During the summer in Bellingham and Whatcom County, the sun rises early and sets late and this community makes the most of it!
Kicking off with a busy Memorial Day weekend, the summer season around Bellingham is filled with outdoor recreation, festivals, and long days spent on the lakes, rivers, and bays.
Make your trip to Bellingham a home run by exploring the Bellingham Farmers Market, Taylor Dock, mountain bike trails, the arts district and the waterfront, then catch a Bellingham Bells home baseball game at Joe Martin Field.
We are curating different themed experiences that serve as a free guide to discover everything Whatcom County has to offer.
Eat at farm to table restaurants, explore different waterfront destinations, shop at local businesses, ignite your imagination while touring museums and admiring murals, plus so much more!
Check in at participating locations to earn points that can be used for locally inspired prizes.
Birch Bay Kite Festival - This two-day festival celebrates everything kites with food, vendors, dancing, arts and crafts, beach walks, and more!
Deming Log Show - The Deming Log Show features 31 events and exhibitions demonstrating the talents and strengths of local loggers, including axe throwing, speed climbing, log rolling, chainsaw bucking, and the ironman.
Northwest Raspberry Festival - July is National Raspberry Month and at the peak of the summer harvest season Lynden hosts the Northwest Raspberry Festival, filled with delicious family-friendly fun! Savor fresh raspberry sundaes on locally produced ice cream, listen to live music, and sidewalk shop all around downtown Lynden.
Bellingham Festival of Music - This event brings together principal players from major American and European orchestras and exceptional musicians from regional and national ensembles to present concerts of classical music at the highest caliber of artistic excellence.
Pride in Bellingham - Now the second largest pride event in Washington State, the parade starts at Ohio Street and travels south on Cornwall Avenue heading towards Railroad Avenue in Downtown Bellingham. The festival takes place at Depot Market Square with live music, food, vendors, and more.
NW Tune-Up Festival - A community-forward festival, fueled by mountain biking, music, art, and craft beer. This three day event features free bike demos, spectator-friendly exhibitions and competitions at the pump track, visual artists, a local craft beer garden, and wide-ranging musical acts right along the water in downtown Bellingham.
There are MANY more annual summer events! Click here for a full list.
Warm summer days call for a visit to the calming beaches of Birch Bay. Pack a picnic or dine at a waterfront restaurant or brewery.
Located about 20 miles north of Bellingham, this destination also features a state park, a nearby kids activity park, a 50 year old local candy shop, and access to quiet trails in the forest.
Summer is a wonderful time to explore more than 100 miles of beautiful Salish Sea shoreline. With all the calm bays and beautiful lakes, water adventures abound.
Want to get an overview of where you can play? Check out this fantastic Water Trails Map.
Bring your own equipment, rent it from our partners, or get tickets for a tour that goes whale watching and visits the San Juan Islands.
Check out all of the amazing tours available in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Find local guides to help you discover:
Whatcom County is home to several golf courses that offer excellent playing paired with epic views.
Our area also features disc golf courses that are playable for those new to the sport while also capable of challenging even the most experienced players.
Visit our golfing page for more details.
