Bellingham Alive

Biosphere
2026-01-16 19:30 - 2026-01-25 21:30 (America/Denver) | WA
Bellingham TheatreWorks presents Biosphere, a comedy/drama inspired by the dramatic story of Biosphere 2, a controversial environmental experiment in 1991/1992. Four people are sealed in an airtight dome in the desert. For two years they must survive debilitating hunger and dwindling oxygen. But mostly, they must survive each other.
Firehouse Arts and Events Center
1314 Harris Ave, Bellingham
January 16, 17, 23, 24 @ 7:30 pm
January 18, 25 @ 5:00 pm
Tickets: $25 www.BellinghamTheatreWorks.org

Nurturing Your Inner Garden: A Four-Part Sound Bath Series
2026-01-17 18:30 - 2026-04-19 20:00
As we enter 2026, a year of new beginnings, this four-part sound bath series invites you to nurture your inner garden. Each month focuses on a different stage of growth, from planting intentions to tending what is starting to sprout. Gentle movement, breathing practices, journaling, and guided relaxation help prepare you for a 60–70-minute sound journey with gongs, bowls, chimes,
and more. Attend one or all, each workshop offers a complete experience on its own.
DAYS/DATES: Saturday / Sunday
January 17, February 8, March 8, and April 19
TIME: 6:30-8:00 pm
AGES: 7 years and older
LOCATION: Fairhaven Library Auditorium
COST: $36 per session, $108 full series
WEBSITE: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search?locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=inner%20garden&viewMode=list

New Moon Gong & Sound Bath Meditation
2026-01-18 09:40 - 11:00
Be renewed and soothed with a deeply relaxing soundscape with Kristi. Bring a warm blanket, plenty of padding for your comfort and a small pillow for your
head. Wear something comfortable to settle in and allow the waves of cosmic sound from artisan gongs
and harmonizing singing bowls to carry you away. Rise rejuvenated, connected and centered.
Pre-registration required.
DAY/DATE: Sunday / January 18
TIME: 10:00-11:00 am, check-in 9:40 am
AGES: 13 years and older
LOCATION: Cordata Park Pavilion
COST: $28
WEBSITE: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search?locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=new%20moon%20gong&viewMode=list

David Syre: Mind and Method at Work
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00
Cordata Gallery is pleased to invite you to ‘David Syre: Mind and Method at Work’, an exhibition focused on the wide range of techniques that make David Syre such a unique artist. From his earliest drawings to his most recent paintings, this exhibition is the first opportunity to experience works from years of experimentation all in one place. ‘Mind and Method at Work’ is more than a title—it is the living process behind David Syre’s entire artistic journey and we invite you to be part of it.

Books By the Bay Book Fair
2026-01-19 11:00 - 16:00
Join Chanticleer Book Reviews at Village Books for the “Books By the Bay Book Fair!” Meet bestselling authors and find your next great read! This is an annual event co-sponsored by Village Books and Chanticleer Book Reviews. Free, family-friendly event!

The Depths of Imagination
2026-01-22 09:00 - 16:00
Sign up for a one-of-a-kind adventure — Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. This award-winning museum features three floors of exploration, exhibits, and
hands-on fun! After a quick lunch break we’ll spend our afternoon swimming at the Skagit Valley YMCA.
COST: $65
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search/detail/40748?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Fire & Story
2026-01-22 16:00 - 2026-01-24 23:00
Visit the Bellingham Waterfront for a 3-night, family-friendly gathering of folk, light, and lore on January 22-24, 2026. Fire & Story is back and better than ever! With sculptural handcrafted wood-burning fires, light art installations, captivating performers, a diverse musical lineup, and multi-sensory experiences, Fire & Story will warm your soul during the cold of winter. Visit the four immersive stages you know and love, plus a new fifth stage with kid-centric programming for families. This year’s festival will also feature additional food and beverage options, more fires for keeping cozy, and an expanded 21+ bar area. 3-Night passes, including a limited VIP option, are on sale now. Buy early before they sell out!
Learn more at www.fireandstory.com.

Sami Braman, Allison De Groot, and Quin Bachand
2026-01-22 18:00 - 22:00
Bellingham Folk Festival Presents:
Join us in welcoming the 2026 Folk Festival with a seated listening concert featuring a debut performance from this stunning new trio!
Welcome to the 2026 edition and the 12th annual Bellingham Folk Festival!
Featuring
Laurel Bliss and John Clark 7-7:45 pm
Laurel Bliss and John Clark have been making music together in their home in Bellingham since 1986. Whether playing Old Time and Cajun music with the Happy Valley Sluggers or singing old Country and Bluegrass gems from their songbooks, they are having a beautiful musical life.
Sami Braman, Allison De Groot, and Quinn Bachand 8-9 pm
Sami Braman has been playing the fiddle since she was 6 years old, coming up amid the music festivals and jamming communities of the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant traditional Old-Time music scene. A member of The Onlies and a frequent collaborator with Willie Watson, she has performed and taught at festivals like Fiddle Tunes, MerleFest, Green Mountain Bluegrass Festival, and Pickathon. Sami and Willie just wrapped up a run opening up for Alison Krauss and Union Station on their Summer 2025 Arcadia tour. She’s a tune-writer and honored to present a new project of original and traditional tunes joined by Allison De Groot and Quinn Bachand. Allison de Groot’s banjo playing; simultaneously spacious, detailed and intensely rhythmic, has earned her awards from the JUNOs, Americana Music Award, Canadian Folk Music Awards and most recently the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo. She tours consistently with fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves, percussive dancer Nic Gareiss and the Transatlantic Sessions House Band led by Jerry Douglas. Quinn Bachand is a versatile guitarist whose distinctive playing blend’s genres from Celtic traditional to jazz. This unique artistry has earned him accolades including Grammy nomination and has led to collaborations with acclaimed musicians such as Sami Braman and Allison de Groot.

Benny Sidelinger with an opening set from Jeffrey Scott Mack
2026-01-23 18:00 - 22:00
Welcome to the 2026 edition and the 12th annual Bellingham Folk Festival!
The lights dim, and the room fades. A band hovers on stage right, but on the stage it’s just Benny now. The ancient banjo begins to hum, then sing, then rip. With fingers moving impossibly fast, the music begins to vibrate and glow. Transitioning to another song he picks up a homemade and road-worn guitar. The slower, heartfelt ballad written for his first daughter is almost a relief. Subtly, the rest of the band adds layers to the sound one at a time. Benny’s voice rings out, adding to the echoes of all the acts that have graced this stage. There is distance in that voice, and you can hear the miles and miles of road in the guitar, vibrating like smooth highways passing under weary tires.
Featuring:
Jeffrey Scott Mack is a Singer-Songwriter from Bellingham WA. His musical landscapes land somewhere between the dark, evergreen forests of Washington State and the cobble stone riverbanks of the Midwest. He draws inspiration from the mundane moments that unite us all.

Puzzle Hustle
2026-01-23 18:00 - 2026-03-06 19:30
Join us for a night of fun where teams of up to four
people will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the
same jigsaw puzzle — the three fastest teams win prizes!
Pre-registration is required.
DAY/DATES: Fridays / January 23 or March 6
TIME: 6:00-7:30 pm
AGES: All ages
LOCATION: Bloedel Donovan Community Building
COST: $30 per team per date (maximum 4 people per
team, only 1 member registers for the team)
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search?locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=puzzle&viewMode=list

Tradwife Stringband: Old Time Ingenues
2026-01-24 19:00 - 23:00
Welcome to the 2026 edition and the 12th annual Bellingham Folk Festival!
Indulge in a respite from our troublesome, wearisome, modernsome world with the Tradwife stringband!
Featuring
Tradwife stringband is a quintet of biological women and Moose, traveling the country with some traditional old time music and values.

Fix It Fair
2026-01-25 12:00 - 15:00
FREE
* clothing mending
* small appliance repair
* knife sharpening
* Education
* Good VIbes
Many of these menders are happy to show you how to do repairs yourself in the future if you are interested in learning. If not, come down and take advantage of their expertise, and let them make repairs for you. This event is free or buy donation.
All of the repairs we do are free or by donation. The volunteers are absolutely the greatest people ever. More than half of the volunteers have been doing this since the beginning

Skagit Symphony - Family Concert and Children’s Music Fair
2026-01-25 12:30 - 14:45
Sunday, Jan 25, 2026
McIntyre Hall 2501 E College Way , Mount Vernon WA
12:30 Sensory Friendly Access Only
1:00pm Children’s Music Fair
2:00pm Concert
Bring your family on a journey to the mountains! Hear Caroline Shaw’s glorious and colorful orchestral adaptation of the beloved book, “The Mountain that Loved a Bird,” narrated by local poet Sati Mookherjee. We’ll tip-toe through the Hall of the Mountain King, hoping to escape A Night on Bald Mountain. In the hour before the concert begins, enjoy the hands-on experiences our Children’s Music Fair has to offer. (Sensory friendly only enter at 12:30pm)

Bits and Bobs Assemblage Workshop with Renee Scherrer of Social Fabric
2026-01-25 13:00 - 15:00
Bits and Bobs Assemblage Workshop with Renee Scherrer of Social Fabric

Join Renee Sherrer of Social Fabric for an assemblage sculpture workshop inspired by Io Palmer’s installation, Meander (on view through Jan 25). Palmer’s mixed media work evokes the complex nature of the human experience through color, shape, and texture.
In this workshop, we’ll take inspiration from Meander to create an expression of ourselves using various bits, bobs, and upcycled materials. Sort through bins of collected items from Social Fabric to find objects that speak to your spirit, or bring your own pieces to include. We’ll provide wire, thread, ribbon, string, small objects to attach, and all kinds of ways to create a playful projection.
Class registration includes a materials fee that covers assemblage objects provided by Social Fabric as well as admission to the Whatcom Museum. This is the final day to view the exhibitions, Meander and myself inside your story.

Femme in Folk V2 ft. Zaia, Wyatt and Willow
2026-01-25 18:00 - 22:00
Welcome to the 2026 edition and the 12th annual Bellingham Folk Festival!
For the final show of the 2026 Folk Festival we will be bringing back our Femme in Folk show from last year, which features local, iconic female folk performers! Join us to celebrate them and their music in the final show of the festival.
Featuring:
Zaia, Wyatt & Willow is the collaborative project of three Bellingham songwriters Zaia Grace, Hannah Wyatt, and Claire Willow. Influenced by artists like “I’m With Her” and “Waxahatchee”, their performance weaves fiddle & cello with enchanting three part harmonies, transporting audiences with their original songs inspired by myth & folklore, love & loss, and finding one’s place on this wild earth.
Lolo Wawa
Lauren is twenty five, writes songs and sings them with her friends! She currently leads the Bellingham based band Bellflower and also performs solo under the name Lolo Wawa.

Illuminight
2026-01-30 17:00 - 20:00
An evening of local artistic celebration, we illuminate the Skagit River Walk in Mount Vernon with hundreds of luminaries, watch local performances, and finish the evening with an illuminating processional through downtown Mount Vernon. On Friday, January 30th, gather with us at 5pm at the Skagit River Walk in Mount Vernon (509 Main Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273) to start the magically glowing evening. For more information go to www.mountvernonwa.gov/parks or call (360) 336-6215

Fort Fight Friday
2026-01-30 18:00 - 19:30
You bring sheets, pillows, cardboard, and ingenuity! We provide tape, markers, paper, and 4 chairs. Build an awesome fort in 30 minutes with your team of 2-4 people. After the build, we judge the most creative fort. Then following the award ceremony, each team gets dodgeballs… last fort standing wins best design!
DAY/DATE: Friday / January 30
TIME: 6:00-7:30 pm
AGES: All ages
LOCATION: Bloedel Donovan Community Building
COST: $30 per team of 2-4 people (one person
registers and pays team fee). Pre-registration required.
Website: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search/detail/40787?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Cream Puff Watercolor Workshop
2026-01-31 09:00 - 11:00
Learn some new watercolor skills while enjoying a drink & 2 cream puffs! All supplies & tasty treats provided. Taught by local artist Irene, of Chroma Rex, at Saltadena in downtown Bellingham
All skill levels welcome, and beginners encouraged! Open to adults & high schoolers.
$65/person, or register with a buddy for a $10 discount
Register here:
https://chromarex.com/products/watercolor-workshop-at-saltadena-bakery

SOVRN.STH Session 1: Veronica North
2026-01-31 19:00 - 23:00
Live music, live art, and community – benefiting Northwest Skate Collective
Event Page: https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/sovrn-sth-session-1-veronica-north-2026-01-31-the-blue-room-bellingham-0f14cc
Sovereign Soirées presents the launch of SOVRN.STH (Sovereign South), a new concert and art series celebrating collaboration, accessibility, and community impact.
SOVRN.STH Session 1 features a live, intimate performance by Veronica North, whose blend of heartfelt lyricism and indie-pop charm creates an experience that feels both raw and cinematic. Known for her emotional storytelling and captivating stage presence, Veronica’s stripped-down set will highlight the vulnerability and power behind her music – offering an authentic connection between artist and audience.
Enjoy live painting by Sierra James, the artist behind SieArts, whose work celebrates movement, connection, and the beauty of imperfection through layers of color and texture. As she paints live throughout the evening, guests can also explore a curated exhibit of SieArts originals – a collection of vibrant pieces that merge the organic and emotional, mirroring the rhythm of the night.
A portion of proceeds – plus optional donations at checkout – will benefit the Northwest Skate Collective, a local nonprofit leading the effort to build a state-of-the-art waterfront skatepark in Bellingham. The City of Bellingham has already committed $1.95 million toward the project’s $3 million goal, with community fundraising underway to close the gap and begin construction in 2027. Your support helps create an inclusive, world-class space for skaters of all ages and abilities.
All Ages | Bar with ID | ADA Accessible

Wicket
2026-02-01 15:00 - 16:15
Documenting Grace/Kuntz and Company presents “Wicket” a screendance documentary about Gabriel Jaochico, the breakdancing legend known as Bboy Wicket, directed by Lily Plotkin. Once a global breakdancing icon, Jaochico spent decades hiding his true identity. This documentary traces his rise to fame and his long journey toward coming out, revealing a story of love, legacy, and self-acceptance. With legendary battle footage, candid interviews, and raw emotional honesty, Wicket shines a light on the power of community and the freedom of living as your whole self.
Sunday February 1st @ 3:00, 2025
Firehouse Arts and Events Center
Kuntzandco.org for tickets and more information

Financial Learning and Resiliency Through Empowerment (FLARE)
2026-02-04 15:00 - 2026-03-25 17:00
Free In Person Financial Course! Want to learn more about money? How to make your dollar stretch? How to create a budget? Well this free course is for you! Come join us on Wednesdays at the WECU Education Center on 511 E. Holly Street, Downtown Bellingham, starting February 4th-March 25th from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Scan the QR code or visit www.oppco.org/flare-registration/ to register. Hope to see you there!!!

Birchwood Garden Club's February 4th Meeting
2026-02-04 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
February Topic:
Pruning Trees and Shrubs
The February 4, 2026 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The speaker will be Travis Dickson, a certified ISA Arborist and the owner of Rain Dance Landscaping, a Pacific Northwest-based company specializing in expert pruning and naturalistic garden care.
With 25 years of professional experience, Travis brings deep expertise in tree biology, pruning practices, and sustainable landscape management. His presentation will focus on pruning techniques for fruit trees, ornamental trees, and shrubs, as well as how to evaluate and manage large trees on small properties—balancing their benefits and challenges.
Travis is passionate about helping gardeners make informed, confident decisions to support the long-term health and beauty of their outdoor spaces. Please join us!!!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Open Jam!
2026-02-04 19:00 - 23:00
A FREE Open Mic Style Jam Session
We are so back!!
Formerly known as Jam:30, Blue Room’s open mic style jam session returns
Additional information:
Open Jam is a free form instrumental/vocal jam session with signups by instrument. It is a casual environment to practice your skills and meet new people. If you don’t play an instrument – simply sit back and enjoy the show!
Blue Room provides a drumset, piano, electric guitar, and various auxiliary percussion instruments. We encourage everyone to bring an instrument of their own!
Admission is free! Signups begin at 7pm and jamming starts closer to 8pm

Rec-Tivities: Family Activity Kits
2026-02-06 08:30 - 2026-04-03 16:30
Get creative with the whole family! Pick up a seasonally
themed kit containing ready-to-create craft projects
that make great seasonal décor. Rec-Tivities are perfect
for families who like to decorate for holidays and enjoy
creative hands-on activities. They also include trivia,
jokes, and recipes to really get your family in the spirit
of the season! Kits will be available for pickup beginning
the first Friday of each month. Some common household
items may be required to complete all
projects. Pre-registration required.
Themes include:
February: A Lovely Day for Valentine’s
March: Spring into Creativity
April: Bloom and Grow
DAY/DATES: Fridays / February 6, March 6, or April 3
TIME: Pick up Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
AGES: All ages
LOCATION: Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
COST: $25 per kit
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search?locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=rec%20its&viewMode=list

Allied Arts of Whatcom County Members Show
2026-02-06 11:00 - 2026-02-28 16:00
Allied Arts is delighted to present the 2026 Annual Members Show this February at the downtown
Bellingham Gallery. This year’s show includes creations from nearly 100 Allied Arts members, ranging from professional artists, students, to new or emerging artists. From traditional painting to contemporary sculpting, photography and everything in between, this year’s show will reveal the prodigious talent within
the Whatcom community.
Allied Arts is a non-profit gallery; all proceeds from sales go towards supporting the arts in our community. For more information visit alliedarts.org or contact us at 360-676-8548 or gallery@alliedarts.org.
Opening reception is 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6. Pianist Lou Lippman will perform. The exhibit continues through Feb. 28. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Salish Seed Swap
2026-02-07 12:00 - 15:00
Salish Seed Swap
Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 12 pm – 3:00 pm
At the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (Downstairs)
1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Bring seeds to share, learn about seeds and seed saving, get seeds for your garden, talk to other people interested in growing things!
$10 suggested donation, at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Early entrance (11:30 am) for members of the Salish Seed Guild and people bringing seeds to share.
Several vendors of local plant, specialty seeds and plant related products will be selling their unique offerings.
Please bring your own envelopes to package bulk seeds being offered.
More info or to become a member go to www.salishseed.org

Valentine's Day Party
2026-02-07 13:30 - 15:30
Celebrate the day of love with the ones you love! Families of 2nd graders and younger are invited to play and wear festive outfits, make crafts, and win prizes playing games at our booths. From 1:30–2:30 pm we will offer a Sensory
Friendly experience. During this time, we will have a limited
supply of headphones, gloves, and fidgets at the door for families to use while visiting the party.
DAY/DATE: Saturday / February 7
TIME: 1:30–3:30 pm (Sensory Friendly 1:30–2:30 pm)
AGES: 2nd grade and younger, with an adult
LOCATION: Bloedel Donovan Community Building
COST: $5 suggested donation
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search/detail/40796?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Natural Dye and Shibori Workshop with Serafima Zavorotny and Fiona Ferguson
2026-02-08 13:00 - 16:00
Striking Scarves: Natural Dye and Shibori Workshop with Serafima Zavorotny and Fiona Ferguson

Brighten up the winter months with natural dyes. Learn how to use plants to create vibrant, wearable art in this introduction to dye making. Participants will explore common natural dyes like madder and weld, learn how to achieve long-lasting color, and experiment with making simple dyes using kitchen scraps, like avocado skins. Next, participants will learn traditional shibori (Japanese tie dye) techniques to create fun patterns on test pieces, then will jump into creating a custom dyed silk scarf.
Class registration fees include admission to the Whatcom Museum, supplies for the class, and a dyeable silk scarf to take home with you.

Good Spins Pint Night
2026-02-09 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a night of music, drinks, and community at Good Spins Pint Night at El Sueñito Brewing (1926 Humboldt Street, Bellingham).
On Monday, Feb. 9 from 7–9 p.m., enjoy vinyl spun by Ritual Records while supporting the Volunteer Center of Whatcom County. For every drink sold, $1 will be donated to help volunteers meet real needs in our community—like driving older adults to medical appointments.
It’s an easy way to give back while connecting with neighbors and enjoying a fun night out. Volunteer Center staff will be there if you want to learn more about ways to get involved.
All are welcome. Bring a friend, grab a drink, and make a difference together.

Understanding Conflict
2026-02-10 14:00 - 17:00
Understanding Conflict
Time: Feb 10th & 17th, 2-5 pm
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Fee: $125, sliding scale and group discounts available
Website: https://www.whatcomdrc.org/understanding-conflict
Intro to Conflict Resolution: This, two-part, 6-hour, training series covers communication styles and how that can shape responses to conflict, and provides opportunities for participants to practice active listening and asserting one’s need in high-stress situations.
