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Get Out

Tall ships, tractors, Kid’s Fest, Sherman Alexie and chalk art

By Robert Mittendorf

rmittendorf@bhamherald.com

Participants in the George Raft Race are shown during Drayton Harbor Days in 2010 in Blaine.
Participants in the George Raft Race are shown during Drayton Harbor Days in 2010 in Blaine. Staff THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

See the tall ships and steamboats at Drayton Harbor Days, marvel at antique tractors, hear writer Sherman Alexie, and have a blast at the annual Kid’s Fest.

Blaine’s maritime heritage

Blaine celebrates its maritime past with the annual Drayton Harbor Days – featuring tall ships, steamboats, a pirate dress-up contest, arts, crafts, food, model boat displays, foot ferry rides and the Prestigious George Raft Race, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug.6-7, at the Blaine Marina, 235 Marine Drive, just off 1-5, exit 276. Festival admission is free. Info: draytonharbormaritime.org, historicalseaport.org, blainechamber.com, 360-332-4544.

Michael Simoneau, left, and Mark Simoneau, shoot for a high score at Kid’s Fest in 2007 at Bloedel Donovan Park.
Michael Simoneau, left, and Mark Simoneau, shoot for a high score at Kid’s Fest in 2007 at Bloedel Donovan Park. Staff The Bellingham Herald
Kid’s Fest

City of Bellingham’s annual Kid’s Fest features bounce houses, games, water play, prizes, sno-cones and info about child-oriented services. It’s all free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 at Civic Stadium, 1355 Civic Field Way. Info: cob.org, Lance Romo at Lromo@cob.org, or 360-778-7000.

Sherman Alexie is shown at his office in Seattle in 2009.
Sherman Alexie is shown at his office in Seattle in 2009. STUART ISETT The New York Times
Alexie at the MBT

National Book Award-winning Northwest writer Sherman Alexie appears at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., in an all-ages performance to promote his new picture book, “Thunder Boy Jr.,” which is illustrated by Cadecott honoree Yuyi Morales. Tickets are $5. Info: mountbakertheatre.com, villagebooks.com, 360-734-6080.

Nels Lagerlund of Burlington sits on his 1914 Case steam tractor during the annual Puget Sound Antique Tractor and Machinery Association’s Threshing Bee at Berthusen Park in 2014.
Nels Lagerlund of Burlington sits on his 1914 Case steam tractor during the annual Puget Sound Antique Tractor and Machinery Association’s Threshing Bee at Berthusen Park in 2014. PHILIP A. DWYER pdwyer@bhamHERALD.com
Tough old tractors

The Puget Sound Antique Tractor & Machinery Association’s annual show is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, to Friday, Aug. 5, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Berthusen Park, 8837 Berthusen Road, Lynden. Event features tractor races, tractor pulls, quilt display, sawmill demonstrations, and more. Admission is $7 adults, $3 ages 8-12, $5 60 and older; season pass, $20. Info: psatma.com.

Sidewalk art

A scene from the chalk art festival in 2010.
A scene from the chalk art festival in 2010. Staff The Bellingham Herald

An informal revival of the former annual downtown chalk art festival is free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, near Dakota Art, 1322 Cornwall Ave. Bring your own chalk; non-toxic chalk or pastels are available for purchase at Dakota Art. Info: Amateur Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival on Facebook.

This story was changed Aug. 5, 2016, to reflect the correct I-5 exit number for Blaine.

What are you going to get out and do next weekend? Share with Robert Mittendorf: 360-715-2805, @bhamMitty, facebook.com/bellinghamherald. Tell us about your event at least three weeks in advance to be considered for this column.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 12:00 PM.

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