This is an amazing beer lovers event…read more Bellinghamsters come out in force, so arrive early. The lines to get tickets and get in the day of the event are super long. It is worth it to buy the VIP pass online to avoid the wait. Plus, you get early entry before the masses which gives you immediate access to each vendor without the long lines. You buy a 4oz cup for $4 upon arrival. Brewers from out of town, out of state and even locals will sell you a taste of their special crafts for a $1. It is worth it to try the local breweries too. Boundary Bay had special concoctions that were only available at this event, and they turned out to be very unique and tasty. Don't forget your state identification to prove you are 21+, and cash to buy drinks and those amazing pretzel necklaces. It's highly recommended you arrange a ride home in advance with a service like Uber, Wheels & Wines, or a cab. With so much good brew to enjoy, you are guaranteed to be in no condition to get behind the wheel. A live band played throughout the night. Yelp had a fun "selfie booth" that was a hit with groups wanting a picture on their phone to mark the occasion. I only wish this event happened more than once a year.

Bellingham biggest and baddest beer festival just keeps getting better. And this year they made it…read moreeven more fabulous by concentrating not only on getting a lot of people in the gates, but by making sure we had fun once we were inside. The variety of beers and ciders available was absolutely amazing. Everything from local breweries to beers from far away were featured. There were two music stages, a game area, several amazing food trucks, and other nice touches such as plenty of bathroom facilities. I had a wonderful afternoon, and it's definitely the place to see and be seen at the end of Bellingham Beer Week. If you go here and don't run into anyone you know you clearly aren't from Bellingham.

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!

This festival, hosted on Memorial Day Weekend in historic Fairhaven, is lovely to walk through and…read moredrink in. It's a beautiful part of Bellingham, and there are lots of vendors with food and interesting wares, crafts and art. The festival featured bands and plenty to places to enjoy the music. This festival was a happy coincidence for me--I came for the Ski to Sea event, and the festival was a beautiful bonus.

This fantastic festival happens on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend each year (same day as the…read moreSki to Sea race) and is produced by the Historic Fairhaven Association. All of the core streets of Fairhaven are closed and lots of street and craft vendors line the streets. Yummy food options to suit every taste - many fair favorites. Love the main stage showcasing popular local bands and adjacent to a huge beer garden. This is a great family friendly event not to be missed.

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.

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.

Season after season I look forward to coming to this great diamond in the rough. It is a quaint…read morelittle theater inside the Dutch windmill mall in downtown Linden and to date have not been disappointed with the amazing talent that is on stage. I did find out it is best to have season tickets however as there have been several shows during their run that have sold out making it impossible to get a seat.

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us, so head to Lake Padden park (east entrance) and make the most…read moreof it. This is a FREE, annual summer festival hosted by the Whatcom Humane Society. It usually happens on a Sunday in August from 10 am to 3 pm. The public is invited to bring their well-behaved, leashed dogs to enjoy the festivities. Parking is free. Here is a little taste of the fun to be had: 5k Doggie Dash - Lace up you running shoes and hit the Lake Padden trail with or without your dog. There is a registration fee for this race, but all proceeds benefit the animals at the shelter. You can usually find a 2-for-1 Groupon deal, so bring your friends and family. Hound Hill - Dogs love to dig. Let them go crazy kicking up dirt to find toys and treats buried in the sandbox. Finders keepers! Swimming Pools - Various wading pools are available for your dog to take a soak. Agility Course - You and your dog can try running/walking though an agility course. Volunteers help guide you through the course if you are unsure what to do. Treats provided to help lure your furry friend through jumps, weave through poles, step through the ladder, crawl through the tunnel, and climb the stairs. Contests - Throughout the day, there are different contests taking place on the main stage. Dress your dog up for the costume contest. Sign him up for the kissing or peanut butter eating contest. Food - Feast at one of the food carts serving vegetarian only options. Bring cash, but several of the carts can take credit cards. Family Friendly - Bring the family. There is face painting for the kids. You and your dog can pose to have a characturist draw you. Exhibitors - Vendors who sell dog supplies and services will be giving away samples. Several rescue organizations will be on site educating the public about their offerings. This is a great, family-friendly event, and did I mention that it is FREE! Even though I don't currently have a dog, I love seeing the wide variety of breeds that show up for this event. Everybody seems to have lots of fun, especially the dogs.

I haven't stopped talking about how much fun this event was! I am so proud of my pup for struggling…read morehis way around the course. The 5K was strictly fun. No one was trying to break any records (except my dog...most times stopping to drink from the lake) and the atmosphere was very encouraging. The "after-party" was also awesome. Soooo many dog vendors and happy people and dogs! My fur-baby and I loved the dog-themed activities like digging in the dirt for treats. It was one of the highlights of my summer and I will definitely be back next year for the fun and to support such a great cause! One suggestion would be to have water stations for the 5K, especially for the dogs when the lake wasn't accessible on a hot day! Full disclosure: I attended this festival as part of a Yelp-sponsored community event.

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Bellingham. A rainbow even appeared in the sky. About 10,000 men…read moreand women of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds came out to peacefully march in solidarity for issues important to them. The organizers had speakers, poets and musicians perform and present before and after the march on the steps of City Hall. They didn't expect as many people to show up because the sound system, while powerful, was not loud enough to reach the throngs of people wrapped around the adjoining streets. Even the 1 mile march had to be extended on the fly when the front of the line was prevented from further movement because it had ran smack dab into the middle of the line. Thankfully police and volunteers were able to redirect the marchers down some additional streets to accommodate the large crowds. The library lawn had booths manned by local organizations such as DVAS. Individuals could learn more about local organizations making a difference in the community and sign up for future action. Parking was free on Saturday. Organizers encouraged individuals to walk, bike, bus or carpool. However, parking at nearby lots like the Bellingham High School was also an option. Portable potties were available on site. A few food trucks were also located on the march route where people could fuel their body. The event was very inspiring as groups of individuals chanted back and forth things like, "What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!" People held signs voicing their concerns over health care, education, environmental protection, immigration, racism, equal pay, sexual assault, etc. I was glad I was able to march in this momentous occasion. It gave me a sense of community and a sense of hope for our future.

2018 and we haven't lost our momentum! More millennials and tables representing during the speakers…read morefrom 10 to 11 before the actual marching. It is very cold and difficult to hear the speakers. You can feel the excitement. This is good medicine for the soul.