Sunday, May 26 marks the return of Ski to Sea, aka Bellingham’s biggest annual event. This multisport relay race is the weekend’s main attraction, but the hum of excitement also reaches downtown Fairhaven — and everyone is invited to celebrate alongside racers at the finish line.
With 10–15,000 people set to descend on Fairhaven on May 26, it’s sure to be an action-packed (if not slightly chaotic) afternoon. Here’s what you need to know in advance of the festivities.
Getting to the finish line
The final leg of Ski to Sea ends at Marine Park (100 Harris Ave.), though the party extends well into historic Fairhaven. In addition to vendors, booths and beer, the Fairhaven Festival draws in upward of 60 artisans and live musicians.
Given all the activity, it’s no surprise that parking can be hard to come by. Assistant race director Aurielle Buermann recommends avoiding unnecessary chaos by carpooling, or even leaving your car at home.
If weather permits, consider biking to Fairhaven and making use of the festival’s valet bike parking option. Ski to Sea also has a bike corral at the finish line to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, it’s possible to walk all the way to Fairhaven from downtown Bellingham via the South Bay Trail.
Public transportation is another option: Whatcom Transportation Authority adds extra buses to Route 1, which goes between Bellingham Station and Fairhaven Transportation Center, on race day. Additional buses will also route to Fairhaven from the C lots at Western via Route 14.
For those optimistic enough to brave traffic, Fairhaven has limited street parking, but it fills up quickly. If you’re willing to shell out cash in exchange for convenience, The Fairhaven Association also offers $20-per-car parking at the lot next to Evil Bikes on Harris Avenue.
Some organizations are using parking as a fundraising tactic: Parking fees at the Haskell lot on 6th Street and Harris Avenue will benefit the Whatcom Mountain Biking Coalition. Additional spectator parking is available from 12:30 p.m. at a park-by-donation lot at Sacred Heart Church (located at the corner of 14th Street and Knox Avenue) benefitting Agape Service Project’s services to Whatcom County farmworkers.
Finish-line celebrations
Vendors and booths at Marine Park will open at 11 a.m. and begin shutting down around 6:30 p.m. If you’re eager to watch competitors cross the finish line, the first racer should arrive around 1:30 p.m.
This year’s food truck lineup includes Bay City Ice Cream, Tam Tam Pizza, Mount Baker Kettle Corn, Feast, Moe’s Gyros & Crab Cakes, El Agave, Bry’s Filipino Cuisine and It’s the Sweet Things. Over in the beer garden, Boundary Bay Brewery and Lost Giants Cider will be pouring drinks from 1–6:45 p.m.
(Note that Fairhaven isn’t the only area with food and beverages on race day: Hovander Park, the start of the cyclocross leg, will have a beer garden from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Brews will be available from both Fringe and Bellingham Cider, pending Whatcom County Parks’ approval, and Ovn Wood Fired Pizza and Paellaworks will also be on-site serving food.)
A variety of sponsors and local organizations will have booths at the Marine Park finish line, including Fred Meyer, Mt. Baker Ski Area, Birch Equipment, KMRE, KGMI, Puget Sound Energy, Yeager’s Sporting Goods, the North Cascade Institute, PeaceHealth, Erin Baker’s and Cascadia Daily News. PeaceHealth will also be providing first aid, and title sponsor Peoples Bank will be giving out goodies and money via their prize wheel and selling Ski to Sea merchandise.
Although finish line booths remain open until 6:30 p.m., the Ski to Sea awards ceremony is the event’s peak. Make sure to stick around and celebrate the winning teams as they’re announced at 5 p.m.
Fairhaven Festival
The Fairhaven Festival is often lumped in with Marine Park finish-line activities, and although the two are closely connected, they’re technically two separate events. Whatcom Events oversees the finish line party, whereas the Fairhaven Association puts on the Fairhaven Festival.
The Fairhaven Village Green is the heart of the event, with three live bands lined up for the afternoon: The Atlantics, Cozmic Sauce and North Sound Soul. The festival also spills into surrounding Fairhaven, with food vendors and artisans taking over the streets.
Heather Carter, executive director of the Fairhaven Association, said organizers juried artisans from Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties and prioritized representing a variety of different crafts. There are 62 craft fair vendors, with wares ranging from apparel to jewelry, bath and body goods, home decor, food and more.
Participating brands include local favorites like Leah Meleski, The Goat’s Coat and Pumped Bellingham, as well as some slightly-out-of-town businesses like Arrows Aim Greenhouse from Whidbey Island. Eight Fairhaven Association members will have booths, including Salon Bellissima and 1-Up Lounge.
Vendors can be found on 11th Street between Mill Avenue and McKenzie Avenue, as well as down Harris Avenue between 10th and 11th streets. Food vendors are located down 11th Street between Mill Avenue toward Finnegan Way. (This layout is similar to previous years, but with the Fairhaven gravel pit up for development, Carter said it will likely change in 2025.)
Carter also noted the Festival is accepting volunteers up until the day of the event. Organizers are looking for assistance with set-up, traffic control, beer garden operations and clean-up. Plus the job isn’t without perks: Every volunteer receives a free pizza from Ovn Wood Fired Pizza, insoles from Superfeet, two beer garden tickets and a free T-shirt.
Other Fairhaven happenings
Beyond the street fair, Carter said the Fairhaven Festival presents visitors with an opportunity to “enjoy the local ambiance” and get to know the businesses throughout historic Fairhaven. Several spots are hosting activities to coincide with Ski to Sea celebrations; check with individual businesses before showing up in person.
Skylark’s Hidden Cafe has an oyster special the day of Ski to Sea and will be operating their beer garden from 1–9 p.m. They’ve also got live music, with Little Big Band performing from 1–4 p.m. and the Stillvettas from 5–8 p.m.
Stones Throw Brewery is shutting down the street for race day, expanding its beer garden and releasing a new beer: the aptly-named Eighth Leg IPA. They’re also throwing a pre-race party the day before (Saturday, May 25), with live music and food trucks present from noon to 9 p.m.
Paws for a Beer will celebrate Ski to Sea with a performance from R&B/hip-hop cover band SpaceBand at 3:45 p.m. on race day.
Archer Ale House won’t be doing any special events, but they did introduce a weekend brunch menu earlier this month. You can sample it from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. across from the Fairhaven Village Green.
It’s also business as usual at Corner Taphouse, though they have two live music events in the lead-up to the festival: Shady Groove plays at 7 p.m. on Friday, whereas Songwranglers take the stage on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
