From the newsroom

Growing up, my mom's pumpkin cookies were synonymous with the holidays. She made them every Thanksgiving and Christmas; even as an adult, I can never replicate their flavor.

But now I have my own Thanksgiving tradition: cooking ramen from scratch with my partner, David. It's a day-long process, but the result is worth the effort.

This year I celebrated Thanksgiving with both David and my mom, so obviously, we had ramen for dinner and pumpkin cookies for dessert. Was it a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal? Absolutely not, but it represented my favorite part about the holiday season: Families can make new traditions around whatever brings them joy.

If you want to shake up your own holiday routine in 2024, I've rounded up 51 things to do during the holidays in Bellingham. Activities run the gamut from Christmas carolers to cozy craft parties, lighted boat parades and even visits with Santa Claus at the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

My top pick for this upcoming weekend is the start of Winterfest in Fairhaven. Families can participate in horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa and even a tree-lighting ceremony; check online for a full schedule.

The weekend after Thanksgiving is also notorious for Christmas shopping. Downtown Bellingham will be debuting its holiday window displays, and Mount Vernon has a Shop Small Saturday event complete with Santa's elves, live music and other in-store events. Alternatively, buy gifts directly from the artisans who made them at one of the season's many holiday markets.

Other noteworthy events include Blaine Holiday Harbor Lights and the Fairhaven Art Walk on Saturday, as well as Caroling at Cordata on Sunday afternoon. From my home to yours, here's to a bright and merry holiday season — however you choose to celebrate it.

Today's news

Traci Bjorklund and daughter Mia look at the Cramer Classics Percheron horses before taking a carriage ride during Fairhaven Winterfest in November 2023. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)

51 things to do for the 2024 holiday season

2024 holiday craft market roundup

New Blaine nonprofit forms to support school district's drop in funding

Winter prep sports preview: Girls flag football launches, and new allocations arrive

Bellingham's Courtney Olsen breaks 50-mile world record

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Faces in the Crowd

Paul Henderson II sits at the backstage makeup bench Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Bellingham Theatre Guild, where he has performed in many shows. Henderson, who first started singing along to musicals like "Mary Poppins" and "Little Shop of Horrors" at 3, now acts and sings in plays and musicals in Whatcom and Skagit counties. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Paul Henderson II: Local thespian and karaoke host

"Faces in the Crowd" is published weekly online on Fridays. Have a suggestion for a "Faces in the Crowd" subject? Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.

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