BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Fairhaven Chicken Festival, celebrating its third year, brought together families and chicken enthusiasts together for a lighthearted day of fun on a sunny Saturday in July.

The event, organized by the Fairhaven Association, aimed to provide a safe and enjoyable family-friendly and chicken themed carnival experience. 

Heather Carter, a volunteer with the Fairhaven Association since the start of the festival, adopts the chicken theme each year. 

“I think everyone likes chickens, right? And it’s just a fun theme,” Carter said. “So many people come dressed as chickens, we’ve had a few people bring their pet chickens. And we’ve just gone with it, so we’ve just kind of adopted the chicken mascot.” 

Attendees enjoyed chicken-themed carnival games with prizes, live music by the Bayou Opossums, hourly chicken dances, costume contests, a rooster calling contest and a scavenger hunt with rubber chickens hidden all around Fairhaven village.

Looking forward, the Chicken Festival is hoping to feature more live chickens and possibly even have a chicken costume contest and parade.

“We, every year, kind of hope to have more engagement with real chickens in the form of a parade or an exhibit, but with health concerns, bird flu, and so on and so forth, it’s just not allowed us to do that yet, but that’s our goal,” Carter said. 

Vendors and artisan booths, including Scott Ward Art, Skirt Sisters Reimagined, Samantha Loza and many other artists and face painters filled the village green.

Unique and fluffy chickens were available for petting, along with fun chicken facts and small prizes to win. Raffle prizes included whimsical chicken-themed items like a chicken lamp and rustic framed chicken art. 

Fairhaven Village Inn provided free “seed corn” (popcorn) to encourage dining at local establishments. The festival fostered community spirit and celebrated agricultural heritage.

Carter emphasized the event’s versatility for the whole family.

“We don’t always have a lot of stuff that brings out the entire family and can offer something for both kids and adults, and this event really does kind of hit all the fields,” Carter said. 

The Fairhaven Association used this opportunity to kick off the outdoor cinema nights happening all summer long on the village green. Offering discounted entry for festival attendees, chicken enthusiasts were invited to see “The Goonies” on Saturday night. Outdoor cinema nights happen every Saturday all summer long with upcoming movies like “Pitch Perfect,” “Twilight” and “Super Mario Bros.” 

Go to the Fairhaven Association website to stay updated with all events happening in Fairhaven this summer.