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.
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!
One of the core goals of Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers (BBOP) is to honor and respect Polynesian cultural traditions through the promotion of both competitive and recreational outrigger canoe paddling for youth, families, and the community. Keiki (kids) ages 8-14 will enjoy games on and off the water and learn to paddle as a team in a 6-person outrigger canoe! Sign up for one or more of the 4 sessions throughout the summer, which includes opportunities to race with your BBOP team! We provide paddles and PFDs for free. Please see our website for more details, https://www.bbop.us/youth-program.
All youth must register before getting into a canoe.
Visit our membership page for more info.
Practice Times: 4:15- 5:30pm
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 6 – Aug 21, 2025
(Each session includes 8 practices, for a total of 10 hours of instruction)
Session 1: May 6 – May 29 Focus on Paddle Technique and Sprint Racing
Session 2: June 3 – June 26 Focus on Marine Ecology
Session 3: July 1 – July 24 Focus on History and Culture
Session 4: July 29 – August 21 Focus on Strength and Conditioning and long-distance competition
Location: Launching from the Community Boating Center.
?All kids get a BBOP t-shirt upon sign up
?No drop-ins allowed. No “make-up” for missed practices.
?A fee waiver is available (click here for info)
?All youth are welcome to participate in our BBOP race on August 16, 2025 to show off their new skills!
Ready to sign up? Register HERE.
Help is available for TeamSnap registration!
???
What to Wear
All youth are required to wear a PFD. We will have PFDs and paddles available, but bring a PFD and/or paddle if you have one.
-
Dress in layers, avoid cotton. Rain gear help to keep the body warm and insulated. Tights worn for other sport work well.
-
Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet- neoprene booties with wool socks will help keep the feet warm.
-
Bring a change of clothes and a towel.
Life drawing from the live model – All levels welcome!
– $20 at the door, Cash/Card/Venmo
– Doors at 6p / Poses begin at 6:45p
– Materials & Snacks provided
– Short to long poses
– More details at www.lifedrawingbellingham.com
These are uninstructed events for anyone who enjoys or is curious about drawing from a live model. First-timers always welcome!
We provide a welcoming and supportive environment so that everyone can get into their creative flow.
The poses are timed, starting with shorter poses to warm up, gradually building up to longer poses, with breaks throughout.
** Stay up to date & Follow us on instagram @lifedrawingbellingham + Join our mailing list at www.lifedrawingbellingham.com **
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Paul Klein is returning to the Boundary Bay taproom, playing free live music every Wednesday night!
Join us in the taproom for live piano music from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, with our talented friend Paul Klein!
Paul Klein has been playing music in Bellingham since 1976 and is a co-founder of the well-known band, The Atlantics. He is no stranger to Boundary Bay either – he played piano in the taproom for many years as part of our Piano & Pints series!
Paul will be donating his tips to different local charities and organizations
The taproom is 21+
Do you know what salmon need for healthy stream habitat? Salmon need the “three C’s” – cold, clean, and clear water!
During this workshop, you will discover how to determine if water is healthy for salmon by meeting the bugs that tell the story of the stream – and serve as an important food source for salmon fry. Become a salmon scientist and learn how NSEA educators teach students to test the water quality of local creeks, then draw your own conclusions based on what we find.
Join NSEA’s Education Program Manager, Nathan Zabel, for this workshop on our campus at 3057 E Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA, on Thursday, May 15th from 3:30–4:30 PM. Stick around afterward for an exclusive look at NSEA’s outdoor classroom, open discussion, and hands-on activities!
This workshop is free and family-friendly! All ages are welcome. Registration is appreciated to let us know you’re coming, but it’s not mandatory to attend. Learn more at www.n-sea.org/upcoming-events.
Join us in the Beer Garden on Thursdays throughout the summer for Happy Hour BBQ!
From 4 – 8 pm, we’ll have beer, food, music, and trivia, keeping the good vibes going with a free and family-friendly event! Doors open at 4 pm, with music from Robert Sarazin Blake and a range of different musical guests playing from 5-7:30 pm! We’ll end the event each week with The Pint is Right Trivia at 6, for you to test your trivia knowledge!
Enjoy live music from Robert Sarazin Blake & Jan Peters on Thursday, May 15th!
FREE // All-ages // 4-8 pm
One of the core goals of Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers (BBOP) is to honor and respect Polynesian cultural traditions through the promotion of both competitive and recreational outrigger canoe paddling for youth, families, and the community. Keiki (kids) ages 8-14 will enjoy games on and off the water and learn to paddle as a team in a 6-person outrigger canoe! Sign up for one or more of the 4 sessions throughout the summer, which includes opportunities to race with your BBOP team! We provide paddles and PFDs for free. Please see our website for more details, https://www.bbop.us/youth-program.
All youth must register before getting into a canoe.
Visit our membership page for more info.
Practice Times: 4:15- 5:30pm
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 6 – Aug 21, 2025
(Each session includes 8 practices, for a total of 10 hours of instruction)
Session 1: May 6 – May 29 Focus on Paddle Technique and Sprint Racing
Session 2: June 3 – June 26 Focus on Marine Ecology
Session 3: July 1 – July 24 Focus on History and Culture
Session 4: July 29 – August 21 Focus on Strength and Conditioning and long-distance competition
Location: Launching from the Community Boating Center.
?All kids get a BBOP t-shirt upon sign up
?No drop-ins allowed. No “make-up” for missed practices.
?A fee waiver is available (click here for info)
?All youth are welcome to participate in our BBOP race on August 16, 2025 to show off their new skills!
Ready to sign up? Register HERE.
Help is available for TeamSnap registration!
???
What to Wear
All youth are required to wear a PFD. We will have PFDs and paddles available, but bring a PFD and/or paddle if you have one.
-
Dress in layers, avoid cotton. Rain gear help to keep the body warm and insulated. Tights worn for other sport work well.
-
Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet- neoprene booties with wool socks will help keep the feet warm.
-
Bring a change of clothes and a towel.
Barkley Village and Lydia Place are teaming up for the fifth Barkley Village Wine Walk being held Thursday, May 15th, from 5:00-8:00 pm. Participants can stroll through Barkley Village shops and restaurants as they taste regional wines in pop-up tasting rooms. Go to Barkleyvillage.com/events to purchase tickets.
Come spend an evening with Brian Kertson, a carnivore
researcher from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as he
dives into the fascinating world of cougar ecology and behavior. He’ll
also share essential safety tips for those exploring areas where these
majestic creatures roam.
Do you dare to seek the sun? Come find the answer at our show Forgiving Ice, a play about grappling with your inner demons to escape darkness. Join Minka as she fights the dark sea, with the help of strange, masked creatures like Shrimp Head and Beetle Man, with no help from giant puppet Sister Shay, and with the companionship of a marionette lizard and the unhinged Pan Man (but you can just call him Man). Enjoy the drama, the laughter of commedia moments, and some live acoustic music!
Thursdays in May!
The G.B.U. is a Bellingham classic! This show features a rotating performance format as well as special guest players to really make sure you get a wild and hilarious show that can go anywhere!
We are an all ages venue. Shows with “mature content” or “recommended for” will be advertised accordingly.
Join us in the beer garden on Thursday evenings for our Garden Twilight Series!
The Garden Twilight Series presents Bellingham’s best roots musicians with performers from far and wide. Enjoy summer evenings in the beer garden with friends, beer, and live music from 8-11 pm!
On Thursday, May 15th enjoy live music from Jason Dea West, Cascade Cody & The Warshington Apples!
$10 – 20 suggested donation | All ages 8-10 pm | 21+ 10-11 pm
The Garden Twilight Series is co-produced with The Subdued Stringband Jamboree.
Jason Dea West is an American troubadour who sings what he lives and lives what he sings. Wests’ poignant lyrics are brilliantly blended with vintage country, folk and blues, and timely sensibilities. From epic guitar and harmonica instrumentals to humorous song as story, Jason never strays very far from the anarchic punk-folk roots of his beloved former band Barefoot Surrender and his celebrated current band Intuitive Compass.
Cascade Cody is a folk musician continuing in the spirit of the traditional roots of the great storytellers. He brings life to old tales and new ones.
About Tracy’s workshop: A great lyric. A lovely bridge. An unexpected melodic line or chord structure. What caught your ear or captured your heart? We’ll bring our favorite songs to this workshop and learn about songwriting by exploring the great moves that someone else made. Bonus points if you bring a song you love, and then play a song you’ve written that incorporates one of those great moves! No prior songwriting experience is required to participate; just bring a favorite song to share with the group.
Do you dare to seek the sun? Come find the answer at our show Forgiving Ice, a play about grappling with your inner demons to escape darkness. Join Minka as she fights the dark sea, with the help of strange, masked creatures like Shrimp Head and Beetle Man, with no help from giant puppet Sister Shay, and with the companionship of a marionette lizard and the unhinged Pan Man (but you can just call him Man). Enjoy the drama, the laughter of commedia moments, and some live acoustic music!
Voyage with the Upfront crew as they explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no improviser has gone before! Based on audience suggestions and familiar tropes, we will take you on a hilarious space adventure unlike any other. Live, laugh, and prosper.
We are an all ages venue. Shows with “mature content” or “recommended for” will be advertised accordingly.
Friday nights in May!
Join us as we develop the next hit in cinema! Improvisers will jump between a pitch session in the “writer’s room” to playing out scenes, as they write a story in real time using your suggestions. Watch as the chaos of development turns into a full fledged theatrical experience as all the pieces come together. What scenes will make the final cut? You’ll find out as the finished “movie” will premiere the very same night!
We are an all ages venue. Shows with “mature content” or “recommended for” will be advertised accordingly.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 17th, 2025! Miles for Memories is back with an indoor walk-a-thon, a senior services resource fair, and the Amy’s Place Open House. Whether you’re walking with us in person or cheering from afar, you can be part of this exciting day! KAFE 104.1 FM will be broadcasting live on-site, so if you can’t join us in person, tune in to hear the action unfold! And if you’re there, you may even get the chance to meet the team!
Walk with us to raise funds for Dementia Support Northwest and tour Amy’s Place, our new office headquarters and dementia-friendly community center inside Bellis Fair Mall.
Form a team and walk together, or take turns walking laps inside the mall. Raise donations from your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to support the programs and services at Amy’s Place.
Amy’s Place will provide a permanent home for the Dementia Support Northwest office and staff, and lots of space to support our programs, including:
in-person and virtual support groups
free short-term respite care by appointment
dementia-friendly social activities
education and training sessions
dementia resource library
coffee and tea bar
cozy spaces to socialize or relax
lots of volunteer opportunities
While we are thrilled to open the doors to the public this spring, our need for community support is greater than ever. We need to raise funds this year to ensure we can keep our doors open to sustain (and hopefully expand) the services we offer to the community. Please join us for this exciting moment for DSNW, as we embark on a new phase in our journey, and help build community for those affected by dementia one step at a time!
You can sign up individually or start a team and invite your friends.
We encourage costumes, signs, and other positive ways to boost excitement and visibility during our walk. How it works: register today as an individual or start your own team and combine your fundraising power! Share your personal donation page with friends, co-workers, and anyone who would like to help transform dementia services and respite care in our community.
Schedule for the day:
8:30 am: Check-in and on-site registration opens
9:00 am: Mall walk starts & resource fair opens
9:00 – 11:00 am: Kafé 104.1 will be on-site broadcasting from the starting line
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Amy’s Place Open House – stop by and check out the new dementia-friendly community center in Bellis Fair Mall!
2:00 pm: The walk ends at Amy’s Place. Awards will be announced for teams and individuals. Prizes will be awarded for the largest team, the highest individual and team fundraisers, best costumes, best group spirit, and more!
Earn individual swag and rewards through fundraising!
$0 – Register for free and receive a sticker to personalize and wear during the walk in honor of a love one affected by dementia
$50 in fundraising = Amy’s Place lanyard
$100 in fundraising = Miles for Memories Bandana
$500 in fundraising = Dementia Support Northwest Enamel Pin
$1,000 in fundraising = Miles for Memories custom medal
We hope you will join us as a walker, sponsor, vendor, or volunteer for Miles for Memories 2025. Please choose your registration level, then complete this registration form. You may choose to donate today or come back to donate at another time.
Please contact our office with any questions or ideas, (360) 671-3316 or heather@dementiasupportnw.org
We look forward to seeing you on May 17th,
Your Miles for Memories Planning Team
Dementia Support Northwest
Spread mulch around recently planted trees and shrubs to protect them as they grow through the summer. Not only will the mulch improve soil structure as it decomposes, but it also supports plants by conserving soil moisture, moderating temperature, and impeding the growth of weeds and grasses. This project is on a tributary that runs directly into Tenmile Creek, a tributary of the Nooksack River.
Tenmile Creek has historical documented presence of chum and coho, as well as steelhead and resident trout. In the early 1900’s this creek supported large runs of chum and coho that continued into the 30’s. These runs were so plentiful that some of the salmon carcasses would overflow into nearby fields. However, due to extensive habitat alteration and degradation, salmon runs drastically declined in the 50’s and 60’s.
Streamside native vegetation was lost in the process of modifying the creeks to better suit farmlands. This meant that there was a decrease in large woody debris (LWD) inputs and an increase in flow of sediments and nutrients into the creeks. The loss of native vegetation meant that invasive species, such as reed canary grass, could flourish and quickly overtake the riparian zone. Reed canary grass clogs streams and slows the flow of water making it very hard for salmon to swim in slow, murky waters.
Spread mulch around recently planted trees and shrubs to protect them as they grow through the summer. Not only will the mulch improve soil structure as it decomposes, but it also supports plants by conserving soil moisture, moderating temperature, and impeding the growth of weeds and grasses. This project is on a tributary that runs directly into Tenmile Creek, a tributary of the Nooksack River.
Tenmile Creek has historical documented presence of chum and coho, as well as steelhead and resident trout. In the early 1900’s this creek supported large runs of chum and coho that continued into the 30’s. These runs were so plentiful that some of the salmon carcasses would overflow into nearby fields. However, due to extensive habitat alteration and degradation, salmon runs drastically declined in the 50’s and 60’s.
Streamside native vegetation was lost in the process of modifying the creeks to better suit farmlands. This meant that there was a decrease in large woody debris (LWD) inputs and an increase in flow of sediments and nutrients into the creeks. The loss of native vegetation meant that invasive species, such as reed canary grass, could flourish and quickly overtake the riparian zone. Reed canary grass clogs streams and slows the flow of water making it very hard for salmon to swim in slow, murky waters.
Spring is here, and Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District #2 invites the community to celebrate the season at Blaine’s Spring Block Party on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Downtown Blaine, centered around Third and H Streets.
This all-day, family-friendly event is packed with live music, vibrant vendor booths, delicious food, and hands-on fun for all ages.
The Kids Zone (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) will offer free activities for children, including a community-wide scavenger hunt with a prize generously sponsored by Hills Chevron, engaging games with prizes, and two storytime sessions hosted by the Blaine Public Library (10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.).
Starting at 1 p.m., the Beer Garden (located next to Bordertown Pizza) opens with an exciting live music lineup featuring:
• Gladstone – Acoustic set (1:00 p.m.)
• Paper Heart – 90s Grunge Covers (2:30 p.m.)
• SoundStation – Classic Rock Hits (4:00 p.m.)
Attendees can explore the Street Fair (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.), which features over 60 vendors showcasing handcrafted goods, local art, tarot readings, kids’ toys, clothing, bath and body products, craft kits, face painting, and more. It is a perfect opportunity to support local businesses and discover unique treasures made right here in our community.
Hungry? Enjoy a variety of food and drink options, including pizza, hotdogs, coffee, slushies, and specialty drinks from local vendors and food trucks.
“This event is all about bringing the community together,” said Olea Mills, Event Coordinator with BBBPRD2. “Whether you’re here to shop, dance, eat, or let the kids play—there’s something for everyone.”
Admission is free and all are welcome. For more details, visit bbbparkandrec.org.
The 2025 La Conner Guitar Festival presents a special late morning concert with songwriters and long-time friends Kat Eggleston and Tracy Spring on Saturday, May 17,
11:30am-1:00pm. The two women will “swap tunes” back and forth in an intimate concert
setting: the Club House of the Swinomish Yacht Club, (310 N. 1st St.) Tickets are $15 in
advance and $20 at the Festival Box Office (Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St.)
Kat Eggleston is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and playwright who has performed and taught internationally for more than thirty years, creating many solo and collaborative recordings of original and traditional music that have been distributed world-wide.
Also a seasoned performer, Tracy Spring has played in folk venues and festivals
throughout North America and Australia, often combining her musical life with social justice work. With folk, blues and jazz influences, she displays a style all her own.
In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.
Weaving with pine needles and other coiled plant material is a practice ancient peoples from all continents implemented in day-to-day survival, conventional living, and art.
The technique requires patience and attention to detail before it becomes a relaxing, repetitive stitching pattern. It is a skill that is more easily learned with a little guidance.
Dabblers, beginners, intermediate, and advanced weavers will enjoy this creative, social gathering with Northwest Natura.
In this course you will learn:
-ID and Ecology features of Pinus spp. (various pine tree species).
-Foraging techniques and where to harvest pine needles.
-How to weave a coiled basket using pine needles.
All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own too if you wish (e.g., thread, beads, decor, sewing kit).
What to bring:
-Snacks/lunch
-Pliers
-Scissors
-A plastic bag for storing your work
-A larger bag for taking home handfuls of soaked pine needles
-A hand towel
-Journal and pen (optional)
-Your own sewing kit and/or embroidery thread (optional)
This course will take place indoors at the Chuckanut Center near Fairhaven in Whatcom County, WA. The Chuckanut Center is heated and has access to facilities including a bathroom, full kitchen, and drinking water.
Please register via the event website.
Year Seven of Scarecrow Academy presents “Visions of America on Film,” an ambitious ten-week online discussion series built around buoyant and bracing cinematic views of America. Each week we’ll consider how some of the greatest filmmakers have pictured the US of A, through a variety of genres and eras.
Discussions are led by National Society of Film Critics member Robert Horton, author of the Seasoned Ticket column at the Scarecrow blog and Scarecrow’s “Programmer-Historian in Residence.” The Zoom sessions are free and open to all; there’s no homework, but we encourage you to watch that week’s movie, and please register online in advance. We meet on Saturdays at 2pm Pacific Time, beginning March 15, 2025.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/scarecrowacademy
Do you dare to seek the sun? Come find the answer at our show Forgiving Ice, a play about grappling with your inner demons to escape darkness. Join Minka as she fights the dark sea, with the help of strange, masked creatures like Shrimp Head and Beetle Man, with no help from giant puppet Sister Shay, and with the companionship of a marionette lizard and the unhinged Pan Man (but you can just call him Man). Enjoy the drama, the laughter of commedia moments, and some live acoustic music!
