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!
See restoration history and help us maintain older sites that need love. Meet at NSEA’s campus by 8 am and your group leader will shuttle everyone to the site. You can expect to be back to NSEA at 12 pm. All materials and tools needed will be provided, all you need to bring is weather-appropriate clothes, sturdy shoes, and a water bottle! Restrooms at NSEA will be available before the shuttle leaves and once you return.
Since space is limited, registration is required. With the carpool, we ask that you only sign up if you can stay for the whole time. Any volunteers under 18 years of age need to bring a completed Youth Liability Form, and anyone under 14 must also be accompanied by an adult.
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+
The Power of Hope dives deeper into the Science of Hope: the most reliable predictor of thriving. This single session training provides a framework and tools to raise hope in your family, community, and workplace. This training is FREE and open to the public! Registration is required to receive Zoom link and materials.
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.
Bellingham Friends Meeting will be hosting, a screening of the award winning film ‘Si Pudiera Quedarme – If I Could Stay’ Thursday, May 22nd, 7pm at the Majestic 1027 North Forest, in Bellingham. Suggested Donation $10, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds will go towards immigrant support, as well as any donations of nonperishable food or baby items.
Join Patrycja Humienik, daughter of Polish immigrants, writer, and performer, as she reads from her new book of poetry, We Contain Landscapes, published by Tin House. Humienik will be in conversation with WCC Modern Dance instructor, Soleil Chappelle with words and movement.
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.
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.
In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn to paint from a photo reference—not to replicate, but to unlock emotion, color, and instinct.
Using a wolf as our guide, I’ll share my personal approach to expressive portraiture, including color theory, brushwork, and how to tap into intuition. We’ll combine live demos, one-on-one guidance, and an encouraging space to try something new—no experience needed.
You’ll leave with your own expressive wolf portrait and tools to keep painting with confidence.
Taught by Cameron McCool, classically trained painter and founder of Life Drawing Bellingham. www.mccoolart.com
We invite the whole community to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend 2025 with a Stones Throw Block Party on Saturday, May 24th! As part of Fairhaven’s beloved Ski to Sea festivities, we’re turning the street into a lively, all-ages outdoor beer garden from 12–9pm, packed with live music, delicious local food, and of course, ice-cold craft beer.
Live Music Lineup:
12–2:30pm: Adrian Clark & Phil Sottile
3–5:30pm: Bridge
6–9pm: Pat McFarland Band
Food Trucks On Site All Day:
Galley2Go
Street Dogz
Dougs Burgers
?We’ll be pouring 10 of our fan-favorite Stones Throw brews, plus a guest tap from Bellingham Cider – perfect for sipping in the sun with friends, family, and your four-legged pals!
?The celebration keeps going on Sunday, May 25th, with an extended beer garden from 12–9pm, stop by before or after catching the Ski to Sea race at Marine Park!
Let’s kick off summer the Fairhaven way, see you at the block party!
This course will take place on Private Land in Whatcom County off Highway 542 next to Boulder Creek ~2 miles east of Maple Falls, WA.
The skills we will cover in this outdoor workshop include:
-An Introduction to Bushcraft in the Pacific Northwest
-Survival priorities
Activities:
-Knots
-Shelter construction from raw materials
-Second shelter construction: simple tarp deployment
-Knife, ax, and saw practice with guidance if needed
-Fire-making tutorial using foraged materials and no lighter
-Use a ferro rod or flint & steel.
*Optional to make tea over a fire using wild edible/medicinal plants.
We will practice all of these skills together in this full-day course.
Northwest Natura is providing day-use materials including:
Morakniv 511 knives
Ferrocerium rods and strikers
Fire resources (wood, tinder)
Saws (limited number)
Axes (limited number)
Tarps, paracord, and other shelter supplies
Demo Equipment; examples of several kit items
More details provided via the event website.
Please register via the event website.
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.
Saturday Nights April, May, and June at The Upfront Theatre!
Get ready for spontaneous comedy at its best! Punch Line is a short-form show with a variety of improvised word games which will keep you on your toes. Audience members provide the wackiest words, and our quick-thinking performers use them to create scenes full of unexpected laughs and outrageous moments. Enjoy witty banter and surprising punch lines! It’s a hilarious, unpredictable ride and no two shows are ever the same. Get ready to laugh till your sides hurt — the fun starts when YOU fill in the blanks!
Looking for a fun date night idea? Punch Line is the perfect way to break the ice or deepen your connection. The Upfront Theatre, Voted Best Date Night in Bellingham Alive!
We are an all ages venue. Shows with “mature content” or “recommended for” will be advertised accordingly.
The Bushcraft Basics series by Northwest Natura teaches students practical outdoor skills like fire-making, shelter-building, knot-tying, and wildcrafting skills like weaving, making cordage, and more.
In this course you will learn how to make cordage using different plants that you forage.
Practice self reliance skills in this half-day course.
Key takeaways:
-Ethnobotany of various species of fiber plants
-How to harvest and process fiber from multiple species of plants
-Learn two techniques of twisting plant fibers into cords and ropes
-Improve your self-reliance skills in a casual group setting where you will meet folks who share your interests and love for nature.
***Please register via the event website.
More info available on the website as well.
Join us for Good Neighbor Night as we partner with Common Threads Farm, a local nonprofit cultivating healthier kids, communities, and the environment through hands-on food education. From 5–9pm, 10% of all beer sales will be donated to support their amazing school garden and cooking programs.
? Featuring dessert from the Common Threads Food Truck – grab a sweet treat like their fan-favorite sunflower butter or pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (while they last)!
?? Be sure to enter the raffle for a chance to win a fun gift bag put together by the Common Threads team!
Come raise a glass for a great cause and connect with folks growing good things right here in Bellingham!
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!
In November 2023, voters passed for the largest public works project in the history of Whatcom County: construction of a new jail supported by strong behavioral health and diversion programs. Our May program will detail the successes and challenges to implementing these critical improvements as Whatcom County pursues justice. Panelists will analyze the treatment and diversion programs in use today and those being designed for a future facility and provide an update to the jail planning process.
Panelists:
• Director of the Public Defender’s Office, Starck Follis
• County Councilperson Barry Buchanan
• Whatcom County Deputy Executive, Kayla Schott-Bresler
We hope you’ll join us for this important discussion.
Purchase tickets in advance by 6:00 pm Sunday, May 25, at https://bhamcityclub.wildapricot.org/event-6171117/registration
Tickets: $10 (no meal); $25 Members with a meal. $30 non-members with a meal.
