As the non-profit dedicated to Bellingham's vibrant downtown, we strive to keep you informed about the exciting developments, events, and initiatives that shape our community. Read and share our press releases about Downtown Bellingham Partnership events, programs, organization, and service announcements. We also share news from community partners and press outlets.
For press inquiries and further information, please contact Jenny Hagemann, our Development & Communications Manager. We look forward to sharing the stories that make our downtown a thriving and engaging destination.
See below to subscribe to our monthly newsletters, which highlights news each month, and for quick links to local publications and the City of Bellingham’s official news.
Kick off Memorial Day and Ski to Sea weekend at the Official Ski to Sea Block Party at Boundary Bay Brewery! Friday, May 24th starting at 4PM in the beer garden, Boundary Bay will be serving up its famous FryDay Fish Fry menu alongside Cicchitt’s Pizza, live music from the Legendary Chucklenuts, and games provided by WECU.
Sustainable Connections is proud to announce the launch of their 2024 Farm to Table Trails, nine loops that invite participants to savor the sights and sounds of beautiful Northwest Washington. On these trails, folks will enjoy bountiful harvests from u-pick berry farms, find the most decadent local cheeses, and visit markets and farm stands for the freshest vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish. These trails are available in print and digital forms – making them accessible and convenient, no matter the user’s preference.
We were featured on Redfin’s bucket list article for new residents of Bellingham, WA. Check out the blog article here!
Northwest Youth Services is excited to announce the launch of the first and only LGBTQ+ center between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, Canada. The Q Center, created by Northwest Youth Services in partnership with Bellingham Queer Collective, is Whatcom County’s inaugural Queer Community Center.
Read MoreGovernor Inslee recently signed HB 2306 into law, expanding the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program, which allows businesses and organizations who pay state Business & Occupation (B&O) tax or Public Utility Tax (PUT) to pledge donations to Washington Main Street Communities, including Downtown Bellingham, and receive 75% back as a tax credit. This legislative action is in cooperation with the Department of Revenue and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and enables a potential third pledge season in 2024 and up to $333,333, up from $213,000 in 2023, for qualifying communities to reinvest state dollars into local needs. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership must receive $160,000 in tax credit pledges from businesses and organizations paying state B&O or PUT before October 1, 2024, to earn eligibility for a third round of pledges and is inviting new businesses to the program effective today. The first step for interested businesses is to contact the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s Development Manager, Jenny Hagemann.
Read MoreBellingham Beer Week, an 11-day-long celebration hosted by local breweries, is back for its 10th year from April 18-28.
“For the last decade, Bellingham Beer Week has been an annual celebration of the creative and unique beer scene in Bellingham, making our city a destination for beer drinkers across the Pacific Northwest,” according to a news release from the Bellingham Beer Alliance, an organizing committee for Bellingham’s beer community.
Read MoreSustainable Connections is thrilled to announce the launch of the second annual Spring Sandwich Showdown, a delectable competition that promises to tantalize taste buds and celebrate culinary creativity.
From April 15 to May 15, sandwich enthusiasts across the region will have the opportunity to indulge in a variety of delectable sandwiches crafted by 37 participating restaurants and cast their votes for the ultimate sandwich champion.
For more information about the Spring Sandwich Showdown, including a list of 37 participating restaurants and voting instructions, visit https://sustainableconnections.org/sandwich-showdown.
Read MoreThe SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is announcing the launch of a $2 million Capital Campaign to support the expansion of the Museum through the creation of Wonderlab, a fully interactive gallery for youth and families. With $400,000 already pledged as a matching donation, SPARK is excited to tackle their most ambitious project yet with the community at the center of it.
Read MoreWhether you’re revisiting old favorites or introducing the young people in your life to these films for the first time, the theatrical format is essential for appreciating what kind of visual craft PIXAR has to offer in their decades-long history as a studio.
Kid Pickford is Pickford Film Center’s long-running monthly, children’s film series.
Event Details:
Festival Name: Kid Pickford: PIXAR
Dates: April - September 2024
Location: Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St. Bellingham, WA
Website: https://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/kid-pickford
Read MoreHollywood film director Catherine Hardwicke will be at Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA on April 27th to introduce, in-person, a one-night-only screening of her 2008 film, Twilight, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.
Twilight (2008) is the first in a series of films adapted from the best-selling “Twilight Saga” book series written by Stephanie Meyer.
Special thanks to CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, who will be hosting Hardwicke as their guest of honor at this year’s festival.
Read MoreStarting in May, the City of Bellingham will be piloting a new bike lane on Holly Street from Ellis to Bay Street to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians.
The pilot will include:
Changes to the traffic lights to make pedestrian crossings safer
Protected bike lanes between Ellis Streetand State Street
Parking protected bike lanes between State Street and Bay Street
The bike lane installation will take away one lane of traffic through the corridor but will not result in any changes to the number of parking spots downtown.
Read More
