Located in the heart of downtown Bellingham, Depot Market Square is the ultimate event venue -…read moreespecially for festivals like (to name a few) April Brews Day, Brewers by the Bay, the Bellingham Pride Festival, Handbags for Housing, and the dozens of other events that occupy it throughout the year. Best known as home to the Farmer's Market, this venue is actually owned by the City of Bellingham and boasts any number of events in its unique indoor/outdoor setting. Outside there are long rows of covered areas to protect vendors from sun/rain, and inside the vast, naturally lit space is flexible enough for anything from meetings to weddings to dances. There are also convenient bathrooms, and up in the SE corner of the building you will find the Depot's only permanent resident: Ralf's Bavarian Pretzels. I've spent many an hour (perhaps even several entire days) at the Depot, and I never tire of its classic Bellingham vibe. See you at the next festival!

If you've ever had a kid in Bellingham public schools, attended a local college soccer match, or…read morejust needed to find a track to run around for a little exercise there's no doubt you've been to Civic Stadium. Located in the city-owned athletic complex that includes Joe Martin Stadium, Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, and the Sportsplex this basic-but-functional concrete monstrosity features a huge parking lot and two stadium-style covered seating areas (the larger of which is generally reserved for the home team fans). I've been to any number of events here: cross country, track & field, football, soccer, heck even a food truck festival. It's no fancy big-city stadium, and the concessions are pretty limited, but it serves a great purpose in our community.

The feeling this place gave me wasn't the typical feeling of walking around a garden. This specific…read moreplace made me feel like I stepped onto a movie set about a fairy tale in a far away land. There are so many unique, beautiful things to look at here, from the flowers, to the beautiful lawns, to the tall trees. If you're detail oriented, you will notice little treasures everywhere. I suggest that you come to see for yourself. I wish that I had taken more pictures! Then again, I don't want to spoil all of the beautiful surprises for you.

Amazing gardens in an out of the way place. A fairy tale world of trees and flowers beautifully…read moredesigned.

Pioneer Park is the perfect combination of a beautiful outdoor park plus the chance to take in some…read morelocal history. When you first enter the park you're greeted by a row of hand-built, historical buildings made by Whatcom County's earliest settlers and relocated to (what would eventually become) Pioneer Park. If you go on a day that some of the houses are open, for a small donation you can take a tour hosted by volunteers who know pretty much everything about the history of Ferndale and the county! The tour houses are set up with relics from the past - it's so interesting to see how the early settlers lived. Past the houses are open spaces where concerts are held, and the iconic barn which is the home of weddings, dances, and beer gardens throughout the summer. It's always fun to attend one of Pioneer Park's signature events, the Old Settlers Festival, where you are greeted with a ribbon denoting how long you've lived in these here parts, and then you get to enjoy the various vendors (and of course food!) before embarking to the barn where you will pretty much run into everyone you've ever known! Pioneer Park is also home to the beautiful and amazing Star Park, a children's playground build entirely by community volunteers. So now there are fun things for the little ones to do here, too!

Oh Dirty Dan, you sneaky dude, you got a whole festival named after you! And this is a good one…read more Featuring music, art, a fantastic kids' zone, a beer garden, a chili cookoff, and of course the uber-legendary Uphill Piano Race this Fairhaven fest is family fun with a capital F. Named after a legendary character and set in Bham's most historic zone, this event oozes history and charm and is a great way to spend the afternoon. We especially enjoyed the chili cookoff. You pay for entry and try samples from various restaurants. At the end you vote on your fave chili and get an entire bowl of it to enjoy. I've never left hungry! Don't forget to keep an eye out for the "ladies of Fairhaven" who roam about in their beautiful and alluring period costumes to remind us all of what else used to be popular in town. These gorgeous gals are a ton of fun - if you see them say hi, they have great stories to tell! Ride your bike to this one because parking can be a hassle, especially if the weather's good.

This year was the inaugural FisherPoets event in Bellingham and I was pleasantly surprised at the…read moregreat attendance, as revelers young and old filled the giant Boundary Bay beer garden to drink suds, eat fish, and listen to fishers-of-the-sea recite their writings on the grand stage. The lucky ones got there early, as seating was limited, but this didn't stop the standing-room-only crowd from enjoying the festivities. Later in the evening the poets retreated to the Mountain Room and a lively band took over, as families celebrated the SeaFeast kickoff late into the evening. Pro tip: don't miss the curry mayo on your fish and/or fries. Ahhhhh-mazing!

Great outdoor event for late fall. Things started strong with lots of people showing up to listen…read moreto poetry and have a great Boundary Bay Beer. I loved the Fish and Chips (I chose onion rings). Super quick service and a fast moving beer line made for an easy and accessible meal and beer.

What a fantastic place!! Went there for the first time last night and had a blast!! I love arcades…read moreand they have many old school games that I knew as a child of the 80's which brought back a lot of amazing memories! I will definitely be back!

Love this place! It's a fun, nostalgic experience to take my 9 yo. Just watch out for gate keeping…read moreparents at the winner games lol

In case you've been sleeping for the past couple of years, Bellingham has become a beer town with a…read morecapital B. We've got so many breweries now I've pretty much lost count, but let's just say there are PLENTY to choose from. And along with breweries, we've now got plenty o' beer festivals too. Brewers By The Bay, which came along before many of the new breweries, is one of the best. Sponsored by the Bellingham Rotary, BBtB features local and regional beers often poured by the brewers themselves. Your entry includes several tastings, live music, and yes FOOD IS INCLUDED. I didn't believe it, either, but it's true. You just walk up to the BBQ area and get yourself a burger, a dog, and some sides and they don't ask you for a dime. Seating is plentiful, too. although I would have appreciated a bit more shade to sit in on this hot day. But you never know with the weather around here!