidery, sprayed on ink blots, and repurposed photographs.
This event is free and open to the public.
Make.Shift Art Space is a DIY art and music venue dedicated to innovative, alternative and unusual art and music in downtown Bellingham.
Langley West poses alongside some of his sinister creations, all done up for Bleedingham. Photo by Harrison Holtzman-Knott.
When Langley West was 3 years old, he caught a double feature on television one afternoon that firmly planted a lifelong passion.
“I saw Oliver Reed in 1961’s ‘Curse of the Werewolf‘ and the Ray Harryhausen epic, 1958’s ‘The 7th Voyage of Sinbad,'” he says, smiling at the memory. “Both really put their hooks in me and I just fell in love with monsters.”
At the time, Langley didn’t understand that people and movie magic created the monsters onscreen; he simply thought of them as his buddies.
“Then, as I got older, I saw all movies with scientists in them, like ‘Frankenstein,’ and I thought those were the guys who made monsters, so I wanted to become a mad scientist.”
Growing up in rural Southern Illinois, Langley eventually realized people made films and that special effects were used to create all the cool stuff he’d long loved.
When a young man living in a town with the population of 800 starts talking about working in the movies, he might as well tell folks he wants to move to Mars.
“It was beyond the scope of everybody’s experience,” Langley says. “But I devoured everything I could find about how things were made and what people did.”
In these pre-Internet days, Langley worked hard to find the materials he read about so he could experiment; he often channeled his love for special effects into more traditional art. Langley eventually entered a career in security and law enforcement, which eventually landed him in Las Vegas, all the while maintaining an interest in doing pieces of his own.
“It’s really hard to change gears,” he says, “but in my 30s, I realized I wasn’t getting any younger.” With easier access to learning about special effects and acquiring the necessary tools and products, Langley made a big leap.
Langley West fell for all things monsters when he was just 3 years old, and after years of studying and experiments, he gets to create creepy creatures for all kinds of projects.
“I wanted to do what I always wanted to do, which was to make monsters.” He went back to school and got a degree in visual effects and motion graphics.
The distinction between special or practical effects and visual effects is that visual effects are computer-generated effects. Langley landed a job at an NBC affiliate in Las Vegas.
“I was making way less money than I had as a security supervisor at the Palms,” he says, “but I was doing computer-generated work on various projects, and that gave me the opportunity to also use all the things I’d learned on my own with practical effects.”
Eventually, Langley and his wife were ready to leave Las Vegas. “Logic would say move to Southern California, but I hate Southern California,” Langley says. And I had no illusions — I didn’t believe I was going to go get involved in the Hollywood industry. I was in my 40s and didn’t want to play that game; I just wanted an opportunity to do the cool stuff I like to do.”
Having never been to the Pacific Northwest — but in love with the idea of rain, clouds and trees — Langley and his wife opened a map of Washington State, closed their eyes, and dropped a finger. Bellingham, it was. They’ve now lived here for nearly seven years.
Langley initially worked in security at Skagit Valley Casino, but also landed his first practical effects gig in Bellingham within two weeks of moving here.
“Bellingham is relatively small, but has such a thriving, vibrant, alive film community,” he says. “I got that first gig doing blood and gore on a little movie and I’ve never not had a gig since.”
Like a lot of people in Bellingham, Langley wears a few different professional hats, also working at the public library and teaching at an occupational therapy clinic. Some of his special effects assignments make a lot of money, while others very little.
“One month you may work on something that pays thousands of dollars,” he says, “but you may not see that type of job again for another year.”
Every project Langley takes on is different and he never knows what to expect next.
“You’ll get a phone call: ‘Hey, can you make a guy’s head explode?’” he says, laughing. “And even if you’ve never made a guy’s head explode, of course the answer is yes — and then you set about figuring out how to do it through a lot of testing and experimenting.”
Langley has been involved in two popular Bellingham events in recent years: Trailer Wars, in which he’s worked on winning entries, and Bleedingham, a short horror film festival he helped dream up along with local filmmaker Gary Washington.
Bleedingham takes place Saturday, October 24 at the Pickford Film Center. Photo credit: Harrison Holtzman-Knott.
Bleedingham grows larger each year, giving local filmmakers the opportunity to create whatever scary, crazy things they can conjure up. “They can win monetary prizes and see their stuff on a big screen,” Langley says.
The annual festival takes place at Pickford Film Center. “The Pickford has been great,” he says. “They’re fantastic partners in this and we wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
Another favorite project for Langley was a Mackie speakers commercial he worked on with Hand Crank Films, shot in Mount Vernon with 160 actors made up as zombies.
“I pulled together a team of 10 makeup artists and we made an assembly line of zombies,” he says. “Everything on that shoot went great and it’s pretty epic.”
Langley is quick to point out that filmmaking is never easy. There are always unexpected challenges and frustrations, with the inevitable moment of deciding to never do it again. But in the end, the final product is always worth it.
“Seeing what you’ve created is the drug that keeps you coming back,” he says, “I see the monster come alive and now I am that mad scientist I wanted to be when I was just a kid.”
Folk-stomp band, Rabbit Wilde, lets loose at the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern. Photo credit: Kenneth Kearney.
By Lorraine Wilde
I look forward to nights out as a way to de-stress from my busy week, have a few laughs and recharge. So when I get out, I have high expectations. I want a nice stroll, great food and drinks, a romantic atmosphere and engaging entertainment — and all without breaking the bank. Thankfully, Bellingham has a number of charming and affordable options to please a range of tastes. Below is just a sampling of my favorite low-cost date nights, in no particular order. Each can be enjoyed with an easy walk or bike between food, drink and entertainment. Try them all, or mix and match to make your own perfectly affordable Bellingham date night.
The mainstay: pizza, beer and music
Folk-stomp band, Rabbit Wilde, lets loose at the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern. Photo credit: Kenneth Kearney.
Goat Mountain is my favorite pizza in town. The combo is a great bargain with your choice of pizza, salad of the day and a beverage. The crust is perfectly crispy and toppings are unique, savory and satisfying. My favorites are the scallop potato-bacon and the sausage and pepperoni. They also sell by weight, so you can make your own sampler plate to try them all. Sit upstairs for bird’s-eye people watching or lounge in the bistro seating out front on good weather days.
Afterward, feel the downtown energy with a short walk to the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern for a dose of live music. The Frog has a history of visits from some music legends as well as a dedication to local bands and soloists. Dance to folk, string bands and blues artists all while enjoying great local beers or sipping your favorite whiskey, usually with a low (or no) cover charge.
The Green Frog Acoustic Tavern
1015 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225 www.acoustictavern.com
Dinner and a movie
Featuring everything from indie flicks to blockbuster hits, popcorn and a movie at the Pickford Film Center is always a good time.
Bike-friendly Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen is conveniently located near downtown and offers fresh, local, seasonal American-style fare and a variety of award-winning beers that are all brewed on-site. I like to order the hearty Oy Vey Reuben or the meatloaf sandwich with the Dunkel lager. The outside seating is a bonus on clear days.
A short walk up the hill in the fresh sea air gets me to the Pickford Film Center for the best in independent, foreign and documentary film. Many of the films I’ve seen there can be found nowhere else, and they always make for stimulating nightcap conversation.
Fresh air and a great view outside Bayou on Bay. Photo credit: Patrick Beggan.
Cajun comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere is what draws me to Bayou on Bay. I like to sit in the bustling bar or in the outdoor seating area on nice days while sipping from a spicy Cajun bloody Mary, which pairs perfect alongside the excellently messy pork po’ boy sandwich. Bayou’s savory, warming Cajun classics like fried okra, jambalaya and shrimp étouffée are stick-to-your-ribs satisfying.
Afterward, walk just a block to the box office of the Upfront Theatre, owned by famed “Whose Line is it Anyway?” comedian, Ryan Stiles. The quality improvisational (unscripted) performances are born directly from the clever, and sometimes devious, minds of their players. I go on Thursday nights to see a long-time favorite, “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly,” for only $8. On occasional Thursday nights, you’ll get to see Stiles himself flirting with his pretend wife in a Winnebago or making up a song on the spot, based purely on audience suggestions from you and your date.
Bayou on Bay
1300 Bay Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-752-2968 www.bayouonbay.com
The Upfront Theatre
1208 Bay Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-733-8855 www.theupfront.com
Ryan Stiles (L) creates a new scene on the spot with Tobias Childs (R) at the Upfront Theatre.
Art and history
You don’t need to drive to Leavenworth to window shop hand-in-hand through eclectic boutiques and galleries because we have that right here in historic Fairhaven. I like to wander through Good Earth Pottery, Artwood Gallery, Fairhaven Rug Gallery and the art glass store, Renaissance Celebration. Most showcase local artisans and all are within a couple blocks of the romantically-lit Black Cat. This French cabaret-themed restaurant is located inside the old world Sycamore Square building. Its inviting wood floors, exposed brick and simple, delectable seafood take you back in time. A short stroll in the sea air along South Bay Trail to Taylor Dock or a meander through beloved Village Books are perfect before or after your meal.
Always eager to incorporate a little exercise into my routine, my favorite active date begins with a bicycle ride through Whatcom Falls Park. Its towering trees, waterfalls and numerous trails allow you to choose the ride that’s right for you while being less than a mile away from family-friendly Kulshan Brewery. With a large bike rack out front, Kulshan’s outdoor seating area is sublime. Locally-brewed beer, darts and live music — especially Americana, Irish and folk — provide ample entertainment. Best of all, a few of the area’s best and most affordable food trucks park right out front.
Kulshan Brewing Company
2238 James Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-389-5348 www.kulshanbrewery.com
Check Kulshan tour schedule to learn the inner workings of the breweryElevate your date night with a guided tour of Kulshan where you can learn about the inner workings of the brewery.
Nostalgia and nosh
This list may be pub-heavy, but that’s because Bellingham makes great beer. The Copper Hog Gastropub is no exception. It’s evident that IPA’s are this pub’s favorite. Lounge street-side with the Copper Hog’s pleasant outdoor seating or enjoy playing darts and watching the game in the bar. The menu is brimming with mouth-watering fare, but my favorites are the fried brussels sprouts (uniquely served with a balsamic reduction), curry french fries and the pulled pork sandwich.
Afterward, a stroll down State Street leads you to a new spot that feels like old fun. Discover your favorite throwbacks with The Racket Bar and Pinball Lounge’s 18 pinball tables, many of which have been restored and cared for by the Bellingham Pinball Collective. I’ve played for over an hour on just a few dollars worth of quarters.
Copper Hog
1327 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-927-7888 www.thecopperhog.com
After filling up on good food at the Copper Hog, enjoy your favorite pinball games at The Racket Bar and Pinball Lounge.
Fiesta style
After a long week, Jalapeños is often where I end up. Its owner has catered for at least two US Presidents, yet the atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly. I order the bacon-wrapped prawns and a Big Mama margarita (one is all the drink I need for the night). The servers are reliable and sincere and the ample portions provide leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Afterward, I stroll into the heart of downtown to the “hardest-working theatre in the known world,” the iDiOM Theatre. Almost every production is a world-premiere work by talented local writers, directors and actors. Their bold, sometimes irreverent, choices have convinced me to become a season-pass holder. And thanks to local business sponsors, many opening nights are free.
Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant
501 W. Holly Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-671-3099 www.jalapenos-wa.com
The iDiOM Theatre
1418 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-305-3524 www.idiomtheater.com
Bellingham is full of so many more great options for food, drink, exercise and entertainment. Enjoy experiencing these date night ideas with your sweetie or create your own.
Attendees at last year’s Whatcom Literary Council breakfast.
The Whatcom Literacy Council will host the 13th Annual Literacy Breakfast with Nancy Pearl Thursday, November 12 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall, presented this year by “Nobel” sponsors MyTrafficMan.Net Legal Care Center Academy and Wilson Engineering.
This very popular event is almost full. Please call 360-752-8678 or email events@whatcomliteracy.org to reserve a seat.
Since 1983, the Whatcom Literacy Council has helped hundreds of adults in Whatcom County build their literacy skills and move forward in their lives. The funds raised at the Annual Literacy Breakfast go directly to programs that help our neighbors here in Whatcom County. This year, the witty and wonderful Nancy Pearl, NPR commentator and author of “Book Lust,” “More Book Lust,” “Book Crush,” and “Book Lust To Go,” will return to share her thoughts on some of the best reads available. Village Books will be on hand to sell Nancy’s latest raves.
Although there is no charge for breakfast, a donation is requested.
Other sponsors for the 13th Annual Literacy Breakfast include BP Cherry Point, Bramble Berry, and Barron Smith Daugert, and media sponsors The Bellingham Herald and Cascade Radio Group.
For more information regarding the Annual Literacy Breakfast with Nancy Pearl or the Whatcom Literacy Council, including recurring donations and volunteering, visit www.whatcomliteracy.org.
In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly sets his dial to the year 2015. October 21, 2015 — to be exact. Boundary Bay Brewery and Pickford Film Center are joining forces to throw a Back to the Future Block Party to celebrate the official Back to the Future day in a BIG way – with special brews, live music, food trucks, trivia, costume contests, prizes and giveaways. With two screenings of this righteous flashback movie, a perfect follow up from PFC’s summer Rooftop Cinema smash hit screening of Back to the Future in July, it’s the perfect excuse to put on your best 80’s clothing and come take part in this once in a lifetime worldwide celebration. Come help us bring Bellingham back up to 88!
The excitement for this block party expands beyond Bellingham. This event has caught the eye of the social media site Facebook, who will be sending out an editorial and video team to cover the event.
All of the proceeds from the evening’s beer and ticket sales will be donated to Kuntz and Company’s Class: Dance for People with PD and Other Neurological Disorders’ a local charity offering free and pay-what-you-can dance classes to people of all ages with Parkinsons and other disorders.
The Block Party — on the 1300 block of Bay St from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. — is free to the public attend. The beer garden will be 21+ and family friendly. Don’t miss the Delorean on site, keep your eye out for the raffle rovers for your chance to win a Goldfinger Card (free movies for you and a friend for a year!) and be sure check out the stage for a rotating lineup of entertainment featuring comedians, live music and more – all hosted by the inimitable PhDJ. To round out the style of the evening, Toni and & Guy will be giving 80’s haircuts in the lobby!
The movie, rated PG, will be screening inside Pickford Film Center on the big screen at two times: 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. — tickets are on sale now: http://bit.ly/1dXvEZy.
Gary and Mary Gibb, owners of Gary’s Plumbing and Heating, recently purchased property and moved their company to 4760 Pacific Highway, between Bellingham and Ferndale.
Gary and Mary Gibb, owners of Gary’s Plumbing and Heating, recently purchased property and moved their company to 4760 Pacific Highway, between Bellingham and Ferndale.
The new location sits on two acres — office space, two shops, an employee training room, and a parking area for fleet vehicles are included on the property.
“We chose this particular site — along Interstate 5 — because it greatly increases our visibility and makes it easier for our crews to serve residential and commercial customers Bellingham, Ferndale, Birch Bay and Blaine”, said Gary Gibb.
The nine year old company began in the basement of Gary and Mary Gibb’s home. They spent the past seven years building and growing the business from rented space in Haskell Business Park before investing in the Pacific Highway property.
Gary’s Plumbing and Heating now employs 15 technicians, apprentices and office staff. New plumbing technicians were hired this year to expand after-hours repair services.
“It’s our goal to never ask customers to miss a day of work or pay after-hours rates just because their hot water tank breaks or a kitchen drain clogs. With the new location and expanded staff, we can offer plumbing repair services to customers 24 hours per day, seven days a week. People really appreciate not getting charged extra for service calls on nights and weekends.”
Having access to the new, larger facility has already proven to be a benefit when it comes to staff training and continuing education—areas that are important in heating and plumbing industry. There’s room for the company to provide training sessions on-site two times per week.
When asked what’s next for their company, Mary Gibb says she and Gary plan to further expand their staff and services, including whole-house water filtration.
Hard water issues are common in certain communities around Whatcom County — Gary’s technicians now have the ability to test water samples on-site immediately, instead of sending samples to a lab and waiting for results.
They also plan to increase the number of products carried in a new retail department.
“We haven’t had physical space for retail items in the past so we’re excited about offering kitchen and bath faucets, plumbing filters and an environmentally-friendly drain enzyme that helps maintain plumbing and septic systems.”
(From left) Volunteer Coordinator, Anna Larson, Manager, Dee Dee Chapman, and employee, Benjamin Owens, work hard to settle in at their new location in the Bellingham Public Market.
By Lorraine Wilde
Film is Truth’s Board of Directors are Anna Haskin, Charley Dyer, Emily Marston, Dee Dee Chapman, Anna Wolff, Sam Kaas andKarl Freske.
The advent of the digital age, streaming video and movies-by-mail has meant the demise of many local video stores. But one beloved Bellingham store, Film is Truth 24 Times a Second, remains a vital part of the community because it has adapted to changing times with creativity and grace.
In early October, Film is Truth moved its rare and eclectic film collection of more than 17,000 VHS, DVD and Blu-ray titles from its Holly Street location of more than 10 years to join the family of vendors at the Bellingham Public Market. “We worked with the owner, Stephen Trinkaus, to secure the new location,” explains Film Is Truth Manager and Board Member, Dee Dee Chapman. “We feel like we’re part of a larger organism now. There’s great parking here and Stephen generously donated about $12,000 in rent reduction because he was so happy to have us here.”
“The store now occupies space that was once a former storage area,” notes Trinkaus. “They absorbed our former movie rental business and are a great fit with our customers.”
Film is Truth successfully created its Board of Directors and transitioned to non-profit status this past January, but federal recognition will take more time and investment. “We are awaiting approval of our amended articles from the state,” explains Chapman. “We are poised and ready to send off our forms to the IRS that will give us 501(c)3 status with the federal government.” This limbo status means that education and volunteer programs can move forward, but donations are not yet tax deductible. “We’re doing small-scale fundraising events that build community now and we’ll expand that when our federal status is approved.”
(From left) Volunteer Coordinator, Anna Larson, Manager, Dee Dee Chapman, and employee, Benjamin Owens, work hard to settle in at their new location in the Bellingham Public Market.
Non-profit status will bring more than tax deductible donations. It will also allow Film is Truth to apply for grants that will fund new programs. “We’ll be transforming the public market conference room into a screening room that will host a number of new movie clubs we’ll create,” says Chapman. “They could be based on various genres, countries, or documentaries — whatever our members want.” Educational outreach is also on the list of future programs. “We’d like to reach out to middle and high school classrooms to students who didn’t grow up with video rental stores and who don’t have the sense of how much has changed in such a short time. That program will include both screenings and lecture series.”
Film is Truth is providing a lot more than an entertaining evening. “Streaming video companies get rid of more and more of their lesser viewed titles every day, and that scares me,” exclaims Chapman. “Something that was at the tip of your fingers one day can be gone the next. That model is about what gets viewed most and not about preserving a collection of films.”
Most people not familiar with Film is Truth are shocked to hear of its extensive VHS collection. “We carry only out-of-print titles or those that were never transferred to DVD, with a few exceptions,” says Chapman. “We have an early edition “Star Wars” without all the later CGI editing. Hans shoots first. We’ll never let go of something like that,” she adds. Film is Truth also carries difficult-to-find titles like “Shivers,” an early film directed by David Cronenberg, and “Faster Pussycat Kill Kill,” a rare, early sexploitation film that heavily influenced filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. “There is something about the quality of VHS that’s different and more visceral than other formats,” explains Chapman. “Losing VHS would be a great loss to Whatcom County, so we’re really passionate about preserving them.”
Film is Truth prides itself on owning and preserving the most rare, historic and unusual VHS and DVD videos.
Other unusual and interesting titles you’ll find only at Film is Truth include “Rubin and Ed,” one of Crispin Glover’s first films. “Glover plays a very strange introvert who is traipsing through the desert trying to bury his cat. Glover appeared on David Letterman in character in 1987,” explains employee Maggie Corrigan. “It upset Letterman so much that he was never invited back,” adds Chapman. Another film, “The Cook, The Theif, His Wife, and Her Lover,” appears on the shelf because of its historical significance. “It’s the very first NC-17 movie and it is very clearly not pornography, but it is very erotic,” notes employee Benjamin Owens. “It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes but they didn’t want to release it as an X-rating so they came up with the new rating and changed the history of film.”
Through October 30, Film is Truth is hosting a Kickstarter campaign to raise $12,000 to help offset the legal and administrative costs associated with non-profit transition and moving. The funds will also provide a buffer as both die-hard and new customers discover the new location. A donation of just $18 comes with the perk of having your name on the film of your choice in the store while $58 gets you a posting of your own top 10 list, a privilege usually reserved for staff.
Film is Truth is looking forward to celebrating its 18th Anniversary on October 17. From 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Film is Truth will offer one free movie rental per person, free cookies and a raffle as well as games and prizes.
Film is Truth’s collection includes over 17,000 titles and continues to grow.
Your rental receipt will also get you 10 percent off your Terra Organics and Natural Foods purchase. “We all really believe that the only reason we’re still here is because the people of Bellingham support us,” beams Chapman, “and we want them to continue to be a part of our history.”
Now in its 20th year, the Port of Bellingham’s Gingerbread House Contest is a Bellingham tradition.
This year’s Holiday Port Gingerbread House Contest theme is “Home Sweet Home,” and contestants can compete in this category or in one of many other age or group categories. What does “Home” mean to you? And can you re-create it using edible materials? Now in its 20th year, the contest is free and open to all ages and abilities. Entries don’t have to be houses or made of gingerbread, but they must be visibly edible. The main thing is to have fun and be creative!
The Gingerbread Contest is part of the Holiday Port Festival, a free Port of Bellingham event that takes place at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal December 4 through 6. This family-friendly event will feature performances by local bands, choirs and dance troupes, horse-drawn wagon rides, art activities for children, Santa Claus, and the gingerbread contest display.
Families, community groups and classrooms of school-age children have all made a tradition out of entering the gingerbread house contest every year, which typically receives more than 100 entries from bakers who range in age from under five to over 65.
Many of the entries are donated to a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Home Port Learning Center. Home Port Learning Center is a transitional alternative school for at-risk youth of Whatcom County. Through hands-on experiences Home Port students acquire academic, vocational, and work readiness skills. The learning center is committed to the preservation of Whatcom County’s maritime heritage, the environment, and the well-being of the community.
Kevin Wiebe is a Ferndale native. Although he graduated from Ferndale High School, he admits he wasn't a model student. His teachers and administrators...
