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Expect crowds at Blaine crossing for Hands Across the Border

By Robert Mittendorf

rmittendorf@bhamherald.com

Park Ranger Brad McAdam directs Girl Scouts Keli Stewart, second from right, and Sierra Scott, far right, as they raise the U.S. flag in sync with a Canadian flag-raising during the Hands Across the Border celebration on June 10, 2007.
Park Ranger Brad McAdam directs Girl Scouts Keli Stewart, second from right, and Sierra Scott, far right, as they raise the U.S. flag in sync with a Canadian flag-raising during the Hands Across the Border celebration on June 10, 2007. Staff The Bellingham Herald
BLAINE

Hands Across the Border returns this weekend to Peace Arch State Park at the U.S.-Canada border.

Several hundred extra people at the border for the Sunday, June 12, event — and those watching it instead of paying attention while driving — could increase wait times for travelers at the Blaine crossing.

Registration is restricted to groups such as veterans, public-safety personnel, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and their alumni for the festival, which is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hundreds of scouts from both sides of the border usually participate.

The event began in 1937 as a joint Armistice Day-Veterans Day commemoration, but it has been held only sporadically over the past decade.

For more information, go online to handsacrosstheborder.info.

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Expect crowds at Blaine crossing for Hands Across the Border."

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