Neighborhood Kids family fun in bellingham & whatcom county

ARTICLES on NKids

Celebrate 100 Years of Fair Fun in Lynden

Northwest Washington Fair! Fun at the Northwest Washington Fair!
Photo by Bernie Vos
Courtesy Northwest Washington Fair Association

No summer is complete without a trip to Lynden for the annual Northwest Washington Fair! You definitely won’t want to miss out on the fun this year, as 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the oldest entertainment event in Whatcom County.

Along with all the usual attractions, take a look at a few special centennial events that you’ll find at the fair this year.

Centennial Book and DVD

To commemorate this landmark event, the Northwest Washington Fair Association has published a book about the fair. The book contains historic and contemporary photos of fair participants and events, prize-winning recipes, and stories about the history of the agricultural community of Whatcom County. You can buy the book ($25 plus tax) at the souvenir book next to the Grandstand during the Fair.

Centennial Hall

Cow at the Northwest Washington Fair See all kinds of farm animals at the fair.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

In the Mount Baker Rotary Building this year, visitors can learn about fair history with photos and exhibits. Kids will really enjoy crafts, like decorating an old-fashioned milk bottle, and getting an official USPS Centennial Cancellation Stamp on your mail. All ages are also welcome to participate in a Centennial Cake Contest to decorate a 9″ x 13″ cake with the theme 100 Years – Endless Memories (cake entries due by Friday, August 13, at 2 PM).

Nightly Laser Light Shows

After the evening’s entertainment on the Community Stage, check out an amazing Laser Light Show by the water tower. Depending on the performance, the Laser Light Show will take place between 9:30 and 11 PM.

And, just so you know, 2010 still has all the annual favorites, like Kids Zone, Horse Shows, Live Entertainment, carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, food, and more! This year’s fair begins on August 16th and ends on the 21st.

What’s your favorite thing about the Northwest Washington Fair? Leave a comment to tell us your story!

leave a comment!


May is National Bike Month

Boy with bikes. Remember to wear your helmet on Bike to School and Work Day!
Photo by Theresa Carpine

Whether you ride your bike for exercise, fun, or as a clean and inexpensive form of transportation, you can celebrate National Bike Month throughout May at a variety of events scheduled in Whatcom County.

Bike to Work and School Day
With more than 8,500 participants in Whatcom County last year, National Bike to Work and School Day is by far the largest bicycling event of the month.

On Friday, May 21, 2010, you can walk or bike to your neighborhood Celebration Station. Located throughout the county, stations are organized by everybodyBIKE, a bicycle program for Whatcom Smart Trips in cooperation with local schools, agencies, and businesses. Each location will offer gifts, refreshments, and a chance to enter free prize drawings. Ask your child’s school if they’ll be hosting a station or check Mount Baker Bicycle Club for a list of all Whatcom County Celebrations Stations.

But what if school or work is too far to bike?
“Sometimes what seems too far to bike becomes more feasible as you work up to it,” explains Ellen Barton of everybodyBIKE. “The everybodyBIKE First Gear Class helps beginning riders gain the confidence and comfort to ride on roads and trails.”

Ellen offered these suggestions, via e-mail, to help everyone get involved, no matter what their circumstances.

  • Take your bike(s) on the bus part way. Each Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) bus can carry three bikes on its rack. Need advice about how to use the racks? Request a “Bike Buddy” from everybodyBIKE to teach you how to load and un-load your bike; they’ll also help you with the bus schedule for your specific route. You can also stop by the WTA Bellingham or Cordata Stations and ask one of the WTA staff for instructions. They are glad to help!
  • Ride the bus and walk part way. Bike to Work and School Day celebrates walking, too. Walking to and from the bus stop adds physical activity to your day.
  • Drive your bike(s) part way, park the car, and bike the rest of the way. A “Bike Buddy” can advise you on the best bike route, or check everybodyBIKE Resources for local Bicycle Maps. Even if you haven’t biked in years, bicycling three miles on flat terrain is a breeze.
  • Sometimes the trip to and from work or school is not the easiest to change. Try biking or walking for an errand during the day; avoid the drive-through by walking to lunch, or ride your bike from work to the gym.
May is National Bike Month! Kulshan Cycles lets Bellingham know that it’s National Bike Month.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

Eco-Benefits
According to the International Bicycle Fund, a four-mile car trip adds 15 pounds of pollutants to the air. So substituting a bike trip in place of short car ride not only gets you fresh air and exercise, but it can also significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Health Benefits
Since bicycling burns around 500 calories an hour, you can also improve your personal health by riding your bike. Challenge yourself to participate in Bike to Work Week during May 17 – 21, and you can skip the gym with a clean conscience.

A variety of other bicycling-related events are scheduled throughout the month of May. For more National Bike Month events in Bellingham and Whatcom County, please visit Neighborhood-Kids.com Activities.

leave a comment!


Happy Mother’s Day, Bellingham Moms!

Happy Mother's Day, Bellingham Moms! Live it up on Mother’s Day!

Moms are pretty special people, so it makes sense that the second Sunday in May is set aside as a day of celebration for all the mothers in the world.

If you’re looking for something fun to do on Mother’s Day weekend in and around Bellingham, take a list at a few local highlights listed below!

Blue Skies for Children Mother’s Day Garden Party
Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9, 2010 – 11 AM to 3 PM
373 W. Hemmi Road, Bellingham, WA 98226

The whole family can enjoy a leisurely stroll through five acres of beautiful perennial gardens to see unusual species that will be of interest to both the novice and seasoned gardener. There will be refreshments, lawn games, and plants for sale too! Cost to attend is a tax-deductible donation of $10. All proceeds will go to benefit Blue Skies for Children.

Mother’s Day Art Extravaganza
Saturday, May 8, 2010 – 12 PM to 3 PM
C.E.A.E.E., 1317 Commercial Street, Suite 201, Bellingham, WA 98225

Visit Center for Expressive Arts & Experiential Education for a celebration of the best mommies in the world! This free and exciting workshop is taught by a mother/daughter team, and includes hands-on demonstrations and activities to spark your creativity. Drop-in any time!

Show of Hands Family Activity Day
Saturday, May 8, 2010 – 12 PM to 4 PM
The Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Bring Mom to the Whatcom Museum‘s newest facility to see the newly opened Show of Hands: Northwest Women Artists 1880-2010 exhibition and then dive into the creative process! Kids will love hands-on projects and story time in the galleries. You can even take a horse-drawn wagon ride by Cramer Classics. Cost is $3 (free for Museum members), which includes admission to the Lightcatcher’s art galleries and Family Interactive Gallery.

"The Composer is Dead" “The Composer is Dead” by
Lemony Snicket and
Nathaniel Stookey

A Lemony Snicket Mother’s Day Concert
Saturday, May 8, 2010 – 7:30 PM
Blaine Performing Arts Center, 975 H Street, Blaine, WA 98230

An encore performance of the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra‘s Family Concert in January, The Composer Is Dead is a witty and engaging murder mystery, replete with humorous bathos and clever wordplay. In the tradition of works such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Britten’s Young Person’s Guide, Lemony Snicket teams up with composer Nathaniel Stookey to lead young audiences on an investigative stroll through the ranks of the orchestral instruments. Tickets are $20 for adults; accompanying children age 18 and under get in for free!

Free Admission for Moms at Skagit Museum
Sunday, May 9, 2010 – 11 AM to 5 PM
Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 4th Street, La Conner, WA

All mothers will enjoy free admission to Skagit County Historical Museum on Mother’s Day. The current featured exhibit is “The Way We Played: Early Skagit Recreation.” Visitors will enjoy great photos, entertaining tales, and engaging artifacts that tell the story of early outdoor recreation in the pristine Skagit of a bygone era. Regular admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids under 5.

Big Rock Garden Party
Sunday, May 9, 2010 – 1 PM to 4 PM
Big Rock Garden, 2900 Sylvan Street, Bellingham, WA 98226

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Big Rock Garden‘s Annual Sculpture Opening. Enjoy the serene beatify of the garden as it bursts into full color. This is a free, family-friendly event with refreshments and live music by End of the Road String Band. Take a free shuttle bus from Bloedel Donovan Park or park your car at Silver Beach School and walk the trail.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Visit Neighborhood-Kids.com Activities for all sorts of family fun in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

leave a comment!