‘Tis the Season: Bellingham Holiday Port Festival Dec. 4-6

November has come to an end and the holidays are in full swing. There’s no better way to get into the spirit of the holiday season than with the Bellingham Holiday Port Festival this weekend at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal located at 355 Harris Ave. in Fairhaven.

The festival is a free, family-friendly event held the weekend of December 4, 5, and 6 and is open to the public Friday from 12pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Every year the Port of Bellingham puts on this signature holiday event for the community packed with lots of great activities and attractions for the whole family. This year’s events include: performances by local choirs, bands, and dancers, a gingerbread house contest and display, free cookies and hot apple cider and a non-perishable food drive to benefit the Bellingham Food Bank.

The gingerbread house contest is free and open to bakers and decorators of all abilities and ages. This year’s optional themed category will be “Home Sweet Home.” Many adults and children make a tradition out of entering the contest, and ribbons are awarded for the top three in each category. Many of the gingerbread house contest entries are donated to a silent auction that runs throughout the three-day festival. Proceeds benefit our local Home Port Learning Center. Didn’t get a chance to enter this year? Come to check out the competition and get ideas for next year’s contest.