Check out our annual events. Check back often as new events will be added.
If you're looking for other things to do, check out our "Things To Do" page.
 Saturday, June 22, 2013
30th Annual Birch Bay Sandcastle Contest
Location: Birch Bay Waterfront
Registration: 9 AM
Judging: 12 Noon
Map-It
Get ready to dig in. It's amazing how with a little imagination the beach at Birch Bay transforms in to a series of sand castles and sand sculptures. Each takes on its own life in the form of sea life, castles, cars, dragons, people, shipwreck and more. Great for businesses to get together with employees and build a "Business Sculpture". Have some fun and see what you might come up with! Spectators will find participant using sand, water and any other natural materials found at the beach to construct their castles and sculptures. This event is open to individuals, teams, families.  There is no cost to participate and it proves to be a fun day on the beach! Come on out and let your imagination run wild on the beach.
Judging & prizes in the following categories:
1. Individual
2. Family/Groups
3. Business
4. Youth 12 and under
2013 Sandcastle Contest Sponsors:
Title Sponsor: Data-Link West Inc.
Silver Sponsors:
Praise 106.5
Pooch Palace & Kitty Castle Dog & Cat Daycare/Grooming
Bronze Sponsors:
Oltman Insurance
Tutor Doctor
Carrie Beck-Take Shape 4 Life
Corion Landscape Management
Here are some links to web site information on building sand sculptures:
SandCastle Central - Here you will find sand sculpture news, tips, instruction and photos -- useful information for sand castle fans and sand castle builders of all levels of expertise.
How To Build A Sand Sculpture - General Tips
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 Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21, 2013
34th Annual Birch Bay Discovery Days
Location: Behind CJ's Beach House Restaurant
7878 Birch Bay Drive
Time: Saturday: 10AM to 7PM xxx Sunday: 10AM to 5PM
Parade starts at 11 AM from The C Shop
Map-It
A great weekend for the entire family. Fun activities abound with a grand parade down Birch Bay Drive, arts and crafts fair (Saturday & Sunday) and a variety of food vendors. There's plenty of more to do this day; kite flying on the beach, clamming, wake boarding and more. Bring the entire family!
Sign up now for the 34th Annual Birch Bay Discovery Days Festivities.
The following are 2013 Sign Up Applications for both the Discovery Days Art & Crafts Family Fun Festival and the 34th Annual Discovery Days Parade:
Early Bird: $60 if payment and application are received by April 1, 2013 (does not include Food Vendors), Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce members receive a 20% discount on booth space if payment is received as above. If interested, attached is an application for membership. Membership is $50 a year – please include payment with booth application in order to receive the discount.
Ten (10) food vendors will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. No duplications.
There is no water or electricity. Porto Johns and hand washing stations are supplied.
Setup of spaces will be available starting Friday, July 19th starting at 3:00 p.m.
Security will be provided Friday and Saturday nights. When you arrive, please come to the Chamber Visitors Information Center at the front of the site, 7900 Birch Bay Drive to receive your assigned location.
 for the 2013 Discovery Days Art & Crafts Festival
 for the 2013 Discovery Days Parade
 July 2013
Annual Birch Bay Ducky Derby Race
Location: Terrell Creek Bridge on Birch Bay Drive
Time: Sunday: 11 AM
Sponsor a duck for $5, name your duck as 400 rubber ducky's float down Terrell Creek to the finish line. First 25 ducks that cross the line win some pretty spectacular prizes. Check them out here!
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Saturday - Sunday, August 10 & 11, 2013
3rd Annual Birch Bay Music Festival
Location: Corner Birch Bay Drive & Alderson Road
(by The C Shop), Birch Bay
Map-It
Mark your calendars, join the excitement and be a part of the solution! Bay Café and The C Shop are uniting once again to present the 3rd Annual Birch Bay Music Festival. Live music both days, Singer Songwriters, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Roll, Classic Rock, Oldies but Goodies! Featuring a diverse list of creative art/craft vendors, a children’s train ride, pet photos, custom Cronk Guitar raffle, and an informative and entertaining K9 exhibition by the United States Border Patrol. Bay Café and the C Shop will serve up tasty food items and treats. Bay Café will also have their Beer/Wine garden for those 21 and over. Come help us celebrate with hundreds of caring animal lovers to help raise funds for WeSnip! For complete details, please visit:
www.birchbaymusicfestival.com To volunteer or donate to the festival, please email us
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 New Year's Eve - December 31, 2013
Annual Ring of Fire & Hope
Time: 7 PM all flares are lit around the bay!
Map-It
Location: Birch Bay shoreline from Birch Bay State Park
to Birch Bay Village
Revelers ringing in the new year start with lighting road flares along the Birch Bay shoreline. Anyone can participate. This is a spectacular sight as the bay becomes a ring of fire, signifying hope for the coming year. For a small donation, flares are usually available at the Birch Bay Visitor's Center, 7900 Birch Bay Drive.
Volunteers are needed for these events.
Please email the chamber if you would like to help out!
 January 1, 2014, New Year's Day
31st Annual Birch Bay Polar Bear Plunge
Location: Waterfront by Birch Bay Visitor Information Center,
7900 Birch Bay Drive
The Plunge: Noon
Registration: 9:30 AM
Judging: 10:30 AM
Map-It
 Started in 1982 by local residents on a dare, this annual ritual draws hundreds of participants and onlookers each year. The Polar Bear Plunge is becoming a destination spot for the the holiday. Participants come from as far away as Germany, Tokyo, Chicago, and British Columbia to plunge in to the bay's chilly water. There is no cost to take the plunge, but people who register receive "I Took The Plunge" certificate and hot beverages. "I Took The Plunge" commemorative T-shirts are available for purchase at $20/each.
Fun For Everyone: Participant's range from children to senior adults.
There are five judging categories with prizes for:
 Most Years Plunging
Oldest Participant
Best Individual Costume
Best Group Costume
Farthest Traveled Participant
(No awards are given for length of time in the water)
 February 16, 2014
46th Annual Birch Bay Marathon
Location: Birch Bay State Park
5105 Helweg Rd, Blaine, WA 98230
Map-It
This race runs a full-marathon and a half-marathon. This is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Over 300 run annually in this race! The course is generally flat to very gently rolling, with the exception of a very short steep climb (10 meters in 200 meters) at the start of Harborview Rd., and a long gradual climb (100 meters in 1.5 km) between miles 5 to 6. Most of the course lies on the waterfront, with expansive views over the water towards the mountains of Canada. For more information on this event, visit: www.birchbaymarathon.com
 March 2014
12th Annual Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival
Where: Blaine High School
1055 H Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Map-It
Great for avid enthusiasts and casual observers! Join the celebration at this annual event held in one of the Pacific Northwest's premier bird viewing areas. Most events are free of charge and include bird viewing stations, seminars and exhibits, live raptor displays, walking field trips of Semiahmoo Spit, Blaine’s Marine Park, art and craft vendors and more. Check out all the fun details at www.wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com
For a complete schedule of events for the Wings Over Water Birding Festival, please visit:
www.wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com/event_schedule.html
 April 2014
Annual Birch Bay Road Race
Location: Birch Bay Family Medicine
8097 Harborview Rd. (across from Birch Bay Waterslides)
Birch Bay, WA 98230
Time: 8 AM is early start time.
Map-It
A spectacular run along the shores of scenic Birch Bay and country roads for serious and recreational runners alike. Inspiring vistas, rural roads in the early morning. A scenic 5K and 15K along the Bay. The 15K and 30K add rolling rural roads and million dollar views. Measured course, great support...an "A" race class event at international distances. A classic road race in every sense of the word. Soon you'll know this special event yourself. For more information on this event, call (206) 499-1903 or visit: www.birchbayroadrace.com
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