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.
The Whatcom Literacy Council will host the annual Literacy Breakfast with Nancy Pearl Thursday, November 2 from 7:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall. An $11 registration (available via the website www.whatcomliteracy.org) will be required to reserve a seat. This event typically sells out over a month in advance, so early registration is advised.
Since 1983, the Whatcom Literacy Council has helped hundreds of adults in Whatcom County transform their lives by strengthening their literacy skills with free tutoring and small group classes. Proceeds from the event go directly to programs that help our neighbors here in Whatcom County build skills that help them get jobs and take care of their families. This year the witty and wonderful Nancy Pearl, NPR commentator and author of Book Lust, More Book Lust, Book Crush, Book Lust To Go and, most recently, a novel called George and Lizzie, will return to share her thoughts on some of the best reads available. Village Books will be on hand to sell Nancy’s recommendations.
This is a fundraiser for the adult literacy programs offered by the Whatcom Literacy Council. It is expected that guests will make a donation at the event.
Cascade Connections has partnered with Haggen Food & Pharmacy and KISM Radio to bring you The Third Annual Hamster Ball! The event will be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Friday, November 17, 2017 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Hamster Ball is a fabulous wine, beer, chocolate and culinary experience that will feature area wineries, breweries and culinary specialties from local vendors and Haggen Market Street Catering. Come join your community to kick off the holiday season and support a great cause.
Proceeds of the event benefit Cascade Connections – a non-profit organization that has been providing quality services to people with disabilities in Whatcom county for over 35 years.
Admission to the Hamster Ball is $50/person and entitles you to all of the food, three drink tickets, evening festivities and a chance to win the raffle prizes. The ticket price will increase to $55/person after November 1, 2017.
For more information and updates on Hamster Ball, visit events.cascadeconnections.org and www.facebook.com/hamsterevents.
The sounds of trio Ensemble Electra will fill the Chamber Hall on Saturday, January 20, in the third presentation of the J’s Firefly Concert Series. The musicians are Vicki Boeckman, recorder; Tekla Cunningham, violin; and Jillon Stoppels Dupree, harpsichord.
The Seattle-based trio performs with energy and passion the rich, varied repertoire for recorder, violin and harpsichord, specializing in music of the 17th and 18th centuries. The trio draws on its many years of solo and ensemble experience, as well as highly-acclaimed individual reputations, to create innovative and dynamic performances. The ensemble’s unique programming often combines musical genres from seemingly disparate styles, woven together with intelligence and historic sensitivity. Ensemble Electra’s spontaneous, charismatic energy makes for playful and engaging concerts which appeal to audiences of all ages. Recent performances have received rave reviews in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Their performances have been described as “brilliant and engaging,” “exuberant with an authoritative flair,” and “fostering a personal approach to the listener.”
A four-course gourmet dinner paired with some of the region’s top Rosé wines will be presented at Keenan’s at the Pier, one of Bellingham’s finest restaurants located inside The Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
The Northwest Rosé Winemaker Dinner menu includes:
• Marinated Grilled Prawns with Summer Vegetable Noodles Primavera, paired with a 2016 Gilbert Cellars Rosé from the Yakima Valley.
• Dashi Broth, Clams, Mustard Greens, Kimchee, Quail Egg and Green Onions, accompanied by a 2017 Dynasty Cellars Rosé from the Walla Walla Valley.
• Big Eye Tuna Sashimi with Fresh Seasonal Slaw and Sweet Tamari, paired with a 2017 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Rosé from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
• Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Berries and Almond Tuille, accompanied by a 2013 Dynasty Cellars Amabille.
The complete dinner is offered for $79 per person. Reservations are due July 6 by calling 650-270-8791.
“The Northwest Rosé Winemaker Dinner is for people who enjoy delicious food and some of the region’s best Rosé,” said Suresh Rao of DS Vintners, organizer of the event. It also is presented by Dynasty Cellars and Keenan’s at the Pier.
Diners are eligible for special overnight rates that evening starting at $199. The 45-room Chrysalis Inn & Spa (www.thechrysalisinn.com) unites the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest with warm sophisticated styling. Its hotel, full-service spa, and modern casual restaurant overlooking the calm waters of Bellingham Bay at 804 10th St. welcome guests for a contemporary boutique inn experience unlike any other. Call 360-392-5558 by June 22 for the special room rate.
For reservations or more information about the Northwest Rosé Winemaker Dinner, call 650-270-8791 or visit www.dsvintners.com.
Acclaimed winery, locally sourced food featured Oct. 4 Vintner Dinner at Lovitt’s
A five-course gourmet dinner pairing wine from Woodinville’s acclaimed DeLille Cellars with locally sourced farm-to-table food from Chef Norman Six of Bellingham’s Lovitt Restaurant will be presented Oct. 4.
The menu includes:
• Pear, apple, celery root, market greens and lemon soft cheese dressing, paired with a 2016 DeLille Cellars Roussanne.
• Soft poached local oyster and potato onion froth, accompanied by a 2015 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc.
• Morel, Hubbard squash, Parisian gnocchi and Walla Walla cream, paired with a 2015 DeLille Cellars D2.
• Foraged Beef Ossobuco and root vegetable pave, accompanied by a 2015 DeLille Cellars Four Flags.
• Blackberry sourdough tart, rosemary ice cream and dark chocolate salted caramel bite, paired with a 2014 Doyenne.
The complete dinner is offered for $89 per person. Reservations are due Sept. 28 by calling 650-270-8791.
“The DeLille Cellars Vintner Dinner brings together some of our state’s best in food and wine,” said Suresh Rao of DS Vintners, organizer of the event.
The dinner will include Jay Soloff, co-founder of DeLille Cellars, which was named among the Top 100 Wineries of 2017 by Wine & Spirits Magazine. DeLille Cellars is one of only six wineries from Washington State and only 35 in the United States to make the list. Since 1992, DeLille Cellars has been pioneering Bordeaux blends in Washington State. Today it continues to perfect Bordeaux and Rhône-inspired wines that showcase the purity of fruit defining Washington State terroir.
After 11 successful years in Colville, Norman and Kristen Six moved Lovitt Restaurant last year to Fairhaven, where they still make everything from scratch. The cuisine is based on what’s seasonal and available.
For reservations or more information about the DeLille Cellars Vintner Dinner, call 650-270-8791 or visit www.dsvintners.com.
Join Jody Wrigley at Seifert and Jones Wine Merchants and enjoy tasting J Wrigley Vineyards wines. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste and buy while she is there.
Come to the third installment of Hotel Bellwether’s 2018 Wine Tasting Series on Thursday, December 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. featuring the following wineries: Three Rivers, Chalk Hill, Four Graces and Terveri Cellars.
Each of our events will feature at least two different vineyards offering up their best wines for both tasting and purchase by the bottle. You’ll also be treated to the finest bites from the Lighthouse Grill, Hotel Bellwether’s waterside restaurant.
Please join Animals as Natural Therapy for an intimate holiday concert featuring the NOEL Ensemble.
Enjoy classical favorites, poetry and carols from around the globe in honor of the winter season! We invite you to celebrate the holidays with loved ones while giving back to our community. 100% of ticket sales support ANT’s youth, veterans and animals.
The Hearthsong Inn, a beautifully-restored schoolhouse located in Whatcom County, will provide wine and festive fare to accompany the music.
Tickets are $50 and are available by calling our office at 360-671-3509, or by online purchase at Brown Paper Tickets.
Tickets include wine, delicious hors d’oeuvres and a festive performance. Parking is free.
Come to the fifth installment of Hotel Bellwether’s 2018-2019 Wine Tasting Series on Thursday, February 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. featuring Dry Creek Vineyards, J Vineyards and Winery, Patz and Hall and Ferrari Carano, all offering wines for both tasting and purchase by the bottle. You’ll also be treated to the finest bites from the Lighthouse Grill, Hotel Bellwether’s waterside restaurant and soothing live music.
Lynden wine drinkers, it’s time for Cab Sauv Flight Night! We’ve picked a variety of delicious cabs. We’ll have a special guest joining us this time to share about each of the wines from 7-8pm.
Try all three and vote your favorite for a chance to win a prize at 7:30 and 9pm!
Come to the fifth installment of Hotel Bellwether’s 2018-2019 Wine Tasting Series on Thursday, March. 14th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. featuring five authentic Spanish Wineries, all offering wines for both tasting and purchase by the bottle. You’ll also be treated to the finest bites from the Lighthouse Grill, Hotel Bellwether’s waterside restaurant.
We’ll have Alejandro Fernandez Wines, Pesquera Group, Belezos Rioja, Bodegas Riojanas, and Gil Family Estates.
Tickets are $30
Ladies, join us for a night of fun while giving back to your community! Enjoy a live auction, raffle, vendors, fashion show and fantastic hors-d’oeuvres.
All proceeds benefit Warm Beach Camp’s Special Friends Camps, camps for adults with disabilities!
Barkley Village and DVSAS – Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County are teaming up again for the second annual Barkley Village Wine Walk being held Friday, April 12th, from 5:00-8:00 pm. Participants can stroll through 12 Barkley Village shops and restaurants as they taste regional wines in pop-up tasting rooms.
All attendees will receive a keepsake wine glass, 8 wine tasting tickets, and a goodie bag provided by Haggen Food & Pharmacy for only $30!
The fun begins at 5:00 pm with check in locations at both John L. Scott or Country Financial. From there participants can make their way through the village to taste delicious wine.
As a bonus this year, Overflow Taps will be hosting an outdoor beer garden throughout the event with a VIP after party from 8pm-10pm. The after party will feature gourmet cheese platters and a full glass of wine included in a $20 VIP add-on ticket.
Participating businesses offering tasty wines:
1. John L. Scott Real Estate Bellingham
2. Country Financial The Barkley Team at Country Financial
3. THE BLUE ABODE BAR
4. Gies Associates LLC
5. MIX
6. Barkley Massage & Chiropractic
7. Umpqua Bank – Bellingham – Barkley Village
8. Urban Collective / Olio – flowers & plants
9. Bob’s Burger and Brew
10. Pak Mail Bellingham
11. Statement Apparel
12. Hamann’s Gallery and Gift
End the night by taking home your favorite wines to enjoy throughout the spring in our retail wine store located at John L. Scott Real Estate Bellingham until 8 pm.
Hungry while you’re wine walking? In addition to over 10 restaurant options throughout Barkley Village, the food truck Sage Against The Machine 360 will be parked in the middle of the action from 5:00-8:00 pm offering their delicious eats.
A huge thank you to our sponsors: Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC), The Barkley Team at Country Financial, Haggen Food & Pharmacy, and John L. Scott Real Estate Bellingham
For tickets or additional information to this 21+ event, please visit: www.BellinghamWineWalk.com or https://bpt.me/4100596
The Hotel Bellwether Spring Fling is a premier wine & food event showcasing 16+ wineries from the Pacific Northwest down to California. Some of these wineries include Forgeron, Cellars, Obelisco Estate, Barnard Griffin Winery, Gordon Estate, La Chanterelle Winery, K Vintners, The Walls Vineyard, Mark Ryan, plus some California superstars, Jordan, Duckhorn, and Grgich Hills.
Along with a variety of global and northwest wines, the Spring Fling will also serve an impressive array of savory bites from Hotel Bellwether’s waterfront gem, the Lighthouse Grill. You won’t want to miss this premier wine and food social featuring great food, top tier wines and a whole bunch of fun!
SAVE THE DATE! The 4th annual Bellingham Northwest Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Four Points by Sheraton Grand Ballroom.
The Festival will include both a public wine tasting and the announcement of all medal-winning wines entered in an earlier judged competition. This year’s event will feature up to 55 wineries from the Pacific Northwest along with eight restaurants from the Whatcom County area.
Whether you’re a serious wineophile or have only limited experience with wines, the Festival is a great opportunity to meet winemakers, enjoy a nosh or two, and sample an amazing selection of Pacific Northwest wines!
Net proceeds from the event go to the Whatcom Beer and Wine Foundation for distribution to a number of Whatcom County non-profit organizations.
NEW THIS YEAR! An order form for post-event wine purchases by Festival attendees will be available through Seifert & Jones Wine Merchants in Bellingham. That means you can order your favorite wines during the event and purchase and pick them up later to enjoy at home!
Come cheer on the WWU Volleyball team at Carver Gym on WWU Campus on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 1 PM against British Columbia! Go Vikings!
Join us Sunday, Sept. 8, for Camber’s Farm Tour Weekend wine tasting event. Taste sustainably farmed, non-intervention wines from the Columbia and Willamette Valley, hor d’oeuvres, and house-made desserts. Your $28 ticket gets you into our after-hours fête on Sunday between 5-8pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at EatLocalFirst.org, or call (360) 646-7093 x108 for special accommodations. Ticket sales end on Sept. 7th at 7pm.
Come enjoy a lovely Autumn evening sipping wine in the Hotel Bellwether Ballroom with striking sunsets over Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.
Winery representatives from international and local cellars offer tastings and wine for purchase at special event pricing. Gourmet appetizers will be prepared by the Lighthouse Grill’s culinary Team.
Proceeds from past events have benefited the Hospice House, Bellingham Food Bank, Northwest Youth Services, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS), Lydia Place, and Blue Skies for Children, among others.
2019 Grape and Gourmet, Wine by the Water held by the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club is and annual fundraiser that benefits local and international non-profits.
Join us for our six course Fall Wine Dinner! We are partnering with Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery for this event featuring specialty dishes created by Chef Bryce Lamb with spectacular wines paired with each course!
Learn more and see the full menu at: www.btownkitchen.com/menu/fall-wine-dinner
Make your reservations today at 360-392-6502.
For the first time since 2019, this signature event is back and better than ever! Meander around 15 downtown shops as they host pop-up tasting rooms featuring a variety of regional wines. Attendees receive tasting tickets to redeem for the wines of their choice while retailers offer special deals. With both a spring and a special holiday Wine Walk, you can enjoy this event twice a year!
Spice up your week, get dolled up, and enjoy an evening by at the Granary where you and your date can experience a lovely evening drinking natural wines and eating small bites such as handmade truffles, pastries, and charcuterie.
Savor award-winning wines masterfully paired with seasonally inspired menus at our Winemaker Dinners. Each dinner features a different winery from around the state, and around the world. Our talented Semiahmoo Culinary Team thoughtfully crafts each menu, complete with five delectable courses, and a wine to pair with every course. This is the perfect opportunity to stretch your palate – our menu is not shared until you arrive and will feature our local partners for produce, protein, and beyond. These interactive dinners immerse you in the experience, as you learn about each course and how it pairs with the wine directly from our culinary team and the winemakers.
Friday, April 21, 2023 – Foppiano Vineyards
Savor award-winning wines masterfully paired with seasonally inspired menus at our Winemaker Dinners. Each dinner features a different winery from around the state, and around the world. Our talented Semiahmoo Culinary Team thoughtfully crafts each menu, complete with five delectable courses, and a wine to pair with every course. This is the perfect opportunity to stretch your palate – our menu is not shared until you arrive and will feature our local partners for produce, protein, and beyond. These interactive dinners immerse you in the experience, as you learn about each course and how it pairs with the wine directly from our culinary team and the winemakers.
Barkley Village and Brigid Collins are teaming up for our fourth Barkley Village Wine Walk being held Thursday, May 18th, from 5:00-8:00 pm. Participants can stroll through 12+ Barkley Village shops and restaurants as they taste regional wines in pop-up tasting rooms.
All attendees will receive a keepsake wine glass, 8 wine tasting tickets, raffle ticket, and a goodie bag!
The fun begins at 5:00 pm with check in locations at both John L. Scott and Bellingham Bells. From there make your way through the village to taste delicious wine and snacks.
Participating businesses offering tasty wines:
1. John L Scott Real Estate (check-in location)
2. Bellingham Bells (check-in location)
3. Guild Mortgage (Wine Store)
4. Blue Abode
5. Bob’s Burgers & Brew
6. Hamanns Gallery & Gift
7. Peoples Bank
8. Pak Mail
9. Umpqua Bank
10. Statement Apparel
11. Expedia Cruises
12. Overflow Taps
13. Haggen at the Village Gazebo
End the night by taking home your favorite wines to enjoy throughout the spring in our retail wine store located at Guild Mortgage. The store closes at 8:30pm.
What wines pair best with shellfish? What about salmon, cod, or smoked fish? Wine pros Val Markus and Laurent Martel will give their wine pairing recommendations for a variety of seafood found at Dockside.
Val Markus, co-owner of the former Saltine restaurant, has over 30 years of experience in the wine industry, in both import and distribution.
Laurent Martel is a long-time Whatcom County resident with 30+ years of wine distribution experience. He has taught wine appreciation classes through Whatcom Community College.
