About Bellingham's Fairhaven

It All Ends in Fairhaven.................. Ski to Sea weekend is here and the festivities have already begun with the Junior race last weekend. The Grand Parade is on Saturday, May 24th and the Race and Festival (did I say beer garden) on Sunday, May 25th, 2008.

The Old Fairhaven Association (OFA) sponsors and coordinates, with volunteers, the "It All Ends in Fairhaven" festival as an annual fundraiser to support the OFA's goals to preserve the historic district. Come to Fairhaven to enjoy the craft, food & non-profit vendors, see the racers at the finish line, admire the historic buildings and enjoy a beer in our beer garden featuring live music. Be sure to stop at the Information Booth sponsored by Fairhaven Realty to get your new "Green" Fairhaven Guide and walking tour maps.

For more information go to www.fairhaven.com

Dirty Dan Days is held on the last weekend of April every year and is an event honoring the founding father of Fairhaven, Daniel Jefferson Harris (AKA Dirty Dan). This two day festival is a great family oriented event held on the Village Green park located in the heart of the District. The weekend kicks off with the Alzheimers 5K Run/Walk and many activities on the Village Green; Salmon Toss, Oyster eating contest and live music. On Sunday the Chuckanut Chowder Cook-off and the Worlds Only Piano Race are the highlights of the day.

Girls Night Out welcomes everyone to Fairhaven to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Research. This fun event involves many of the merchants in the District who particpate with demonstrations, sales and coupons. The highlight of the evening is the Silent Auction and Fashion Show, which features fashions from the many stores in Fairhaven.

For more information on Fairhaven events you can visit www.fairhaven.com

Dirty Dan Days in Fairhaven
Come celebrate the unscrubbed founder of Fairhaven this weekend April 26- 27.

The weekend event in Fairhaven will consist of Old Fashion Family Fun Day on the Green, Historical Scavenger Hunt, Motorcycle Show, Chuckanut Chowder Cook-off, contests of the entertaining sort, and the grand finale Piano Race. There will bere live music all afternoon, beginning at noon, on the Village Green stageon both days. You will even have the opportunity to tour yachts available for charter down on the waterfront.

This year will feature The Dan Harris Challenge, a water event. Rowers, pullers and paddlers will all race along the Fairhaven and Chuckanut shorelines in what is becoming one of the most challenging and unpredictable races in the Northwest.

The race starts and ends along Bellingham's Taylor Avenue dock. Spectators can watch the start of 100 rowers, native canoe pullers and surfskis, sea kayaks and outrigged canoe paddlers as they paddle toward Post Point buoy and then around Chuckanut Island and back.

About an hour later, they are in the finishing stretch, and ready for a post-race all-you-can-eat BBQ.

It will be a great way way to celebrate the start of the spring racing season in Bellingham Bay... bragging rights last all year.

Fairhaven Veterans Memorial Flag Raised

The final piece fell into place or should I say rose into place today. Considering at 5am it was snowing and I was thinking "you got to be kidding me", it all came together! And incredibly beautiful weather to boot. The Flag raising and dedication ceremony for the Fairhaven Veterans Memorial Flag Pole was a wonderful event with a great turn out of Fairhaven Merchants, Veterans, neighbors and other community folks.

The program included the Old Fairhaven Association President, Amy Nicol of Peoples Bank-Fairhaven Branch and our major donars; Ram Construction & Ebenal General. We also had the Veterans, who put up the original Flag pole on hand to crank the Flag up the 100 foot pole along with other Vets as it was quite the task. Bellingham's Mayor, Dan Pike was on hand to say a few words as well as help with keeping the Flag off the ground as the wind picked up. It was quite spectacular and I wish you all could of been there to see & feel the excitement as the Flag rustle in the wind as it took it's steady journey to the top. To stand beneath it listening to it rustle as it flows through the wind and feel the meaning behind the Fairhaven Veterans Memorial Flag Pole and Memorial Wall is a powerful feeling.

A year in the making. And two years, four months after the sad day that the wood flag pole fell.

Historic Fairhaven

The charming Fairhaven District of Bellingham, Washington has become an excellent holiday location with many people returning to stay permanently. Located on the shores of Bellingham Bay overlooking the San Juan islands the Fairhaven District has many things to offer visitors and locals alike. Having the main transportation hub located at the end of Harris Avenue, which features Greyhound, AmTrak, Water Taxis to the islands & Canada and the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal allows alternative transportation to and from the area.

History and recreation opportunities are abundant in Fairhaven. From the Walking Tour Map that guides you to the Historical buildings and Historical Markers along the Streets to the city trails that lead you along the waterfront boardwalk or out to the Interurban along Chuckanut Drive. The monthly festivals inviting all into Fairhaven either celebrating the history or quirkiness of the District give opportunities for everyone to enjoy an activity. Not to mention the boutique shopping, art gallery's, hotels & spas, Wednesday Farmers Market and Saturday's Outdoor Cinema on the Village Green during the summer months.

For more information on the Historic Fairhaven District go to www.fairhaven.com

Walking Along Harris Avenue in Historic Fairhaven

Pie Eating Contest during the Dirty Dan Days Festival April 2007

Wednesday Farmers Market on the Village Green