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.
Inspired by Dance!
Our winter 2025 concert is an exploration of delightful, energetic, and beautiful music inspired by Dance. The concert features Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances Suite 3, and William Grant Still’s Danzas de Panama.
The Respighipiece, composed in 1931, was inspired by Renaissance and Baroque music for lute and Baroque guitar. William Grant Still has created a beautiful and unique work based on folk music and dances from Central America and Africa in his Danzas de Panama.
Our program also includes selections from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, Tschaikovski, and more. We hope that you will join us for a concert guaranteed to brighten up your January!
Cost: $20.00 suggested donation at the door
Sat., Jan. 18, 7 pm
Sun., Jan 19, 3 pm
The Bellingham Winter Wedding Show is the perfect place to start planning your wedding or to finalize the details for your special day! Explore our beautiful and beloved theatre, set up to showcase over 19 of the area’s leading wedding vendors! Explore MBT, sample catering and dessert options, connect with local photographers, and find your perfect bouquet from one of our amazing local florists.
Grab a signature wedding show cocktail from one of our bars and get to planning!
Please join me for an engaging outdoor adventure exploring the fascinating world of symbiosis. Participants will learn about the unseen connections between trees and mushrooms, lichen and algae, and minute worlds inside tiny forests (mosses) we can hold in our hands.
This is a field trip where you will participate in an outdoor foray, collect specimens, forage for medicinal or edible species if they present themselves, practice ethical foraging tactics, and observe and ponder symbiotic relationships found in the woodland with a group of likeminded folks.
You’ll learn the ecological importance of various mushrooms and lichens, including indicators of environmental quality, and the various roles in nutrient cycling.
This class is suitable for all nature enthusiasts, beginner mycologists, and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge in PNW biology and the unique Salish Sea Bioregion. No prior experience is necessary – just a curiosity about the natural world!
Locations will be in a public forested area around Whatcom County. Precise details remain TBD as they are contingent on the fungi, but these trips will be no more than 1 hour outside of Bellingham. I will scout weekly to find the best locations and send you an email with location information 2-4 days before your event(s).
Please register via the event website.
Welcome Cody and Taylor Watts to the Readings Gallery in celebration of their debut book, The Deck: Stories from a Pandemic.
When schools closed in Bellingham, Washington, on March 13, 2020, and Washington State issued stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of COVID-19, middle school students Cody and Taylor Watts began the exercise of daily journaling. Recorded here is the unpredictable year that followed, chronicled alongside the mundane and the remarkable day-in-the-life of two young brothers living through what became a pandemic and one of the most challenging and unimaginable years in American history.
“A one-of-a-kind portrait by two members of one of the finest guman and canine families I’ve ever known defeating duress via Faith in the human capacity to love.” -David James Duncan, author of Sun House and The River Why
Cody Watts is a high school senior and a Running Start student at Whatcom Community College. He will graduate in 2025 with a high school diploma and an Associate of the Arts degree. He’s also on the swim team and the soccer team at Bellingham High School. In his free time Cody plays the guitar, and enjoys going to the gym and spending time with Wilson.
Taylor Watts is a junior in high school and a full-time Whatcom Community College student.
In 2026 he will graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree. He is currently a tennis player and soccer striker with Bellingham High School. He is planning on studying medicine later in college, while continuing to be an athlete. Aside from academics, Taylor enjoys lifting weights, photography, cooking and exploring the outdoors.
You can find the Watts brothers online at www.thedeckbook.com and on Instagram @thedeckbook.
Community Food Co-op Hosts 25th Annual MLK Jr. Day Event
Bellingham, Washington | In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Community Food Co-op will host its 25th annual MLK Jr. Day Event. Join us to celebrate Dr. King’s notion of a “Beloved Community,” envisioned as a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one’s fellow human beings.
25th Annual MLK Jr. Day Event
Monday, January 20 at 7 p.m. (“All Welcomed Choir” rehearsal begins at 6 p.m.)
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
1207 Ellsworth St., Bellingham
Free to attend. Everyone welcome.
FEATURING:
Checo Tohomaso, Special Musical Guest
Checo played keyboards and percussion and provided backup vocals on Motown legend Marvin Gaye’s last European tour. He also has performed with Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Celine Dion, New Kids On The Block, and Reba McEntire, among others. Presently, Checo serves as the director of two British Columbia-based choirs — VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir in Vancouver and Victoria Sweet Soul Choir in Victoria. He focuses on communicating the positive, healing qualities of soul music to as many people as possible. Checo will be our musical guest throughout the evening — a performance not to be missed. He is spirited, authentic and true to the music.
We invite the community to come and rehearse with Checo one hour before the event. Songs will include: “Everyday People,” “Woke Up This Morning,” “Steal Away,” “Oh Happy Day,” “Love Train” and “A Change is Going to Come.” Bellingham City Councilman Skip Williams will share “A Change is Going to Come” as part of the evening’s musical performance.
Dr. Sislena Grocer Ledbetter, Keynote Speaker
Social psychologist and educator, Dr. Ledbetter holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Howard University, all earned with honors. She has completed post-graduate studies in educational leadership at Georgetown and Harvard Universities. Currently serving as the Associate Vice President of Counseling, Health, and Wellbeing at Western Washington University, Dr. Ledbetter has led initiatives across higher education, securing millions in grants for peer-led health programs addressing critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and domestic violence.
For over nine years, she hosted “A Healthy Mind” — a television program dedicated to mental health awareness. As Chair-Elect of the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network, Dr. Ledbetter advances cultures of well-being and equity in education on campuses nationwide. Her research focuses on women’s wellness and leadership for women of color, as well as fostering healthy relationships within the Black community. She is the proud mom of three adult men.
Lance Jones, Special Presenter & Emcee
Lance has spent his career collaborating with people, organizations and governments around the globe to hone their voice, activate their constituencies and realize their visions.
In the early-1900s, Pop-Pop — Lance’s great-grandfather — slipped a lynch mob and escaped the Deep South. Almost a century later, Lance graduated from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and dedicated four years fighting for the marginalized as a speechwriter, policy interpreter and communications strategist on Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill. He currently serves as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for Northwest Youth Services. Lance is grounded, in part, by memories of the inclusive warmth offered to him and his mom at their Unity Fellowship in Maryland.
Please join us in celebration as we honor Dr. King and his concept of a “Beloved Community” on this special day.
Community Food Co-op is grateful to Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, who have made this event possible by sharing their space. A freewill offering will be accepted to support their organization “Humanitas Ministry,” whose primary mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to people in need.
Online trivia through Zoom, every Tuesday night, featuring a mix of gallery and breakout rooms allowing you to socialize while you play several rounds of trivia including a weekly suggested category.
Zoom link available each week at http://Facebook.com/WorldsBestTrivia.
Teams or individuals can play. To participate in scoring, teams designate a scribe who submits answers using google forms. Players of all ages welcome!
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company, brings its internationally beloved troupe of dancers to the Mount Baker Theatre as part of its landmark 50th anniversary season featuring gems from across the company’s groundbreaking repertoire. Founded in New York City in 1974, the company, affectionately known as the Trocks, has grown from its roots in late-late shows in off-off Broadway lofts to a global touring sensation, performing from Tokyo to Toronto and everywhere in between. Revered by ballet aficionados as well as by those who don’t know a plié from a jeté, the Trocks are “a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals,” according to the Sydney Star Observer.
Date and time: recurring weekly on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Come Downtown every Wednesday with your Western Student, Staff, or Faculty ID to score deals and discounts all day long at 60+ businesses on everything from coffee to cocktails and everything in between. Check out all the participating businesses and learn more on our website at www.downtownbellingham.com/welcome-wwu.
The Impacts of Water Adjudication on All of Us
From cities and tribes to farms and businesses, everyone’s water use in Whatcom County will be affected by Water Adjudication. What will be the wide-reaching impacts and implications for us all in Washington’s largest lawsuit ever? Whether residents and municipalities use city water, well water, rent or own, run a business or farm, or belong to a tribe, this legal process will impact everyone’s water availability. The resulting legal process of Water Adjudication will quantify and prioritize water use, with the highest priority given to the oldest, continuous water use. The process determines whether each water right on a source is legal, how much water can be used, and its priority during water shortages. One can see why this legal process will be very complex, likely contentious, and take a lot of time – perhaps decades. Registration required: https://bhamcityclub.wildapricot.org/event-6016360/registration
Brian Kirk presents a tribute to a master vibraphonist/multi-instrumentalist: Cal Tjader
Brian Kirk is a Professor of Jazz, Electronic Music, Music Theory, Percussion at Seattle Central College, in Seattle. Son of Indianapolis Hall of Fame drummer and educator Dr. Willis Kirk, Brian grew up in San Francisco where he performed with Gladys Knight, Marlena Shaw, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Bishop Norman Williams, John Handy, and Jessica Williams.
Lineup: Brian Kirk (vibraphone); David Joyner (piano); Osama Afifi (bass); Jeff Busch (drums); John Butorac (congas, bongos); Steve Jones (congas, bongos)
Cost: $20 general, $10 students
Purchase advance tickets here
Website: jazzcenterofbellingham.org/events, www.kirkjazz.net
Bellingham TheatreWorks presents
DEEP BLUE SOUND
Written by Abe Koogler
Directed by Mark Kuntz
January 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, February 1, 7, 8 @ 7:30
February 9 @ 1:00 and 5:00
Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue
tickets: $25 general/$15 student
bellinghamtheatreworks.org
On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.
Questions and accommodations 360-209-5599
Bellingham TheatreWorks presents
DEEP BLUE SOUND
Written by Abe Koogler
Directed by Mark Kuntz
January 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, February 1, 7, 8 @ 7:30
February 9 @ 1:00 and 5:00
Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue
tickets: $25 general/$15 student
bellinghamtheatreworks.org
On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.
Questions and accommodations 360-209-5599
Cordata Gallery proudly presents Color and Line: An Exploration by Three NW Artists, featuring rare works by Johannes Kunst, over 100 drawings by David Syre, and a site-specific installation by Renee Noelle Cheesman together with her vibrant paintings. The
exhibition highlights each artist’s unique approach to color and line, showcasing the diversity of their creative expressions on canvas and beyond. All artworks are available for acquisition, offering a chance to support local artists and to add to your collection.
Join Susan Kramer-Pope, Creative Process Facilitator, for a free introductory session on Friday, January 24th, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to find out if the course, Access Creativity with First Impulse Painting, is a fit for you.
You’ll explore the resources you already possess to express your unique creative nature without the need for skill or talent, and get all your questions answered.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Date and time: recurring on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m.
First Fridays is a monthly celebration that showcases local artists and galleries, places to dine and sip, late night shopping, events, live music, and more! Join us on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m.
With fresh programming each month, First Fridays provide opportunities to engage with Downtown Bellingham and discover the city center throughout the year. Dozens of businesses host artists, feature signature dishes, become a stage for musicians, and more!
It’s a great night to experience Downtown!
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, horticulturist/musician Gregory Alan Isakov has cast an impressive presence on the indie-rock and folk worlds with his six full-length studio albums: That Sea, The Gambler; This Empty Northern Hemisphere; The Weatherman; Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony; Evening Machines (nominated for a Grammy award for Best Folk Album), and his newest album, Appaloosa Bones. Isakov tours internationally with his band, and has performed with several national symphony orchestras across the United States.
Isakov’s new record, Appaloosa Bones, was released on August 18, 2023 (via Dualtone/Suitcase Town Music). Of the album, MOJO states, “Prime Isakov: his velvet baritone glides over elegant and shimmering Wild West mirages.” The Associated Press proclaims, “He has that magical ability to convey both urgency and grandeur at the same time…Simple. Straightforward. Utterly evocative.” And No Depression declares, “this is Isakov’s genius. He turns a short poem into a magnificent piece of music that can captivate for hours.”
Enter an extravagant party, hosted by a wealthy socialite. Things take a deadly turn when the host is murdered! The eccentric guests are all suspects. No one—neither the cast nor the killer—knows who committed the crime. Guided by the sharp-witted butler, the audience becomes the world-famous detective. You are tasked with piecing together the clues, witnessing hilarious flashbacks, and deciding whodunit. With twists, turns, and absurd explanations, no two shows are ever the same.
Who’s the culprit? Watch, and decide for yourself!
We are an all ages venue. Shows with “mature content” or “recommended for” will be advertised accordingly.
The air was crisp, biting with the chill of a winter’s evening, yet there was a certain warmth that filled the small Improv theatre nestled in the heart of downtown Bellingham. Outside, an icy, bitter world. Inside, the warmth of love, a melody of laughter, and the certainty that you have found something rare and beautiful…
Inspired by your suggestions, we will create for you the most awkwardly provocative and hilariously passionate love story. Complete with true love, lust, and alluring intensity. Sure to give you all the funny feels.
Recommended for mature audiences (adult content). See our Upcoming Shows for all ages options.
Bellingham TheatreWorks presents
DEEP BLUE SOUND
Written by Abe Koogler
Directed by Mark Kuntz
January 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, February 1, 7, 8 @ 7:30
February 9 @ 1:00 and 5:00
Firehouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Avenue
tickets: $25 general/$15 student
bellinghamtheatreworks.org
On a picturesque island in Puget Sound, we find a town in a crisis: The whales have gone missing. While (unofficial) Mayor Annie searches for a solution, Chris tries to get back together with Mary; John reaches out to help Homeless Gary; Leslie longs for a faraway pen pal; Ali has come home to care for her mother; and Ella has a secret she only wants to share with local journalist Joy Mead, who she barely knows. But what about the whales? Is their absence just a seasonal glitch, or is it a sign of our collective failure to take care of the Earth? DEEP BLUE SOUND is a funny and moving play about the connections we make—and the ones we long to make—to other people, and to the world around us.
Questions and accommodations 360-209-5599
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening at Hotel Leo’s Robbie Burns Day Dinner on January 25! Join us to honor Scotland’s beloved poet with a night steeped in tradition, featuring a plated Scottish feast, lively music, and the ceremonial Presenting of the Haggis. This is a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community you won’t want to miss. The full menu and event details are coming soon, so check our website often—and save the date for this special winter gathering!
$55/ per person. Book your experience on Opentable at https://bit.ly/3Pjx2Kz
This hidden park in the York neighborhood needs some love! Join the City of Bellingham and the York Neighborhood Association in removing Himalayan Blackberry and sprucing up the Butterfly Garden.
All ages and abilities welcome. Participants under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Tools, gloves, and instructions are provided. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Additional information will be emailed to registered participants. Register early, space is limited! If you sign up, please show up!
Cordata Gallery proudly presents Color and Line: An Exploration by Three NW Artists, featuring rare works by Johannes Kunst, over 100 drawings by David Syre, and a site-specific installation by Renee Noelle Cheesman together with her vibrant paintings. The
exhibition highlights each artist’s unique approach to color and line, showcasing the diversity of their creative expressions on canvas and beyond. All artworks are available for acquisition, offering a chance to support local artists and to add to your collection.
You’re invited to our FIRST Clean Water Happy Hour of 2025 at Overflow Taps in Barkley, and your first drink’s on us!
The event benefits charity: water, a non-profit organization that has funded and coordinated over 155,000 water projects in 29 countries.
From 1-2:30PM (up until the giveaways), we’re paying for your first drink at the Barkley Village Overflow Taps.
We also do a lineup of giveaways each month, sponsored by local businesses – restaurant gift cards, local merch, coffee cards – you never know what you might walk away with!
This is a casual social event, so invite your friends and bring a board game if you like!
And in case you hadn’t heard the news, the Clean Water Happy Hour is now an ALL-AGES event!
Contact our Event Coordinator at bham@bhamre.co with any questions.
We can’t wait to see you!
Thank you to this month’s happy hour sponsor, Kelsey Klevenberg from Edward Jones Financial!
The Clean Water Happy Hour is an event put on by the Bellingham Real Estate Company in partnership with Overflow Taps
Our Transformative Justice Learning Lab will be hosting its second community workshop focused on basics of transformative justice and methods of self-accountability and community care through discussion and group activities.
After a successful event in Fairhaven, we welcome back Alan Shore to our Lynden location to present his book, Uncommon Allies!
Uncommon Allies: American Jews and Christians Uniting Against Hitler, 1933-1945 tells the story of the dawn of a new chapter in Jewish-Christian relations in America through the lens of four widely publicized and well-attended rallies at Madison Square Garden during the Nazi Era that brought together widely respected names from Jewish and Christian leadership and other celebrated public figures to vocally protest the ongoing depredations against European Jewry. The public setting of the unfolding events and the colorful coverage in both the English and Yiddish language press provide a unique prism through which to view evolving Jewish-Christian relations in America.
Long-time Bellingham resident Alan Shore has lectured widely in the U.S and abroad on the various facets of the Jewish-Christian relationship. He holds a doctorate in Modern Jewish History and Culture from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Uncommon Allies is a confluence of his abiding interest in New York Jewish history, the American Jewish experience, Jewish-Christian relations, and the Yiddish language.
