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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
600 of 700 total Free Home Page Stories & Photos
(Also see our Subscribers Magazine Sample)
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness
Noel V. Bourasaw, editor (bullet) 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp (bullet) Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug
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Fairhaven Dirty Dan Days
Weekend to Celebrate Fairhavenıs Founder
April 30-May 1, 2011

(Piano Race)
      Dirty Dan Harris, aka Jim Rich, center, poses with a race team before the Dirty Dan Piano Race up Harris Avenue during Dirty Dan Days 2006. See the schedule for this year's race schedule and details for teams.

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    (bullet) We recently visited the headquarters of our newest 2011 sponsor: Plumeria Bay, based in Birdsview, your source for the finest down comforters, pillows, featherbeds & duvet covers and bed linens. Order directly from their website and learn more about this local business.
      Boat and Piano Races, Costumes, Canines and Chowder, are just a few of the events scheduled during Dirty Dan Days in Historic Fairhaven, South Bellingham, on Saturday and Sunday, April 30-May 1, 2011. The events schedule below is from 2007 but most of the events will repeat this year.
      The ninth annual festival celebrates Fairhavenıs founder, Dirty Dan Harris, the odiferous rum runner and owner of much of Fairhaven in the 1800's. The uphill piano race reenacts the legend of Dan taking back his piano and rolling it into the bay when the new owner wouldnıt pay up. The popular Dan Harris Challenge, a 9-mile rowing and paddling race can be watched from nearby Boulevard Park and Taylor Street Dock.
      Live music on the Village Green stage will entertain, along with family-friendly contests, games and fun. In northwest spirit, salmon will be tossed on Saturday afternoon, and Sundayıs Chuckanut Chowder Cookoff, with over a dozen restaurants, is a hot seller. Come early to assure your tickets.
      In recent years Historic Fairhaven has boomed with many renovated and new buildings housing shops, restaurants, galleries, salons and more. Keeping Fairhavenıs history alive is a goal of the Fairhaven Association, the sponsors of this annual event. Buskers are welcome, as are period costumes. Dirty Dan lookalikes and The Fairhaven Ladies of the Evening Society will be on the Village Green during the costume contests. Event Sponsors include The Fairhaven Association, Ebenal, Haggen and First American Title.
      All events are scheduled at the Fairhaven Village Green, on Harris Ave or along Bellingham Bay. Find schedule updates at this Fairhaven Association site or phone Stephanie Johnson at Fairhaven Realty, 360-676-8990. More information on the rowing race is available at this site.

(Costumes)
Click for full-sized photo of the Fairhaven Ladies of the Evening Society at the festival.
Dirty Dan Days Event Schedule; these times from
will be similar on April 30-May 1 2010
Saturday
10 a.m. Seafood Festival begins, many locations 10:00-2:00 Motorcycle Show- Harris Ave
10:00-5:00 Old Fashion Family Fun Day- Village Green
12:00-5:00 Live Entertainment- Village Green
1:00 Salmon Toss- Village Green
2:00 Celebrity Pie Eating Contest- Village Green
10:00-4:30 Historical Treasure Hunt- Village Green
3:00 Dirty Dan & 1800ıs Costume Contest- Village Green
3:10 Cute Costumed Canine Contest- Village Green
1:-4: Charter Yacht Tours- Cruise Terminal (both days)

Sunday
8:00 AM Dan Harris Challenge - Blvd Park
10 a.m. Seafood Festival begins, many locations 12:00-4:00 Live Entertainment - Village Green
2:00-4:00 Chuckanut Chowder Cook-Off- Village Green
2:00 Blessing of the Small Craft - Taylor Dock
4:00 Awards & Presentations - Village Green
4:05 Piano Race - Harris Ave
      To find Fairhaven, take I-5 exit 250, head west toward the water on Old Fairhaven Parkway until you come to the Historical District or follow Chuckanut Drive north from Skagit Valley until you arrive in south Bellingham and Fairhaven.
Links, background reading and sources
Story posted March 31, 2007, last updated Jan. 15, 2010
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This article originally appeared in Issue 38 of our Subscribers-paid Journal online magazine

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(bullet) Our newest 2011 sponsor: Plumeria Bay, based in Birdsview, your source for the finest down comforters, pillows, featherbeds & duvet covers and bed linens. Order directly from their website and learn more.
(bullet) Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 90 years continually in business.
(bullet) Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20, day, week or month, perfect for hunting or fishing, doubling in size for RVs and camping in 2011.
Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley
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