A giant stage with lively bands playing, people of all ages dancing, a beer garden, food, vendors,…read moredogs, amazing weather...yup, this is pretty much one of my favorite local events. In fact, I'd say Downtown Sounds is the quintessential Bellingham experience. Held on multiple Wednesdays during the summer months, this free concert/street festival brings together the best our sweet city has to offer. And this year it got even better as the layout of the festival was flipped on its access, creating a larger beer garden (no more long lines!) with full view of the action on stage, plus a great food truck area with local yumminess like tacos, tamales, and ice cream. If it's a warm summer night, there's simply no place better to be. Want to experience Bellingham for all it is? Check out Downtown Sounds!

After being washed out for two weeks in a row, Downtown Sounds finally got a break from the weather…read moreGods. Perfect summer weather, great Latin vibe and lots of food, kids activities and dancing!

I liked the Church so much that I joined. Great place for newcomers, made a lot of friends. Never…read moreleave on Sunday without a smile.

Fab food!!! Desserts, pastries, souvlaki!! When I went there was not a big crowd. Which was very…read morenice. Because it is a hot time of the year.

Not enough bands, but way too many fire trucks! If there was a brush fire in the county, I fear…read morepeople would have been crushed by the calvacade of fire vehicles speeding off. Other than that, this parade and street festival felt old town America. Lots of folks out on the sidewalks with their kiddos ready to enjoy a rather lengthy parade. If there were no visible cell phones, and if there were no police on the roofs of the Main Street businesses, you would swear you were back in 1980! I'd go again!

Family fun in Ferndale! I came out today for the annual…read moreRubber Duckey Derby sponsored the Ferndale Rotary Club. It's their biggest fundraiser. Although I didn't claim the $5,000 grand prize we stayed a few hours to enjoy the festivities. Tons of activities for kids, they have their very own "Kid street' complete with music, fitness demos, games. For adults, it was the car show (disorganized) the beer garden and a decent rock cover band as well as all the greasy food you'd expect at a street fair. Vendor booths were "meh." I did get some car insurance info and a free coffee card to Woods.The best was the Lipsence booth and color sampling. Who doesn't want a lipgloss that lasts 18 hours!

Definitely a unique experience with some fun, thematic material and performances…read more Cost $ to enter, but it goes to a good cause! You will be able to purchase delicious "fair fare" and peruse many novelty swords, costumes, trinkets from talented craftsmen! Shows include dancing, exotic animals, bagpipes and contests. Firefighters are there cooking up awesome hotdogs and burgers- definitely a good deal too.

A nice small highland game. They have a new sponsor so it is just their first year. That will get…read morebetter and bigger. But just beware. Food takes forever!!!!

This year was the second for Chuckanut Brewery's Oktoberfest and, while the first year was equally…read moreas fun, the folks at CB made just enough improvements to take this event to signature status. Held on the first Saturday of Bellingham Beer Week, this year's Oktoberfest featured more seating than last year, most of which was under a GIANT hops-adorned tent with long shared tables. It was like a scene right out of Bavaria (including the lederhosen-tshirt-adorned staff). There was also an awesomely fantastic polka band, surely a staple at any such festival. And, of course, there was delicious food and beer. This year they even had a couple of food trucks in attendance, plus the usual delicious offerings from Chuckanut's own menu. A beer station kept the crowd moving, and there was also a giant blow-up play area for the kiddos (plus other games for young and old). You know it's a good event when you're already looking forward to next year's festivities!

I always used to look at animal masks online and think, "I should buy one. You never know when…read moreyou'll need this!" Against my better judgement, I didn't buy a mask....And then I saw the poster for this. Mistake! This is an opportunity for anyone to dress up as any species and march in a parade from the library to Maritime Park. There was music during the parade and then again at the park. So much fun for the entire family! I've learned my lesson. Mask ordered for next year.

Short but sweet! On this glorious sunny day creative Bellinghamsters take to the streets and…read moreparaded from the city hall down Holly Street to Maritime Park. The musicians were a crack up.