Downtown Bellingham News & Press Features

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.

Pickford Film Center in Bellingham Presents Pixar Classics on the Big Screen for Just $7

Whether 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

Entertainment, BusinessDBPApril 15, 2024

Twilight Director Catherine Hardwicke In-Person at Pickford Film Center in Bellingham

Hollywood 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.

Tickets on sale now.

Special thanks to CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, who will be hosting Hardwicke as their guest of honor at this year’s festival.

Business, EntertainmentDBPApril 15, 2024

Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot

Starting 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.

Business, TrafficDBPApril 9, 2024bikes, traffic, holly

New city minimum wage takes effect May 1

As of May 1, 2024, employers with workers within the city limits must pay the new city minimum wage of $17.28. Bellingham voters approved an initiative to establish the city minimum wage in the November 2023 election. Future increases of the city minimum wage are tied to increases in the Washington State minimum wage. Get more details at cob.org/city-minimum-wage.

BusinessDBPApril 5, 2024

New arcade bar opening in downtown Bellingham, started by owners of 1-Up Lounge

A new bar is coming to downtown Bellingham, created by the owners of 1-Up Lounge, a video game bar and cocktail lounge. Pin-Up Arcade, a 21+ arcade bar, announced its upcoming business on Instagram. The new bar will be at 118 W. Holly St. in Bellingham, at the previous location of Endgame, a board game bar that closed in February 2024.

Read more at: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/business/article287315620.html#storylink=cpy

BusinessDBPApril 2, 2024