Inaugural Hamster’s Ball will benefit Cascade Connections Nov. 6

Mount Baker Youth Symphony 2015 Season Opening Concert

7 p.m. The Leopold Crystal Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall Ave. $10 adults, $1 ages 16 and younger; 360-421-2527. Sharyn Peterson directs the symphony in “Spider Attack,” “Grandfather’s Clock,” “Ballet Parisienne” and “March Slav.” The concert will be preceded by a reception at 6:45 p.m. to benefit the Dec. 8 Finlandia Concert at Mount Baker Theatre. Details: mbys.org.

Rick Steves: “Europe Through the Back Door – Celebrating European Travel on a Budget!”

7 p.m. Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. $5; Join travel expert Rick Steves, acclaimed for his bestselling guidebook series, and public TV and radio shows as he shares the latest in smart European travel. Steves explains the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel. Tickets are available at Village Books and online at brownpapertickets.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Bellingham High School’s PTSA.

Bellingham Music Club

10:30-11:30 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St., Bellingham. Free. 360-734-2770. Bellingham Music Club presents Martin Kuuskmann on bassoon and Jeffrey Gilliam on piano. Admission is free, with donations accepted to benefit student competitions sponsored by the Bellingham Music Club. For details visit www.bellinghammusicclub.org or call 360-306-8580.

Holiday Baked Goods & Crafts Sale

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lynden Community Center, 401 Grover St., Lynden. Admission free; lunch available for $5. 360-354-4501; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 5-6. Homemade baked goods including Dutch specialties. Handmade crafts including baby items, quilts, Seahawks-themed items, holiday decor and gift items. Benefits programs and services for seniors of the Lynden community.

The Hamster’s Ball benefiting Cascade Connections

6-10 p.m., Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave. $50; The inaugural Hamster’s Ball, an evening of fine wines, beers, spirits and delicious culinary specialties, benefits Cascade Connections, a non-profit organization that has been providing quality services to people with all types of disabilities for almost 35 years in Whatcom County. Tickets include all food and drink, evening festivities and a chance to win one of five “Wine, Beer & Chocolate Cellar” prize packages. Guests are asked to bring a fine bottle of wine, beers or fine chocolates with a suggested retail value of $25. Your contribution will be bundled with others to create five “Wine, Beer & Chocolate Cellar” prize packages that five lucky winners will go home with! Details: cascadeconnections.org/hamster-event.

Bazaar

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Hope in Christ Church, 710 E. Sunset Dr. 360-733-6177 Crafts and homemade goodies of all types; some table space still available for rent by contacting the church office during work hours. In addition to crafts and goodies of all types, a professional knife sharpener will be available to sharpen your knives for only $2 per knife. Vendors offering homemade items may contact the church office for information on reserving a table for the event.

Mt. Baker Rock & Gem Club’s Bi-Annual Rockhound Recycling Rendezvous

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Park, 2214 Electric Ave., Bellingham. Free 360-778-7000 Come to this one day event to swap, sell or shop a variety of handmade and fine jewelry, labeled fossils including identified petrified woods, thunder eggs, mineral specimens from world wide sources, lapidary tools and equipment, and more. There is no admission charge. Proceeds from the event helps the club fund its Western Washington University scholarship program.

Hillcrest Arts And Crafts Fair Bazaar

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Hillcrest Chapel, 1400 Larrabee Ave. Assorted 360-733-8400

St. James Presbyterian Arts & Crafts Faire

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., St. James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St.. No entry fee 360-733-1325. Proceeds benefit local organizations serving women and children.

Bellingham Young Life’s 5th Annual Dance Bellingham Dance

6:30 p.m., Lakeway Sheraton, 714 Lakeway Drive; $50 per person or $375 for a table of eight; 360-671-1011 This event is Bellingham Young Life’s annual night of fun, dancing and raising money to help Bellingham Young Life reach every kid in the city. www.dancebellinghamdance.com

CAMP AGAPE N.W. fundraiser

6-11 p.m., Northwood Hall, 3240 Northwest Ave. $50 a ticket; MC,VISA accepted 360-671-8311 dinner and dance fundraiser for children with cancer. Sponsored by the women’s Philoptochos at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church.

16th Annual Scandinavian Fair

10 a.m., Fox Hall at Hampton Inn, 1661 W. Bakerview Rd. Admission is $1 and children 12 and under are Free 360-676-7700 Hosted by Daughters of Norway Nellie Gerdrum Lodge 41.

St. James Presbyterian Arts & Crafts Faire

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., St. James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St. 360-733-1325; Proceeds benefit local non-profits serving women and children.

Annual Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale

9 a.m.-3 p.m., American Legion Hall, 1688 W. Bakerview Rd. Free 360-734-3110 Legion Riders Post 7 host their annual craft bazaar and bake sale benefiting the John Fassett Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Royal Family Kids Camp.

Pickett House Museum Tour

1-4 p.m., The Pickett House Museum, 910 Bancroft St., Bellingham. Donations accepted 360-733-5873 Tour Captain George E. Pickett’s 1856 home on Peabody Hill. This is the oldest, documented, wooden structure, on its original site in the State of Washington and was built with planks sawn at the 1853 Roeder Peabody sawmill on Whatcom Creek. Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, Whatcom Chapter 5, host an open house and tours of this historic home. Later as a General during the Civil War, Pickett led the infamous 1863 charge at Gettysburg.

Benefit Concert at the United Church of Ferndale

2:30 p.m., United Church of Ferndale, 2034 Washington St. Donations suggested 360-384-3302 Attend this Benefit Concert featuring Joy Baldridge, vocalist, and Josh VerHalen, pianist and vocalist, with music selections from jazz, classical and Broadway hits. Donations will benefit the United Church of Ferndale and Old Dog Haven, which helps senior dogs find loving homes.

“Saved from Enlightenment: The Memoir of an Unlikely Devotee:”

2 p.m. Island Library, 2144 South Nugent Road, Lummi Island, 360-305-3600.Tarini Bauliya will share stories from her new book, a candid, touching and humorous perspective of her lifelong spiritual journey. Tea and cookies served. Books sales to benefit Friends of Island Library. For: Adults.

Annual Literacy Breakfast With Nancy Pearl

7 a.m., Bellingham Technical College, 3028 Lindbergh Ave., Bellingham. Donations suggested 360-752-7000 Each year, Whatcom Literacy Council helps hundreds of adults in Whatcom County build their literacy skills and move forward in their lives. The funds raised at the Annual Literacy Breakfast help make that possible. The witty and wonderful Nancy Pearl, author of “Book Lust,” “More Book Lust,” “Book Crush” and “Book Lust To Go,” will be back again this year to share her thoughts on some of the best reads available.

Sumas Center Pancake breakfast Fundraiser

8-11 a.m., Sumas Community Center, 461 W. 2nd St. By donation 360-988-2714 Sumas Lion’s Club & Sr. Center will be cooking up a great breakfast with pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage links. Also guess the number of candies in the jar. If you come closest to the correct amount you win the jar and the candy. Also plants for sale by donation. Support Lion’s Club scholarships and senior center programming.

Bellingham Circus Guild’s Second Annual Holiday Bazaar

5 p.m., Bellingham Circus Guild, 1401 6th St. The Bellingham Circus Guild is hosting the Holiday Bazaar at Vaudevillingham! Sunday, Nov. 15 and Tuesday Dec. 15, at the Cirque Lab. Come enjoy local crafts from 5 to 7 p.m., then stay for Vaudevillingham. Handiwork like tinctures, soaps, hats, earrings, teas, cards, clothing and more. For more info on the event, or if you are interested in being a vendor, please contact:della@bellinghamcircusguild.com

Pancake Breakfast

8-11 a.m., VFW Post 9301, 7011 Hannegan Rd. $6; free for children 5 and under Support your local veterans at the VFW Post 9301’s pancake breakfast, held on the third Saturday of each month. It includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, milk, coffee and juice.

Bazaar Gardenview Montessori 9th Annual Family Friendly Holiday Bazaar

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Hillcrest Chapel, 1400 Larrabee Ave. 360-733-8400 The Gardenview Bazaar and Silent Auction is a project supported by parents and friends of Gardenview Montessori Pre-School and Kindergarten. Each year this fundraiser provides much needed income to be able to sustain our small school. Proceeds go towards purchasing curriculum materials, offering scholarships or tuition assistance to families in need and continuing education for the staff. Details: GardenviewMontessori.org.

St. Joseph Catholic Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale

9 a.m.-5 p.m. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 205 12th St. 360-354-2334

Breakfast@ Rome Grange

8 a.m.-1 p.m., The Rome Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Hwy. $5 per person - $2 kids 10 and younger

Holiday Craft Sale and New Toy Drive

4-9 p.m., American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Dr. Donations accepted 360-371-7311 Holiday Craft Sale and New Unwrapped Toy Drive. Friday, Dec. 4, from 4-9 p.m. with steak dinner from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Please bring new and unwrapped toys to the Legion at anytime during the event.

Homemade Arts & Crafts Bazaar

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G St. 360-332-8040 Raffle tickets will be available for purchase before and during the Bazaar. Visit with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Blaine Senior Center, which provides activities and programs for seniors, including a daily lunch program, exercise programs, socializing, entertainment, and hobby and learning opportunities.

Ebenezer Christian School’s Annual Wreath & Bake Sale

10 a.m.-3 p.m., North County Christ the King, 1816 18th St. 360-318-9446 Come and get a jump on your holiday decorating and baking! You will find beautifully decorated wreaths for your home and fabulous homemade baked goods including cookie trays, pies, almond sticks, ollie bollen, cinnamon rolls, and more.

Winter Carnival Arts & Crafts Fair

1-7 p.m., East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, 8251 Kendall Rd. no cover 360-599-3944 Pictures with Santa, craft activities for kids, artisan vendors selling their wares, a raffle, an auction, live music, food and beer garden in this fundraiser for Kendall Elementary PTA.

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School Holiday Faire

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Whatcom Hills Waldorf School, 941 Austin St. Each activity costs from $1 - $3 360-733-3164 The Whatcom Hills Waldorf School’s annual Holiday Faire is a wonder-full, magical way for families to enjoy the holidays with live music, delicious food, local artisans and the perfect place to make gifts for families! Low cost, hands-on crafting workshops feature natural materials and include rolling beeswax candles, felted wool projects, and translucent paper stars to color your windows. Visit the Snow Queen in her castle, dig for crystals in Gnome Village. Watch an enchanting puppet play or warm up with delicious homemade soup and live music in the Wooden Spoon Cafe. Parking: Free parking is available at The Firs at 4605 Cable St. A free shuttle brings people to and from the school.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 1:04 AM with the headline "Inaugural Hamster’s Ball will benefit Cascade Connections Nov. 6."