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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Agenda
April – May 2024 Apr – May 2024
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Apr
27
Sat
Chuckanut Bay Shoreline Exploration @ Chuckanut Pocket Estuary
Tickets
Apr 27 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Chuckanut Bay Shoreline Exploration @ Chuckanut Pocket Estuary

Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society Field Trip:

The north end of Chuckanut Bay has steep south-facing slopes, a marsh behind a gravelly beach ridge, mature second growth forest, and oak tree meadows. This is also an important location in the traditions of the Nooksack Indians and other Coast Salish peoples, as documented in Nooksack Place Names and by five archaeological sites. We will first explore the beach ridge and marsh, then slopes above the mud flats at low tide. Chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis) and mountain larkspur (Delphinium menzeisii) should be in full bloom. A full plant list is available on the WNPS state website. Meet at the end of Fairhaven Ave in the Chuckanut Village neighborhood of Bellingham. Take Chuckanut Drive less than a mile south of Fairhaven Park to a right turn behind the Chuckanut Bay Gallery to reach Fairhaven Ave. Bring boots or shoes suitable for ankle deep mud, and other shoes for the trail. Contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5@gmail.com to sign up.

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Tags: #nativeplants #NativePlantSociety chuckanut bay
April Brews Day @ Downtown Bellingham Waterfront
Tickets
Apr 27 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
April Brews Day @ Downtown Bellingham Waterfront

Join us for April Brews Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Bellingham, WA Downtown Waterfront featuring craft breweries from the Pacific Northwest. The event will showcase local food vendors and live musical performances. April Brews Day is the culminating event of Bellingham Beer Week, a collaboration that highlights Bellingham’s booming beer scene.

Tickets go on sale January 15. All tickets include a collectable tasting cup and tasting tickets for beer and food. VIP ticket holders receive exclusive access to the event one and a half hours prior to general admission and receive additional tasting tickets. Tickets may be purchased online at aprilbrewsday.org.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity and support from sponsors like WECU and City of Bellingham Tourism. “We at WECU are thrilled to support April Brews Day, a beloved local event that brings together the community for a fantastic cause,” said Keith Mader, Director of PR at WECU. “We deeply value the impactful efforts of the Max Higbee Center and feel privileged to contribute to this exceptional event.”

So grab a beer for a cause! All proceeds benefit Max Higbee Center’s community-based recreation programs that help empower youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Learn more at maxhigbeecenter.org.

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Categories: Festivals, Expos & Parades Non-Profit Fundraising Events Tags: #beerfestival beer festival Beer Week bellingham beer week craft beer drink beer
May
2
Thu
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Hidden Forest Foray @ Sehome Hill Arboretum
Tickets
May 2 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Hidden Forest Foray @ Sehome Hill Arboretum

Join our fun, informal introductory native plant walks and get familiar with plants native to Whatcom County.

Sponsored by the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), these introductory plant identification walks feature an easy pace and will each last about two hours. All walks are free and no registration is required, just show up at the meeting spot. The walks will focus on a variety of habitats, with your expert guide introducing you to common trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants native to our area. Leaders will share tidbits on ethnobotany, wildlife use, gardening with natives, and other interesting plant related facts. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes that may get wet. Each walk stands alone, or attend them all to get a free mini-course on plant identification. For more information contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5@gmail.com.

Hidden Forest Foray:

Explore the plants of the Sehome Hill Arboretum, a “secret” natural area in the heart of Bellingham with guidebook author and former Arboretum board member Mark Turner. Sehome Hill was logged in the early 20th century and is now developing a mature second-growth forest. We’ll look at trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and a vine or two. Learn what’s native and what’s not.

Meet in the parking area at the top of Arboretum Drive (off Bill McDonald Parkway).

Photo by Mark Turner.

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Tags: #nativeplants
May
5
Sun
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Spring Plant Walk at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve @ Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve
Tickets
May 5 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Spring Plant Walk at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve @ Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve

Join our fun, informal introductory native plant walks and get familiar with plants native to Whatcom County. Sponsored by the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), these introductory plant identification walks feature an easy pace and will each last about two hours. All walks are free and no registration is required, just show up at the meeting spot. The walks will focus on a variety of habitats, with your expert guide introducing you to common trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants native to our area. Leaders will share tidbits on ethnobotany, wildlife use, gardening with natives, and other interesting plant related facts. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes that may get wet. Each walk stands alone, or attend them all to get a free mini-course on plant identification. For more information contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5@gmail.com.

Spring Plant Walk at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve:

Visit this gem of a county park, preserved through efforts of the Whatcom Land Trust. The forest floor at Point Whitehorn is carpeted with small wild flowers in the spring. Join Annie Prevost, Bob Lemon, and Pam Borso for a walk and learn about the flowers, shrubs and trees of this forest on the edge of the sea. The walk will take us to the beach. At this time you may choose to linger on the beach or return to the cars.

Meet at the Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve Park. Directions: take the Grandview Road exit on I-5. Head west on Grandview to the end, turn left (south) on Koehn Rd. and you will soon see the parking lot on the left.

Photo by Mark Turner.

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Categories: Outdoor Recreation Tags: #nativeplants
May
11
Sat
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Native Plants at Birch Bay State Park @ Birch Bay State Park
Tickets
May 11 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Native Plants at Birch Bay State Park @ Birch Bay State Park

Join our fun, informal introductory native plant walks and get familiar with plants native to Whatcom County. Sponsored by the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), these introductory plant identification walks feature an easy pace and will each last about two hours. All walks are free and no registration is required, just show up at the meeting spot. The walks will focus on a variety of habitats, with your expert guide introducing you to common trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants native to our area. Leaders will share tidbits on ethnobotany, wildlife use, gardening with natives, and other interesting plant related facts. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes that may get wet. Each walk stands alone, or attend them all to get a free mini-course on plant identification. For more information contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5@gmail.com.

Native Plants at Birch Bay State Park:

Join Pam Borso and Lyle Anderson for a beginning plant walk in the rich, diverse plant community at the Birch Bay State Park. The walk will go from the beach through the uplands along a forested trail to the Terrell Creek estuary.

Meet at the BP Heron Center by the beach in Birch Bay State Park (Discover Pass required).

Photo by Alika Herreshoff.

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Categories: Outdoor Recreation Tags: #nativeplants
May
12
Sun
Spring Foraging & Outdoor Cooking with Northwest Natura @ Maple Falls
Tickets
May 12 @ 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Spring Foraging & Outdoor Cooking with Northwest Natura @ Maple Falls

Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a day of foraging out in the woods. This course will take place on private and public property approximately 2 miles from of Maple Falls. Location is subject to change based on seasonal anomalies such as delayed sprouting.

This is a great event to be out in nature on Mothers Day!

We will be foraging nettles and other edible or medicinal plants, in addition to any edible mushrooms we may find. For each species, expect short discourse on it’s edibility or medicinal properties, how to prepare it for medicine or food, and information on its ecology.

Expect moderate walking/hiking with frequent stops, self-led exploration, and a lesson in ethical foraging on public lands.

The last half of the class, we will build a fire and cook together using nettles. I will show you 2 recipes and make suggestions for several others.

This will be a fun outing!

Please register via the website.

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Categories: Education Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: Foraging outdoor cooking spring
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Native Forest on the Otto Preserve, Lummi Island @ Otto Preserve, Lummi Island
Tickets
May 12 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Introductory Native Plant Walks: Native Forest on the Otto Preserve, Lummi Island @ Otto Preserve, Lummi Island

Join our fun, informal introductory native plant walks and get familiar with plants native to Whatcom County. Sponsored by the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), these introductory plant identification walks feature an easy pace and will each last about two hours. All walks are free and no registration is required, just show up at the meeting spot. The walks will focus on a variety of habitats, with your expert guide introducing you to common trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants native to our area. Leaders will share tidbits on ethnobotany, wildlife use, gardening with natives, and other interesting plant related facts. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes that may get wet. Each walk stands alone, or attend them all to get a free mini-course on plant identification. For more information contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5@gmail.com.

Native Forest on the Otto Preserve, Lummi Island:

Explore the native plants in the forest understory of the beautiful Otto Preserve, land protected and stewarded by the Lummi Island Heritage Trust. Alika Herreshoff will introduce common native trees, shrubs, and flowers, as well as identifying non-native and invasive plants. The walk will take us through varying aspects of the forest and along the edges of a rich wetland ecosystem.

Meet at the Otto Preserve, 3560 Sunrise Rd, Lummi Island. Take the Lummi Island Ferry from Gooseberry Point. (Parking is limited, please consider carpooling!)

Photo by Alika Herreshoff.

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Categories: Outdoor Recreation Tags: #nativeplants
May
15
Wed
Incorporating Native Plants in Your Garden @ Sustainable Living Center at the RE-Store
Tickets
May 15 @ 7:00 pm
Incorporating Native Plants in Your Garden @ Sustainable Living Center at the RE-Store

Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society
Chapter Meeting: Incorporating Native Plants in Your Garden
In-person, 7PM

Do you have to go whole hog and ditch your old garden favorites when you “go native?” Not necessarily. Tuck native perennials and shrubs into your existing garden and begin experiencing the benefits of gardening with native plants without wiping the slate clean first. Learn how to choose appropriate native (and near-native) plants for your environment. See examples of native plants incorporated into an existing garden and new garden areas planted mostly with natives.

Mark Turner specializes in photographing botanical subjects for books and magazines in a wide range of environments, especially Pacific Northwest gardens and wild lands. He is the photographer of three books from Timber Press, the award-winning Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, Trees and Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest, and the new Weeds of the Pacific Northwest, published in February 2024. He’s a long-time member of WNPS, former Koma Kulshan chapter chair and current state board member.

Photo by Mark Turner.

This is an in-person chapter meeting. In-person meetings begin at 7pm in the Sustainable Living Center education room at the ReStore (2309 Meridian St.). The entrance is off the back alley and the SLC is upstairs.

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Categories: Author Talk Tags: #nativeplants gardening
May
18
Sat
Baker River Wildflowers and Pollinators @ Baker River Trailhead
Tickets
May 18 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Baker River Wildflowers and Pollinators @ Baker River Trailhead

Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society

Field Trip: Baker River Wildflowers and Pollinators

After pre-registering with Jim Davis (jimdavisscs [at] gmail [dot] com), meet at 10:00 AM at the Baker River Trailhead at the end of the Baker Lake Road. Dense forest limits flowering plant abundance in much of the North Cascade lowlands. However, there are lowland areas with abundant flowers and, of course, their associated pollinators. River and lake margins provide habitats where sunlight penetrates far enough into riparian areas to create healthy flowering plant communities. Meandering rivers (Baker River as a prime example) also create forest openings that gradually recover to mature forest, going through several stages of flowering shrubs and small trees. If we have time, we may even visit a burned area along Park Creek where the shrub layer is slowing recovering. Late May to early June is the best time to visit the Baker River area. We should see quite a few flowers. This will be a relatively easy hike of about 2+ miles on mostly level terrain along the river. Hopefully the weather will be good, but you never know, so bring appropriate rain gear and warm clothing. Also bring a lunch and plenty of water. Don’t forget your Forest Service / Park Service parking pass. There are no fee stations in the area. We will be meeting at the trailhead, so please arrange your own carpools as you think appropriate. It can be up to a two-hour drive to the trailhead, depending on how many stops you need to make along the way. The trip is limited to 12 people, so please register with Jim Davis at jimdavisscs [at] gmail [dot] com.

Photo by Jim Davis.

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Categories: Outdoor Recreation Tags: #nativeplants nativepollinators wildflowers
Pine Needle Basketry – A Wildcrafter’s Workshop with Northwest Natura @ Chuckanut Center
Tickets
May 18 @ 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Pine Needle Basketry - A Wildcrafter's Workshop with Northwest Natura @ Chuckanut Center

In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.

Baskets are thought to be one of the first art forms of ancient peoples, with basket fragments found in California and the Southwest dating to 9400 years, and coiled baskets from the earliest sites in Egypt dating to 7,000 years. The coil 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.

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).

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Categories: Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: basket making Foraging pine needles
May
24
Fri
Goose Rock Field Trip @ Deception Pass State Park
Tickets
May 24 @ 9:15 am – 1:00 pm
Goose Rock Field Trip @ Deception Pass State Park

Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society

Field Trip: Goose Rock

Goose Rock is the highest point on Whidbey Island at about 480 feet. Starting from the parking area at the east end of North Beach, we’ll hike under the bridge, through the forest, and up to the bald at the top to see a great diversity of wildflowers and other native bald/meadow plants. On a clear day, there are fantastic island views from the top. On the way down, I hope we’ll find Pacific rhododendron, Rhododendron macrophyllum, in bloom along part of the loop trail. There is no plant list for Goose Rock yet – please come and help build one. I visited this area two years ago and have a preliminary list I can share. Bring a lunch if you like and we’ll stop to eat somewhere along the way. This is an easy to moderate hike, about 2-3 miles in length and ~500 feet elevation gain with some steep and/or slippery sections. It is in Deception Pass State Park and you will need a Discover Pass to park. We are visiting on a weekday because Deception Pass is a busy tourist area. It’s about 50 minutes to drive from Bellingham to the trailhead. We’ll meet at the trailhead at 9:15 am. Please contact Katie Mitchell, katie.henken [at] gmail.com to register or for more information.

Photo by Katie Mitchell.

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Categories: Outdoor Recreation Tags: #nativeplants
April – May 2024 Apr – May 2024