Editing Lynden, Washington (section)

==Arts and culture==

The Lynden Heritage Museum was established in 1976 by George Young and has over 20,000 items and rotating exhibits.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alyse |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Destination Lynden: Delicious pastries, fairy tale parks, unique restaurants and shops |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/business/article288351770.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Twitchell |first=Linda |date=September 21, 1981 |title=Lynden museum opened in 1976 |page=A6 |work=The Bellingham Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-lynden-museum-open/158577342/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref> It was originally known as the Lynden Pioneer Museum until the museum was renamed in 2023 to reflect its mission to cover more than just the "pioneer era" of the city's history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Helm |first=Bill |date=May 3, 2023 |title=Lynden Heritage Museum 'bridges the gap' |url=https://www.lyndentribune.com/news/lynden-heritage-museum-bridges-the-gap/article_d0336dde-e9c7-11ed-a7fe-33fd24c81bfc.html |work=Lynden Tribune |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref>

===Events===

The Northwest Raspberry Festival is held annually during the third weekend in July. The festival includes a [[street fair]], basketball tournament, [[car show]], [[fun run]], [[rock climbing wall]], tours of raspberry fields and wineries, and a day-long [[ice cream social]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alyse |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Your guide to the Northwest Raspberry Festival in Lynden, this weekend only |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/article290252259.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref> Other annual events in Lynden include the Farmer's Day Parade in July and the Sinterklaas/Lighted Christmas Parade in December.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kempe |first=Ysabelle |date=July 19, 2021 |title=After a year away, Lynden Farmers Day Parade returns in full force — almost |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article252853423.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref>

In August, the annual [[Northwest Washington Fair]] draws over 200,000 people and serves as the [[county fair|regional fair]] for Whatcom County. It includes agricultural display, art and crafts, live entertainment, and vendors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Newcomb |first=Tim |date=August 20, 2014 |title=Fair attendance dips with sour weather |url=https://www.lyndentribune.com/news/fair-attendance-dips-with-sour-weather/article_f849812b-2adb-5d17-96a2-9bd1f8f7788c.html |work=November 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rasbach |first=David |date=April 30, 2020 |title=Whatcom's Northwest Washington Fair is latest summertime victim of coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/coronavirus/article242384696.html |work=The Bellingham Herald |accessdate=November 6, 2024}}</ref> The fair was founded in 1909.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

===Performing arts and music===

The Claire Theatre in downtown Lynden was established in 1987 and hosts multiple community theater performances each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://theclaire.org/about |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Claire Theater |language=en-US}}</ref> The Lynden Music Festival has hosted musical performances at events throughout the year since 2009. Performances are often held in local businesses and churches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=About the festival |url=https://www.lyndenmusicfestival.com/about-the-festival/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Lynden Music Festival |language=en}}</ref>

===Religion===

The city is noted for its abundance of churches. At one time, Lynden claimed to hold the world record for most churches per square mile and per capita, although that is unsubstantiated.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Due to the town's large population of those who attend or are members of Lynden's many churches,{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} the town has had a long tradition of most businesses closing on Sunday.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Robert T. |date=October 8, 2000 |title=Change comes to Lynden |page=G1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20001008/TT321P3TL/change-comes-to-lynden |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> In recent years, businesses have started to open on Sundays, as in other communities; a law of 41 years prohibiting Sunday alcohol sales was repealed on October 20, 2008, due to a shift in public opinion.<ref name="''Seattle Times'', October 21, 2008">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008292622_webliquor21m.html|work=The Seattle Times|title=Lynden repeals Sunday liquor ban|first=Sam|last=Taylor|date=October 21, 2008}}</ref>