Your guide to the Northwest Raspberry Festival in Lynden, this weekend only

Raspberry beer, donuts, cream puffs, ice cream, coffee, oh my!

The Northwest Raspberry Festival is back in Lynden this weekend from Friday, July 19 through Saturday, July 20, and you don’t want to miss it.

The 26th annual festival takes over Front Street in downtown Lynden, celebrating the Pacific Northwest as one of the world leaders in the raspberry industry, according to the event’s website.

Here’s what we recommend trying at the Northwest Raspberry Festival:

Raspberry donuts and cream puff at Lynden Dutch Bakery

These sweet, housemade treats future local berries and give you a new take on the classic raspberry. Head over to Lynden Dutch Bakery’s to-go window or inside their shop to try these goodies, or many other raspberry desserts and pastries for a limited time.

Lynden Dutch Bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday of the festival at 421 Front St.

Raspberry mule and raspberry cider at the Razz “beery” time out beer garden

For those 21 and older, the raspberry festival has a beer garden featuring local ciders from Bellingham Cider Company, as well as raspberry cocktails crafted for the event.

The Razz “beery” time out beer garden is open from 1-8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, near the festival’s food court.

Fried chicken sandwich and fries from Feast food truck

Trying to pick what food truck to enjoy at the festival is no simple feat, but the Feast food truck offered nontraditional food truck food, such as a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and truffle fries.

The sandwich is made with garlic and buttermilk brined chicken, pepperoncini aioli, cole slaw and house vinaigrette, all on a toasted Avenue Bread bun. The truffle fries are not your typical French fry, but is serves with a spicy ketchup sauce.

The event’s food court also featured trucks and businesses serving corn dogs, brisket, tacos, churros, pulled-pork sandwiches, tater tots, mini donuts, burritos, shave ice, roasted corn and more.

The food court is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Special raspberry treats

Not only does the festival have a booth of $2 ice cream and fresh raspberry sundaes, but some Lynden businesses are offering special treats for the festival.

Eucatastrophe, a used book store and coffee shop has sparkling raspberry lemonades, a raspberry white chocolate mocha, sourdough raspberry sweet rolls, raspberry danishes and other sweet treats.

Rustler’s Front Street Grill is also serving raspberry white chocolate shortcake, raspberry wine slushies and raspberry cocktails this weekend.

This year’s festival also includes:

▪ Raspberry wine & spirit tasting

▪ Razz “beery” time out beer garden

▪ 3-on-3 basketball tournament

▪ Razz & Shine cruise-in car show on Saturday only

▪ Raspberry pancake breakfast on Saturday only

▪ Live music

▪ Food trucks

▪ Vendor fair

▪ Kids zone with bounce houses and games

▪ $2 vanilla ice cream with fresh red raspberries

▪ BBQ salmon dinner on Friday only

▪ Kids scavenger hunt with prizes on Friday only

For a full event schedule, visit the event’s website. Parking may be found on neighboring streets and certain local business that allow event parking.

The Northwest Raspberry Festival in downtown Lynden runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 19 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

Alyse Smith

The Bellingham Herald

Alyse Smith is a reporter at The Bellingham Herald covering retail, restaurants, jobs and business. If you like stories like this, please consider supporting our work with a subscription to our newspaper.