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Christmas with kids in Bellingham
In Bellingham, Santa travels by boat. A Christmas Ship that traces back to the Bellingham Sea Scouts around 1950 still sails to the San Juan Islands every December, and the city's other traditions also lean toward the water.
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Children's Holiday Market
When: Sat, Dec 12, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Bloedel Donovan Park, Multipurpose Room, Bellingham
Cost: Admission not listed on the page
The story of Christmas in Bellingham
How Bellingham celebrates
Bellingham's signature tradition is the Christmas Ship. Around 1950, Navy veteran Don Wight, who led the city's Sea Scouts, helped formalize the project, and the first dedicated vessel, the SES Discovery, sailed in 1951. The Bellingham Jaycees ran it until the mid 1990s, when the Bellingham Central Lions Club took over. Volunteers dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and carolers bring gifts to children on remote San Juan Islands. At the Port, the free Holiday Port Festival reached its 29th year in 2019.
Christmas last year in Bellingham
In 2025 the Christmas Ship sailed on the second Saturday in December. It lasted about 12 hours and visited Waldron, Stuart, Orcas, Shaw, Decatur, Blakely and Lopez islands. On Saturday, December 6, the downtown tree lit at Depot Market Square with cocoa, cookies and a countdown to 6 p.m., while the Bellingham Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade started at 5:30 on Bellingham Bay. The free Holiday Port Festival ran December 6 and 7 with a gingerbread house display.
Fun facts about Christmas in Bellingham
A fisherman named Tripo Costello played Santa on the Christmas Ship for 38 years, starting in 1963. The ship costs about $10,000 to $20,000 a year, and in 2025 the children of Stuart Island were the first to be visited in 15 years after a family asked for its return. At the 2019 Holiday Port Festival, 81 gingerbread structures were entered and a silent auction raised $632 for Toys for Tots. Ferndale's Olde Fashioned Christmas has more than 90,000 lights.
Trains and Christmas near Bellingham
No Bellingham train Christmas story turned up in our research, but Washington has holiday rail rides within a day trip. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe runs steam trains past the Nisqually River and adds Christmas trains to its season. The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie offers weekend train rides and a free 1890 depot, and Lake Whatcom Railway in Wickersham, closest to Bellingham, once ran a Northern Pacific steam engine, so call before you plan a visit.
- Lake Whatcom Railway: The closest listed railroad to Bellingham, a small heritage line in Wickersham that ran Northern Pacific steam engine 1070; call ahead since regular rides may have ended.
- Northwest Railway Museum: A working railway museum with weekend train rides, a free 1890 depot and a train shed full of locomotives.
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad: Steam train rides from Elbe to Mineral, with Halloween and Christmas trains added to the season.
Traditions today
- The Christmas Ship: Volunteers dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves sail to remote San Juan Islands to bring gifts to children, a tradition that dates to around 1950.
- Downtown tree lighting: A free community tree lighting at Depot Market Square with cocoa, cookies and a countdown.
- Lighted Boat Parade: The Bellingham Yacht Club decorates boats with lights and sails them on Bellingham Bay.
- Holiday Port Festival: A free first weekend of December festival at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal with a gingerbread house display, performances and Santa.
- Fairhaven Winterfest: Themed Saturdays in Historic Fairhaven Village through the weeks before Christmas.
- Santa photos at Yeager's: The Fairhaven Lions Club has offered Santa photos at Yeager's Sporting Goods for nearly four decades.
A fact for kids
In Bellingham, Santa arrives by boat. A fisherman named Tripo Costello played Santa on the Christmas Ship for 38 years.
Questions about Christmas in Bellingham
What is the Christmas Ship in Bellingham?
The Christmas Ship is an annual holiday voyage where volunteers dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, carolers and pirates bring gifts and cheer to children on remote San Juan Islands. It began around 1950 with Bellingham's Sea Scouts and is now run by Lions Clubs with help from San Juan Cruises.
When did the Bellingham Christmas Ship start?
It dates to around 1950, when Navy veteran Don Wight, who led Bellingham's Sea Scouts, helped formalize the project. The first dedicated vessel, the SES Discovery, sailed in 1951. That makes the tradition about 75 years old, and it has been carried on by community groups ever since.
Who runs the Christmas Ship today?
Lions Clubs run it, working with San Juan Cruises. The Bellingham Jaycees ran the project until the mid 1990s, when the Bellingham Central Lions Club took over. In 2025 the project lead was Sandra Ball of the Mount Vernon Lions Club, and Lions clubs contributed $4,500 toward the cost.
Where did the Christmas Ship go last year?
In 2025 it sailed on the second Saturday in December for about 12 hours, visiting Waldron, Stuart, Orcas, Shaw, Decatur, Blakely and Lopez islands. The night before, Lions members also visited Lummi Island by ferry. Stuart Island's children were the first visited in 15 years after a family asked for the ship's return.
Who played Santa on the Christmas Ship?
A fisherman named Tripo Costello played Santa for 38 years, starting in 1963. Today volunteers dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, carolers and pirates. Kids on remote islands love the surprise of seeing Santa step off a boat instead of out of a sleigh.
How can I explain the Christmas Ship to my toddler?
Tell them that some children live on islands far from town, so Santa goes there by boat. The volunteers dress up, sing carols and hand out presents, then sail to the next island. Toddlers understand the idea of a boat taking Santa to friends, and the story is a good chance to talk about sharing.
What is the Holiday Port Festival?
It is a free, family-friendly festival held the first weekend of December at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, run by the Port of Bellingham. It has music and dance performances, a gingerbread house display and visits and photos with Santa. In 2019 it was in its 29th year.
Did the Christmas Ship ever visit Canada?
Yes, for a time. Stops in British Columbia's Gulf Islands were added to the Christmas Ship's route in later years, but they ended after the pandemic. Today the ship focuses on the San Juan Islands, and Lions members also take a ferry to Lummi Island the night before the main sailing.
What is the gingerbread contest at the Port?
It is a free contest at the Holiday Port Festival open to bakers of all ages. Entries are judged in categories such as family, youth age groups and senior, with ribbons for the top three. In 2019, 81 edible structures were submitted, and a silent auction raised $632 for Toys for Tots.
When is the Bellingham downtown tree lighting?
Last year it was held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue. Families enjoyed cocoa, cookies and activities, followed by a countdown to 6 p.m. when the tree lit up. See our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page for this season's date.
Is there a lighted boat parade in Bellingham?
Yes. The Bellingham Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade sails on Bellingham Bay, and in 2025 it started at 5:30 p.m. on December 6, weather permitting. Boats are decorated with lights, which makes the bay glow. For this season's confirmed time, see our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page.
What is Fairhaven Winterfest?
Fairhaven Winterfest is a series of themed Saturdays in Historic Fairhaven Village in the weeks before Christmas. In 2025 it ran from November 29 to December 20. The village is a historic district, so families can enjoy holiday cheer among its old buildings.
Where can kids visit Santa in Bellingham?
Kids can see Santa at the Holiday Port Festival, and the Fairhaven Lions Club has offered Santa photos at Yeager's Sporting Goods for nearly four decades. Santa and Mrs. Claus also visit Mt. Baker Ski Area in December. Our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Is the Bellingham tree lighting free?
Yes, it is a free community tree lighting at Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Avenue. In 2025 families gathered for cocoa and cookies before a countdown to 6 p.m., when the tree lit up. The community has called the lighting a tradition. See our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page for this season's tree lighting date and time.
Where can kids see Christmas lights near Bellingham?
Bellingham-area families can see the Lighted Boat Parade on the bay, Fairhaven's holiday lights and Ferndale's Olde Fashioned Christmas at Pioneer Park, which has more than 90,000 lights. Our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and times.
Is there a Christmas parade near Bellingham?
The closest big street parade is the Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade in Lynden, held at 6 p.m. on December 6 in 2025, and the first 500 spectators got free cocoa. In Bellingham itself the lights are on the water. See our Bellingham Christmas events guide on this page for this year's dates.
What do the Lions and Jaycees have to do with Bellingham Christmas?
Both groups kept the Christmas Ship afloat. The Bellingham Jaycees backed the Sea Scouts and ran the project until the mid 1990s, then the Bellingham Central Lions Club took over. The ship costs about $10,000 to $20,000 a year, paid by fundraisers, donations and club contributions.
Where can kids see trains near Bellingham at Christmas?
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe runs steam trains and adds Christmas trains to its season, and the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie has weekend train rides and a free 1890 depot. Both are a longer drive from Bellingham, so check schedules and book tickets ahead.
Is there a train museum near Bellingham?
Yes. Lake Whatcom Railway in Wickersham is the closest on our list, a small heritage railroad that ran Northern Pacific steam engine 1070 with Pullman coaches over 100 years old. Regular rides appear to have ended, so call or check its Facebook page before planning a trip.
Why is Christmas in Bellingham different from other cities?
Bellingham celebrates on the water. Its best-known tradition is a Christmas Ship that began with Sea Scouts around 1950 and still carries Santa to island children, and the season also includes a lighted boat parade on the bay and a gingerbread festival at the cruise terminal. The sea is part of the story here.
Sources
- Bringing holiday cheer to WA island children aboard the Christmas Ship, Cascadia Daily News
- 50 plus ways to spend the holidays around Bellingham, Cascadia Daily News
- Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
- Holiday Port, Port of Bellingham
- 29th annual Holiday Port Festival wrap up, WhatcomTalk
- Save the date for these 6 holiday events in Whatcom County, WhatcomTalk
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- Northwest Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Lake Whatcom Railway, Rally Takes the Train