Downtown Bellingham Shines Bright for the Holidays!
Get ready for a beautiful, bright holiday season Downtown! Savor the season’s spirit, decor, and lights with friends and family with more than a dozen events including decorated window displays, interactive contests, scavenger hunts and more.
Downtown certainly #ShineBrightBham !
Thank you to our season sponsor, BECU!
Shine Bright Window Display Competition
Starting Thanksgiving weekend, 20 storefront windows throughout Downtown will be shining bright with festive lighting and creative décor, illuminating street level spaces and brightening the city center. Participating businesses will be voted as the best in one of three categories: Shines the Brightest, Best s-ELF-ie Station, & Think Outside the (Gift) Box. Voting will be conducted by the public via a poll on QR Code signage at participating businesses. By voting, you’ll be entered to win one of three prizes: a free show at the Wild Buffalo (21+, door price $20 or less), $50 gift card to Redlight, or a year-long INSIDER membership ($60 value).
Find Twinkle The Holiday BellingHamster at Mallard Ice Cream!
Twinkle is on the move! Every week starting on Saturday, November 25th (Shop Small Saturday) until 12/21, head to Mallard to find Twinkle in a new hiding place. A winner will be selected weekly for one of three delicious prizes including a $25 gift card, a pint bundle, and a Mallard swag bag.
Happy Holidays from Mallard Ice Cream and the Downtown Bellingham Partnership!
Holiday Events & Happenings
Shop Small Saturday - 11/25
Go big by shopping small this holiday season! Find unique and delightful gifts at Downtown Bellingham's array of boutiques, shops, and galleries stocked with special finds and one-of-a-kind items. Skip the craziness at big box stores and find the perfect items for your lists (or yourself!).
Businesses: social media graphics, posters, and more are available for you here!
December Festive First Friday - Friday, 12/1
Celebrations will continue into December with the jovial First Friday on Friday, December 1 from 6:00 - 10:00 pm!
Downtown Tree Lighting - Saturday, 12/2
Embrace the magic of the holiday season and be part of the community tradition of lighting Downtown's tree!
Join us at 5:30pm for free cocoa and cookies, free photo booth from Glitt3r Lyfe, craft tables from Art and Happiness where you can create your own masterpieces to take home, treats from Sweet Nectar Espresso Cart and Ralf's Bavarian Bakery, and more! Then, join the countdown to 6pm when the tree comes to life in a burst of lights
Stay with us and continue enjoying the fun activities until 7pm, making your Saturday night Downtown a memorable night filled with festive joy!
Lighted Bike Parade - Saturday, 12/9
#ShineBrightBham rides on with a Downtown - Fairhaven Lighted Bike Parade on Saturday, December 9th starting at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave) at 4:30 pm. Riders will depart for Boulevard Park at 5:00 pm for music from the Bellingham Youth Jazz Band, interactive play with Play Lab, a magic show from Gage, WTA Operator and Magician, and a friendly best decorated bike contest.
**Location update 12/8: due to forecasted weather, the Fairhaven departure is moved to Depot Market Square.
Riders return from 6:00 - 6:20 pm to original locations.
Thanks to our sponsor, WECU and partners - WTA, Western Washington University, Fairhaven Association, SMART TRIPS, and the City of Bellingham.
Hide & Seek Ornaments to Keep - Friday, 12/15
Our friends at Max Higbee Center have their own Santa’s Workshop - for ornaments! They will be hiding their creations in select blocks of Downtown for your and your family to come find!
Ornaments will be hidden on Railroad Ave from Boundary Bay Brewing to Mallard Ice Cream (1100 block to 1300 block) starting at 4pm. Find ornaments to add to your tree that will bring the magic of our community home with you all season long!
You won’t want to miss this fun activity and chance to add a special new ornament to your tree.