Holiday Port Festival

The Holiday Port Festival is a free, family-friendly event held the weekend of December 2, 3, and 4, 2016 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The festival is open to the public Friday from noon – 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This is the Port’s signature event for the community and includes:

• Performances by local choirs, bands, and dancers Friday through Sunday, see performance times below.
• Gingerbread house display, Friday through Sunday, see event hours above for times.
• Free cookies and hot apple cider Friday through Sunday, see event hours above for times.
• Non-perishable food items will be accepted to benefit the Bellingham Food Bank.
• Alaska Ferry Tours. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to take the Ferry up to Alaska, this is your chance to step aboard and get an inside look at one of the AMHS ferries that departs Bellingham each week. Tour the observation lounges and theater; get a look inside a couple of different cabin types; walk up to the heated solarium where the heartier camp out for the journey north; and be sure to sign up at the Purser’s desk to take a tour of the bridge. While you meander through the ship, enjoy cookies prepared by the onboard chefs. If you would like a bit more to eat, purchase lunch in the café; choose from a variety of options including expertly prepared Alaska seafood dishes. Take home some ferry memorabilia.
• Alaska Ferry Tours- Friday
• Visit and take photos with Santa
• Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
• Kids Art Activities
• Winter Princesses

Schedule for Saturday, December 3

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Music & Dance Performances, Gingerbread House Display, Food Drive, free cider and cookies donated by Haggen
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tractor Wagon Rides with Cramer Classics Wagon Rides
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Kids Art Activities with Allied Arts of Whatcom County
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visits with Winter Princesses
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus, with the option of purchasing photos from Turner Photographics
4:30 – 6:20 p.m.* Lighted boat parade put on by the Bellingham Yacht Club. The boat parade route goes from Squalicum Harbor to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. *Times listed here are estimates only. Boats will leave Squalicum Harbor at 4pm. Bad weather will cancel the boat parade.

Performance Schedule:

9:00 Tuba Christmas rehearsal
11:00-11:20 a.m. Mount Baker Blendz
11:00-11:20 a.m. Tuba Christmas
11:30 -12:00 p.m. Squalicum HS Chamber Orchestra
11:30-11:50 a.m. Blaine High School Brass Ensemble
12:00-12:20 p.m. Reserve for Bellingham Bay Gymnastics to warm up
12:00-12:50 p.m. Bellingham Bay Gymnastics
1:30-1:50 p.m. Squalicum High School Jazz Band
1:30-1:50 p.m. Sehome Chamber Choir
2:00-2:50 p.m. Squalicum High School Storm Singers
2:00-2:50 p.m. Kulshan Middle School
3:00-3:50 p.m. Boundary Bay Brass Quintet
4:00-4:50 p.m. Kid’Sax Ensemble
4:30-4:50 p.m. Music Studio of Jane Perkins