Fairhaven Annual Events

-January-

• New Year's Sale - On December 31st and January 1st for our annual storewide sale, receive up to 40% off remaining holiday items and 20% off mostly everything in the store. Some restrictions apply, ask a bookseller for details. Discounts cannot be combined.
• Resolutions for Writers - This will be an inspiration day devoted to starting the year off right in your WRITING life! We offer this day of mini-workshops from 11am-4pm on the first Sunday in January in the Readings Gallery.
• Chuckanut Radio Hour Anniversary Celebration - The Chuckanut Radio Hour will celebrate its Anniversary with highlights and clips from the best of the year and of all time. This is always a popular show so get your tickets ASAP!

-February-

• Children's Literature Conference - This event in February has become an annual tradition for many, where teachers and librarians, readers and writers gather to celebrate and learn about children’s literature. Check out www.uclc.com for more information about the conference.

-March-

• Whatcom READS! - Whatcom READS is a county-wide program that encourages everyone to read and discuss the same book, and to participate in programs and special events that follow the book’s themes. Each series culminates with a visit by the author of the selected book, who makes numerous free-of-charge public presentations at locations throughout the county in March.
• Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival - Allied Arts of Whatcom County is working with organizations throughout Whatcom County on a three-day Cultural Arts Festival to take place in Fairhaven. The festival kicks off with the Historic Fairhaven Fourth Friday Art Walk and runs throughout the weekend. It will be a collaborative project with the Historic Fairhaven Association, Bellingham/ Whatcom Tourism Bureau, Sculptures NW, Native Arts Collective and the Whatcom Artist Guild and more.

-April-

• National Poetry Month - Celebrate with 20% off poetry for the entire month of April at Village Books and Paper Dreams in Fairhaven and Lynden!
• Dirty Dan Harris Murder Mystery Weekend - Fairhaven’s celebration of the "unscrubbed" community founder, Dirty Dan Harris. Live music and food and street vendors take place on the Fairhaven Village Green as well as a neighborhood-wide murder investigation! Interact with colorful characters and find the culprit!
• Independent Bookstore Day - From Bellingham to Brooklyn, booksellers and book lovers will celebrate the last Saturday in April as Independent Bookstore Day. There will be a lot happening and this is all to celebrate our love for independent bookstores worldwide. Join the party!
• Children's Book Week - Established in 1919, Children's Book Week (last Monday in April to the first Friday in May) is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes -- wherever young readers and books connect. last Monday to first Friday in May

-June-

• Summer Reading Challenge - Join us June through August in celebrating summer with one of our favorite activities—READING! Pick up a Reading Challenge form in either Fairhaven or Lynden (or print out the form from our website), then read your way along the path to receive prizes.
• Anniversary Sale - Join us as we celebrate building community one book at a time with a storewide sale, at both our Fairhaven and Lynden locations on the third weekend in June! Receive 20% off most items throughout Village Books and Paper Dreams! 

-July-

• Summer Reading Challenge - Join us June through August in celebrating summer with one of our favorite activities—READING! Pick up a Reading Challenge form in either Fairhaven or Lynden (or print out the form from our website), then read your way along the path to receive prizes.
• Where's Waldo? Scavenger hunt and Celebration - Kids, parents and Waldo-lovers of all ages are invited to join us all during July for the scavenger hunt to find the elusive Waldo hidden in local businesses around Fairhaven and Lynden.

-August-

• Summer Reading Challenge - Join us June through August in celebrating summer with one of our favorite activities—READING! Pick up a Reading Challenge form in either Fairhaven or Lynden (or print out the form from our website), then read your way along the path to receive prizes.
• Village Books Lit Camp - Calling all young readers and writers from ages 9-12, this exciting new camp is just for you!  Each day of the week has a specific beloved book as its focus and all of that day's activities will be inspired by its respective book. (We are taking a break from Lit Camp in 2023 - see you next year!)

-September-

• WhaMemWriMo Workshop Series - As part of the annual Whatcom Memoir Writing Month, this series of writing classes has all new workshops to help you turn your memories into memoir, giving shape and voice to the stories you have always wanted to share and the stories your readers want to hear. The goal for each writer is 1,666 words every day. At the end of September you will have 50,000 words: a book.
• International Day of Peace Community Dinner - Hundreds in Whatcom County gather every year on International Day of Peace in solidarity with people around the world. Join the folks of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center for their annual Community Dinner.
• Banned Books Week - Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read!
• Fairhaven Sidewalk Sale - Household, gift, art, clothing, books, recreation and many other items will be offered at special pricing from nearly every establishment in Historic Fairhaven during the annual district-wide Sidewalk Sale! The district-wide sidewalk sale is only the first Saturday in September.
• Schooner Zodiac Books A'Sail Cruise - All hands on deck! Book your cabin and join Village Books owners Paul Hanson and Kelly Evert, and a special guest author on a seabound book-club adventure of a lifetime with the Schooner Zodiac Books A'Sail Cruise! We'll sail during the day, then drop the hook and bring out our books.

-October-

• Book Group Mixer - Village Books has a treat for all members or those interested in joining our book groups and clubs! For one night in each of our locations, we’ll host a Book Group Mixer. Sarah, Paul, and Kelly will be in attendance, along with some of our invaluable VB Reads leaders. You don’t have to be in a book group to attend—everyone is invited. Attendance is free with some refreshments provided and some available for purchase.
• Halloween Storytime - Here is an opportunity to test out those costumes before trick-or-treating! Join us for a special story time in the Readings Gallery where we will read spooky (but not TOO spooky) Halloween tales, do a craft, have a back drop for photos, and have a treat or two. Designed for ages 2-8.

-November-

• Giving Tree - The collaboration among book lovers, Village Books, and several community organizations provides the gift of reading to local children and families through Village Books’ Giving Tree. Through the month of December.
• Annual Literacy Breakfast with Nancy Pearl - Join the Whatcom Literacy Council for breakfast as we hear author and NPR commentator Nancy Pearl's book recommendations for the year.
• NaNoWriMo Workshop Series - As part of the annual National Novel Writing Month, this series of writing classes has all new workshops to help you write your novel.
• Small Business Saturday and Indies First - Indies First is a year-round campaign in support of independent bookstores by authors and publishers. The last Saturday in November is the day to shop small for Small Business Saturday. Support your local, independent businesses so that we can continue to support our community (that’s you, by the way)!
• Pre-Holiday Open House - Gather up your friends and come to Village Books and Paper Dreams the second weekend in November for games, product demonstrations, and samples!
• Winterfest - The Annual Historic Fairhaven Winterfest begins the last weekend in November with an art walk, with continuing fun and activities through December. Amidst Fairhaven's festive 100+-year-old buildings — and along streets and public spaces decorated and lit up to brighten your strolling, shopping and dining — enjoy the holidays with some very special events! Please click here for a list of activities happening through December, including tree lighting, visits with Father Christmas, sleigh rides, and more!

-December-

• Giving Tree - The collaboration among book lovers, Village Books, and several community organizations provides the gift of reading to local children and families through Village Books’ Giving Tree. Through the month of December.
• Winterfest - The Annual Historic Fairhaven Winterfest begins the last weekend in November with an art walk, with continuing fun and activities through December. Amidst Fairhaven's festive 100+-year-old buildings — and along streets and public spaces decorated and lit up to brighten your strolling, shopping and dining — enjoy the holidays with some very special events! Please click here for a list of activities happening through December, including tree lighting, visits with Father Christmas, sleigh rides, and more!
• New Year's Sale - On December 31st and January 1st for our annual storewide sale, receive up to 40% off remaining holiday items and 20% off mostly everything in the store. Some restrictions apply, ask a bookseller for details. Discounts cannot be combined.

-All Year-

• Whatcom READS! - Whatcom READS is a county-wide program that encourages everyone to read and discuss the same book. It is organized by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County and us, their community partner. Each year, a new book is selected by Whatcom READS organizers. Community members are encouraged to read or listen to the book, share it with family, friends and neighbors, and participate in programs and special events that follow the book’s themes. Each series culminates with a visit by the author of the selected book, who makes numerous free-of-charge public presentations at locations throughout the county.
• Fairhaven Art Walks - Sponsored by the Fairhaven Association. Upcoming dates include 11/25/23, 2/3/24, 5/11/24, and 8/10/24.