Community Calendar and Information Hub

The WhatcomTalk Events Calendar shares things to do around Whatcom County including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine and beyond. Find fun activities and adventures throughout the region on our comprehensive events calendar. Have an event that isn’t listed? Click the green “Post your Event” button and our editors will review and approve within two business days.

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Apr
26
Fri
“Just In Time” with Sherrie Kahn & Scott Henderson @ FireHouse Arts and Events Center
Apr 26 @ 7:30 pm
“Just In Time” with Sherrie Kahn & Scott Henderson @ FireHouse Arts and Events Center

Sherrie Kahn and Scott Henderson present “Just In Time,” a tuneful cabaret exploring songwriters who found inspiration in the concept of time, creating “pop hits” over the centuries. Sherrie is an accomplished and versatile singer, known for her operatic roles as well as her popular and cabaret performances. Sherrie and Scott have selected an intriguing repertoire, including classic songs like Yesterday, Night and Day, As Time Goes By, What Did I Have I Don’t Have Now? and a dozen other timely favorites. She even races with the clock in the Minute Waltz!

This show is a benefit for The FireHouse Arts and Events Center, a community treasure in Bellingham.

Suggested donation at the door is $20.00

Reservations strongly recommended at this link: https://sherriekahn.brownpapertickets.com

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Apr
27
Sat
The Blue Room Presents | “Farewell Atomic Affair” ft. Atomic Affair, Cuttlefish, Whalien @ The Blue Room
Apr 27 all-day
The Blue Room Presents | "Farewell Atomic Affair" ft. Atomic Affair, Cuttlefish, Whalien @ The Blue Room

Atomic Affair

Atomic Affair, playing their final show on this night, is a heavy blues/rock band out of Bellingham, WA. Come see the last set EVER from Atomic Affair with the current lineup!

Whalien

Whalien was born in a rush, winning the 2018 Summer Meltdown Showdown after playing together for only a few months. Since that time Whalien has played relentlessly around the west coast. They’ve developed a reputation for high-energy live shows, and an original musical identity that invites listeners to dance, and live in the moment.

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish is a 4 piece funk/ blues-rock outfit featuring Cameron Katz, Ollie Godfrey, Brett Strizich and Nathan Quasha.

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Boating Center Benefit Dance @ Elks Lodge
Apr 27 @ 7:00 pm
Boating Center Benefit Dance @ Elks Lodge

The Corinthian Yacht Club of Bellingham invites you to its annual benefit dance for the Community Boating Center.

This year’s dance will be held on Saturday, April 27 at the Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way in Bellingham. The doors open at 6:30 and the classic-rock band, The Walrus, will take the stage at 8 pm.

All proceeds, including from a paddle auction, will go to the boating center in its final push to finish its new Wheelhouse in Fairhaven and provide boating access and education to our Whatcom County community.

Get ready for a fun-filled night! Light refreshments will be provided by volunteers from the Corinthian Yacht Club, and beer, wine, alcoholic beverages and water will be available for purchase.

Dance tickets are $25 in advance at CYCbellingham.org/dance or $30 at the door.

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Aerosmith & AC/DC Tribute Concert @ The Underground Nightclub
Apr 27 @ 7:30 pm
Aerosmith & AC/DC Tribute Concert @ The Underground Nightclub

Aerosmith & AC/DC Tribute Concert!

The Underground Nightclub
211 E Chestnut St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Seattle’s own Aerosmith Tribute, Sweet Emotion Debut at The Underground nightclub in Bellingham, WA.

With Special guests, “The Takers” Bon Scott era AC/DC Tribute.

Saturday April 27th, 2024 7:30 Doors Show Starts at 8:30 pm.

$15 advanced | $20 at the door | 21+
TICKETS: https://undergroundbellingham.club/#/events/99748

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May
1
Wed
Birchwood Garden Club’s May Meeting @ Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, Bellingham's Old City Hall
May 1 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Birchwood Garden Club's May Meeting @ Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, Bellingham's Old City Hall

Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community

May meeting topic: Soils and Mulch with Ian Horton

The May 1, 2024, meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

The speaker for the evening will be Ian Horton, a practicing landscape architect for 20 years. Ian has been a regular speaker on Soils and Mulch in Skagit and Whatcom County, and has volunteered over the years with Seattle Tilth, the Skagit Conservation District, the Mount Vernon Parks Foundation, and the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition. He has a particular interest in the benefits of mulch as a strategy for mitigating extreme weather and climate change related effects on established landscapes.

Ian will review basic soil science and focus his talk on practical applications of mulch for home gardeners. Mulch can be one of the greatest tools available to maintain and improve landscape health and Ian will walk through the most common types of mulch available in our region and their relative costs and benefits. He will also review best practices for applying mulch, and provide a reference list of local suppliers and installers. Please join us!!!

Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

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May
2
Thu
Jennifer Jewell “Cultivating Place” @ Whatcom Museum
May 2 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Jennifer Jewell "Cultivating Place" @ Whatcom Museum

Join us for this inspiring talk by an amazing speaker about celebrating a deeper connection to the world around us through the empowerment of gardeners and their gardens. Jennifer Jewell is passionate about the power of horticulture, empowerment, and cultivating place. She is the creator and host of the award-winning program: Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History & the Human Impulse to Garden. Her books include The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, Under Western Skies: Visionary Gardens from the Rockies to the Pacific Coast, and What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological Significance of Seeds. As an interviewer, writer, and keynote speaker, her greatest passion is elevating the way we think and talk about the culture of gardening, the empowerment of gardeners, and the possibility inherent in the intersection between places, environments, cultures, individuals, and the gardens that bring them together. Her books will be for sale at the lecture, listen to her podcasts and find out more about Jennifer at cultivatingplace.com.

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May
4
Sat
Birchwood Garden Club’s 31st Annual Plant Sale! @ Bellingham Downtown Library, lower level conference room.
May 4 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Birchwood Garden Club's 31st Annual Plant Sale! @ Bellingham Downtown Library, lower level conference room.

Birchwood Garden Club’s 31st Annual Plant Sale!

New Time!!!
11 AM until 2 PM

Cash or Check Only Please

Birchwood Garden Club’s 31st annual plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 with the new hours of 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The sale will still be in the lower level conference room of the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham, WA.

We will have a wonderful assortment of plants for sale, including annuals, perennials, veggie starts, indoor plants, pots and choice selections from our member’s gardens and more!
Cash or check only please.

Proceeds from our sale benefit numerous community organizations including maintenance of the Whatcom Museum and Bellingham Public Library gardens along with gardening literature for children and adults at the library. The club also uses sale proceeds for grants in our community.

We will have BGC membership details available at our sale if you would like to join our fun garden club!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club

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Jansen Art Center Presents: Jansen Jazz Orchestra @ Jansen Art Center
May 4 @ 3:00 pm
Jansen Art Center Presents: Jansen Jazz Orchestra @ Jansen Art Center

¡Muy Caliente! The countries of South Latin America and the Caribbean, with their wide variety of styles, have made tremendous contributions to American music from such musical hotspots as Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico, greatly influencing American composers and artists. Please join us for an evening devoted to Latin music, in all its variety. We will play new hits and old, including some you might not suspect were influenced by the beauty, breadth, and beat of Latin music. ¡Ven a escuchar!

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Jansen Art Center Presents: Jansen Jazz Orchestra @ Jansen Art Center
May 4 @ 7:30 pm
Jansen Art Center Presents: Jansen Jazz Orchestra @ Jansen Art Center

¡Muy Caliente! The countries of South Latin America and the Caribbean, with their wide variety of styles, have made tremendous contributions to American music from such musical hotspots as Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico, greatly influencing American composers and artists. Please join us for an evening devoted to Latin music, in all its variety. We will play new hits and old, including some you might not suspect were influenced by the beauty, breadth, and beat of Latin music. ¡Ven a escuchar!

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May
5
Sun
Folk Club at The Blue Room Featuring | Serafima & the Shakedowns with Mae Powell, The House Wrens @ The Blue Room
May 5 @ 2:00 pm
Folk Club at The Blue Room Featuring | Serafima & the Shakedowns with Mae Powell, The House Wrens @ The Blue Room

Serafima & the Shakedowns with Mae Powell

With a keen eye for life and love, Serafima sings about the experience of a modern day woman in all its sparkle and grit. Through reflective hyperbole and honest observation her lyrics dance their way to the front of your heart, and live in the back of your head. But every pot needs a holder and The Shakedowns know how to distribute the heat. The band brings a unique “un-americana” sound, electrifying classic elements of The Golden Age of Radio, honky tonk, and Russian folk. With an unbridled love for artists like the Grateful Dead and Loretta Lynn, Serafima & the Shakedowns bring a little sass to the country western world.

Mae Powell is a Bay-area based singer, songwriter and rainbow entity on a mission to spread love and magic across all dimensions!

The House Wrens are fiddler extraordinaire Kera-Lynne Newman with multi instrumentalist Jan Peters, performing duets of mostly Irish tunes with Fiddle/Guitar, & Fiddle/Harmonica

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Bellingham Symphony Orchestra: The Dream of America @ Mount Baker Theatre
May 5 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Bellingham Symphony Orchestra: The Dream of America @ Mount Baker Theatre

Program
Arturo Márquez | Conga del Fuego
Tan Dun | Crouching Tiger Concerto
Peter Boyer | Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Join the orchestra and cellist Meeka Quan DiLorenzo for a powerful afternoon!

First, we’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Mexican composer Arturo Márquez’s Conga del Fuego. Composed in 2005, this quick 3-minute piece translates as “Conga of Fire” and is a pulsating, joyous burst of dance.

Next, cellist Meeka Quan DiLorenzo joins the orchestra for contemporary Chinese American composer Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto from the iconic Ang Lee film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) (2000).

Lastly, we are honored to present contemporary composer Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America. Premiered in 2002, the work has gone on to become one of the most performed American classical orchestral works composed in the last 20 years.

Tickets: $15 to $52

A pre-concert lecture about the program will take place at 2:15PM in the Walton Theatre. Doors open at 2PM and seating is limited, so please plan accordingly. These lectures are free for ticket-holders.

This concert qualifies for Classical Kids, Take-A-Teen, and Student Rush ticket discounts. Visit https://www.bellinghamsymphony.org/visit-us/ticket-discounts to learn more.

*All programs subject to change

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May
10
Fri
Plant Sale @ Parking Lot at Salvation Army Food Bank
May 10 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Plant Sale @ Parking Lot at Salvation Army Food Bank

Plant Sale on Fri & Sat, May 10 & 11, from 10am to 3pm.
Located at the Salvation Army Food Bank, 1515 Birchwood, across from Big Lots.
Cash or Check only.
Refreshments for sale to benefit the Salvation Army.

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May
11
Sat
Plant Sale @ Parking Lot at Salvation Army Food Bank
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Plant Sale @ Parking Lot at Salvation Army Food Bank

Plant Sale on Fri & Sat, May 10 & 11, from 10am to 3pm.
Located at the Salvation Army Food Bank, 1515 Birchwood, across from Big Lots.
Cash or Check only.
Refreshments for sale to benefit the Salvation Army.

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Jansen Art Center Presents: Julianne Olson, vocalist @ Jansen Art Center
May 11 @ 7:30 pm
Jansen Art Center Presents: Julianne Olson, vocalist @ Jansen Art Center

This performance is dedicated to all versions of Mothers. Mothers make the world go round and the music and lyrics selected today reflect facets of this notion. The songs are taken from an eclectic array of musical theater repertoire, ranging from Golden Age through Contemporary, with a small mix of Art Song as well. May the sentiments expressed through this timeless music conjure shared gratitude and memories of whatever the concept of “Mother” means to each listener.

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May
18
Sat
Whatcom Chorale Presents: America Sings! @ St Paul's Episcopal Church
May 18 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Whatcom Chorale Presents: America Sings! @ St Paul's Episcopal Church

As we move from spring’s rebirth to summer’s welcome warmth, Whatcom Chorale’s final concert of the season celebrates the wellspring of American diversity through beloved songs rooted in our rich musical history. Selections from Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, featuring insightful settings of timeless poetry by Robert Frost; diaspora-themed Irish folk tunes arranged by Alice Parker; homegrown American folk songs; and rousing African-American spirituals round out the program. This varied repertoire features Dongho Lee, Director of Music for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, as accompanist.

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May
31
Fri
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
May 31 all-day
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Edmonton Riverhawks at 6:35 PM in the open game of the season and first of the series at Joe Martin Field.

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Jun
1
Sat
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
Jun 1 all-day
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Edmonton Riverhawks at 6:35 PM in the second game of the opening series at Joe Martin Field.

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Jun
2
Sun
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
Jun 2 all-day
Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Edmonton Riverhawks at 6:35 PM in the final game of the series at Joe Martin Field.

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Jun
7
Fri
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
Jun 7 all-day
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Ridgefield Raptors at 6:35 PM in the first game of the series at Joe Martin Field

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Jun
8
Sat
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
Jun 8 all-day
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Ridgefield Raptors at 6:35 PM in the second game of the series at Joe Martin Field.

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Jun
9
Sun
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field
Jun 9 all-day
Ridgefield Raptors vs. Bellingham Bells @ Joe Martin Field

The Bellingham Bells take on the Ridgefield Raptors at 6:35 PM in the final game of the series at Joe Martin Field.

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THE BELLINGHAM BIKE SWAP WORKS TO GET EVERYONE ON BIKES @ Boundary Bay Beer Garden and Alley
Jun 9 all-day
THE BELLINGHAM BIKE SWAP WORKS TO GET EVERYONE ON BIKES @ Boundary Bay Beer Garden and Alley

BELLINGHAM, WA – Shifting Gears, a local non-profit in Bellingham, is hosting the annual Bellingham Bike Swap on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, in the Boundary Bay Brewery Alley and Beer Garden in Downtown Bellingham.

The Bellingham Bike Swap allows the Bellingham Community to purchase pre-owned bikes or gear at a lower cost, enabling them to experience the joys and benefits of biking. The Bellingham Bike Swap is a space for community members to sell, shop, and simply share in the greatness of the Bellingham outdoor community. Twenty-five percent of each sale will assist with the funding of Shifting Gears biking and hiking programs that help break barriers preventing all women from experiencing the outdoors and creating a more inclusive outdoor world.

“The Bellingham Bike Swap serves as a marketplace for individuals to sell their pre-loved gear, providing our community access to affordable equipment while celebrating Bellingham’s vibrant cycling scene. Additionally, it reinforces Shifting Gears’ mission to welcome more women into outdoor recreation.”
– Krysy Keller, Executive Director of Shifting Gears.

Everything happens on Sunday, June 9th, at the Boundary Bay Beer Garden. Those looking to sell gear can drop off items between 7am and 10am before everyone is welcome to ‘Shop the Swap’ from 1pm to 5pm. Unsold gear and checks can be picked up by ‘sellers’ between 6pm and 8pm at the end of the day.

The Bellingham Bike Swap started in 2018 and has been hosted at Boundary Bay Brewery every year since. Shifting Gears is blown away at the increasing level of community, volunteer, and partner support. The Bellingham Bike Swap has become a key fundraiser for Shifting Gears’ programming and an annual event for the Bellingham community.

Shifting Gears is a women-led, women-directed non-profit in Bellingham, WA, whose mission is to empower all women through outdoor recreation and education opportunities to remove barriers and foster belonging. By participating in Shifting Gears, community members will walk away with the tools they need to attain their recreational goals and feel empowered to reach other personal goals. For more information about the Bellingham Bike Swap, visit https://letsshiftgears.org/bikeswap.

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Symphonic Dances @ Mount Baker Theatre
Jun 9 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Symphonic Dances @ Mount Baker Theatre

Program*
Kinan Azmeh | Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra
Sergei Rachmaninoff | Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

We’re wrapping up another unforgettable season of live music with an exhilarating program, featuring contemporary composer Kinan Azmeh and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Come celebrate our season finale and get a sneak peek at our programming for next fall!

Tickets: $15 to $52

A Pre-Concert Lecture about the program will take place at 2:15PM in the Walton Theatre. Doors open at 2PM and seating is limited, so please plan accordingly. These lectures are free for ticket-holders.

This concert qualifies for Classical Kids, Take-A-Teen, and Student Rush ticket discounts. Visit https://www.bellinghamsymphony.org/visit-us/ticket-discounts to learn more.

*All programs subject to change

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Jun
13
Thu
Bess Bronstein “Tough Trees and Shrubs for Tough Times” @ Whatcom Museum
Jun 13 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Bess Bronstein “Tough Trees and Shrubs for Tough Times" @ Whatcom Museum

Gardeners continue to seek out woody plants that can successfully grow and even thrive in our Pacific Northwest sites. Ideally, we want plants that tolerate hot dry summers and wet winters typical of the maritime Pacific Northwest, as well as the occasional winter freeze or lengthy drought period that have become more common as our climate changes. And it doesn’t hurt if these trees and shrubs are also resistant to common pests and diseases, require minimal care once established, and provide multi-season interest that invites you into the garden on almost any day of the year. Learn about some wonderful woody plants that can fit the bill as we garden into the future.

Bess Bronstein is an educator, horticultural consultant, and ISA Certified Arborist® Kitsap Peninsula. She has over 35 years of experience in arboriculture, landscape management, and garden design. Bess holds an A.T.A. degree in Ornamental Horticulture and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from the University of Washington. She was an instructor for the Edmonds College horticulture program for 28 years, with a focus on courses in pruning and tree care, plant identification, plant pests/diseases and diagnosis, and soils. Bess frequently teaches public and professional arboriculture and horticulture courses throughout the Pacific Northwest, does training for WSU Extension Master Gardener programs, and speaks to garden clubs and horticultural societies on a variety of topics. Bess is proud to be a lifetime member of Plant Amnesty and supports ongoing education in sustainable landscape management practices and tree care.

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Jun
15
Sat
The Official Juneteenth Celebration @ Boulevard Park
Jun 15 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Official Juneteenth Celebration @ Boulevard Park

Come join us to celebrate life and freedom this June 15th at Boulevard Park.

The Official Juneteenth celwbrationis a family friendly and inclusive event that aims to uplift, educate and create a space where everyone in the community can embrace one another.

This will be a fun filled day with games, performances, a live DJ, face paint, guest speakers, local vendors and more!

You don’t want to miss it!

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