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A weekend in north Whatcom County: Sand castles and block party | Photos

A weekend in north Whatcom County: Sand castles and block party | Photos

A sand sculpture resembling the Pokémon Snorlax with a bucket in between its legs and a tennis ball in its paws at the 2026 Birch Bay Sand Sculpture competition. Photo: Saga Communications/Dianna Hawryluk


WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The first weekend of August was full of activity in Whatcom County, highlighting creativity and local businesses. On Saturday, Aug.1, Ferndale had their annual block party in downtown. Muralists painted panels in the street, vendors and nonprofits shared their furry friends, music played and beer was poured at the all-day event. Below are some photos from that event.

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A block party wasn’t all that the weekend had in store. The Birch Bay Sand Sculpture competition was underway the morning and early afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 1. People of all ages turned out to create sculptures from the sand at the beach there, using their own tools and items from the natural environment to create many shapes and forms. Animals was a popular motif in this year’s competition, including some with local fame. Below are some photos from this event.

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