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Announcing the Great Ferndale Alien Abduction!

Ferndale Launches Citywide Scavenger Hunt for the Month of July

Aliens have landed in Ferndale and are leaving strange symbols scattered throughout the city. That’s the hook for “The Great Ferndale Alien Abduction”, an annual scavenger hunt held during the month of July.

Participants follow clues to find banners hidden throughout the city while also partaking in community events, meeting their neighbors or volunteering to score additional points. The high scoring teams receive cash prizes and the first-place winner gets to ride in a city dump truck in the Old Settlers Parade. Everyone is welcome to participate, it is free to play.

“This is a great opportunity to explore your city, get some fresh air and discover some new ways to have fun,” said Recreation Coordinator Riley Sweeney.  This scavenger hunt is the third annual iteration of this event, similar to last year’s “Great Ferndale Midsummer Mystery”.

For more information and to download a scorecard, go to www.cityofferndale.org/aliens. More information about the City’s parks activities can be found at www.ferndaleparks.com.

June 17, 2019

First Meeting of Poverty Task Force Scheduled May 8th, 5pm

Earlier this year, the City Council formed the North Whatcom Poverty Task Force and they are scheduled to convene their first meeting on Weds. May 8th, at 5pm in the City Council chambers (5694 Second Avenue).

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

The North Whatcom Poverty Task Force is a temporary advisory body tasked with conducting a needs assessment for the greater Ferndale community and presenting a set of recommendations to the Ferndale City Council that will address the impacts of income inequality, homelessness, food insecurity and rising housing prices.

The task force will be looking at issues across North Whatcom because the effects of poverty do not stop at the city limits and a holistic approach is needed to address these issues.

For questions or more information, please contact Communications Officer Riley Sweeney by clicking here or calling (360) 685-2353.

May 1, 2019

Calling All Artists! Thornton Project Needs a Logo

Calling All Artists! Thornton Project Needs a Logo

The City of Ferndale is preparing to break ground on the new Thornton Street Overpass Project late summer/early fall 2019. This will be the largest public project since we built a bridge across the Nooksack.

You can be part of this major event! The City needs a logo to represent the project – something bold and uniquely Ferndale. The artist who designs the logo for this project will be invited to wield a golden shovel at the groundbreaking.

If you have an artistic eye or just a few ideas for a potential logo, send in your sketch, digital graphic or back of the napkin doodle to Communication Officer Riley Sweeney at rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org. Submissions are due by April 30h, 2019.

April 1, 2019

Ferndale Celebrates Government Transparency with Sunshine Week

March 11th-16th is Sunshine Week, where journalists celebrate the public’s access to government information. Here at the City of Ferndale, we embrace the spirit of transparency because we believe that the public has every right to see and understand the work we do on their behalf.

That’s why we upload as many public documents as possible to our website so that you can access them when and where you need them. This week, we will be featuring a different type of public record or information available from the City of Ferndale on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to join in.

If there is a type of public document that you would like to see on the City website but can’t find it, please give Communications Officer Riley Sweeney a call (360-685-2353) or an email at rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org.

March 11, 2019

Pete and Nita Harksell Receive the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizenship

 Pete and Nita Harksell Receive the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizenship

In recognition for their years of devotion to the Ferndale community, Pete and Nita Harksell were awarded the 2019 Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizenship at last night’s council meeting. Lifelong residents of Ferndale, the Harksells own and operate Pete’s Auto Repair which has been in business for fifty years.

But their devotion to Ferndale extends beyond their business. Pete and Nita can be found volunteering with the local Kiwanis chapter, the Old Settlers Association, the Heritage Society and serving three terms on the board of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. Currently, Pete shares his wealth of experience with our community as a member of the Parks, Recreation and Trails Advisory Board.

“Always kind, generous and willing to jump in and get their hands dirty to help, the Harksells exemplify what is best about Ferndale,” said Mayor Jon Mutchler.

The Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizenship, also called the “Fernies”, is an annual tradition from the City to recognize members of the community for their extraordinary commitment to the betterment of our city.

February 20, 2019

Parks and Rec Activity Survey 2019

Last year, over 3,000 residents enjoyed free recreational activities in Ferndale’s parks. In 2019, we want to bring you even more great parks and rec offerings. Help us decide which events to sponsor by taking our 2019 Parks and Rec Activity Survey.

Parks and Rec Activity Survey 2019

Your responses to this survey shape what events we host and how we advertise them in 2019. The whole survey should take about six minutes to complete, we appreciate your input.

For more information or questions, please call Recreation Coordinator Riley Sweeney at (360) 685-2353 or email him by clicking here.

January 14, 2019

Town Meeting: Planning Ferndale’s Downtown Future



Town Meeting

A Visioning Workshop for a Ferndale City Center Plan

Pioneer Pavilion
2007 Cherry Street
Wednesday, Jan. 23rd, 2019 at 6pm

Western Washington University (in collaboration with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ferndale) is holding a Visioning Workshop for the Downtown area. A town meeting will be held on January 23rd at 6PM in the Pioneer Pavilion. and we want your input!

We want the public’s thoughts on problems and opportunities in the Ferndale Downtown. Everything from transportation, character, habitat, parking, flood risk, parks and trails, the whole spread of options. There will be Children’s activities to bring the little ones.

WWU’s planning classes will use this feedback to propose solutions for the Downtown. The findings will be presented to the City Council and the Planning Commission later this year.

For more information, please contact Riley Sweeney, Communications Officer with the City of Ferndale at (360) 685-2353 or email him by clicking here.

January 14, 2019

Host an Event in Ferndale!

Whether you are planning a concert at our historic Pioneer Village, renting a park shelter for a family reunion or requesting to close Main Street for a festival with thousands of attendees, we are ready and excited to help you host your event in Ferndale.

We have recently updated our Parks Rentals and Special Events forms, merging them into one easy document and updating our park rental fees to make it easier than ever for your event team.

You can find the updated form and fees here. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Toni Segerman via email (click here) or phone at (360) 685-2369 with any questions.

January 11, 2019