Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Monday update from The Hamster Wheel.

That hard frost yesterday morning felt awfully wintry. 🥶 It depends on the data source, but some weather forecasts show potential for snow by mid-December. I’m crossing my fingers for a rare PNW white Christmas!

If you’re feeling flush this holiday season, consider making a contribution to help me cover costs at The Wheel. Your contributions make a huge difference. 🙏 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Academy for Lifelong Learning

Furniture Makers & Their Fabulous Creations

December 5 & 12

Finding time to explore a curious topic can be a challenge, especially heading into the holidays. That’s why WWU’s Academy for Lifelong Learning offers courses via Zoom, tapping top-notch expertise from across the country so you can learn something new from the comfort of your home. Feast your mind on the second of three diverse deep-dives.

Join Eleanor Schrader, architectural historian and distinguished instructor at UCLA Extension as she guides you through the construction, materials, and methods used by iconic European and American furniture makers. Fans of the decorative arts and historic woodcrafting will surely get their fix. Watch the preview video 👆️, and register to join the Zoom lecture.

Whatcom Weather

The Raindrop Report

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

County Campground Reservations Opening

Whatcom County’s two campground facilities begin accepting 2026 reservations at 9 am this morning. The first is a little out of the way, while the second is a full-blown trans-national adventure. Both are beautiful destinations that will likely fill up fast so jump on those reservations for next year’s spots!

The first is the Silver Lake Park campground and cabins. Silver Lake has 90 campsites arranged into three campgrounds plus a Group Camp area. Cedar Campground is the more rustic option with 15 tent camping spots sans hookups. Maple Creek Campground offers 51 RV sites with various layouts and electric hookups up to 50-amps. Red Mountain Campground is another RV-friendly option but with electric hookups maxing out at 30-amps. Finally, there’s the Group Camp with room for your whole MC club. 🏍️ 

If you’re looking for the wilderness experience without the hard ground or whirl of RV generators, snag a reservation at one of Silver Lake’s six lakeside cabins.

For a quieter, more remote experience, grab a spot at Lighthouse Marine Park located on the southern tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula (Point Roberts). The park offers various single and group camping options including rustic RV spots.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced new conservation measures for the Nooksack River system, closing steelhead fishing today through December 31. Beginning January 1, 2026, fishing for all species will be closed across the Nooksack River and its forks, including the Middle, North, and South Forks. These restrictions are in response to historically low hatchery steelhead returns, with this season’s forecast of only 41 fish, well below the 160 needed to sustain broodstock goals.

WDFW reports that despite low steelhead numbers, portions of the river will remain open for coho fishing through the end of December under existing sport fishing regulations. Officials will reassess conditions later this winter to determine if limited sport opportunities can resume, depending on whether hatchery goals are met.

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Whatcom County Council (special), 6 pm, Council Chambers, agenda, watch online.
Lynden - Public Hearing Regarding School Impact Fees, 7 pm, City Hall Annex
Lynden City Council, 7 pm, City Annex Building

Tuesday
Bellingham Design Review Board, 3 pm, City Council Chambers, agenda, watch online.
Whatcom County Council (special), 1 pm, Council Chambers, agenda, watch online.
Bellingham Arts Commission, 5 pm, Mayor's Boardroom.

Wednesday
Lake Whatcom Policy Group, 3 pm, Pacific Street Operations Center, agenda, watch online.

Thursday
Greenways Advisory Committee, 7 pm, watch online. 
Community Conversations w. County Councilmembers, 5 pm, Bellingham Public Schools District Office - Room 102, agenda.
WTA Board Meeting, 8 am, 4011 Bakerview Spur, watch online.
Bellingham Planning Commission, 6 pm, City Council Chambers

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Stream Team: Help Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) maintain older sites that need love. Meet at NSEA’s campus by 8 am and your group leader will shuttle everyone to the site. You can expect to be back to NSEA at 12 pm. Register.

Friday
Stimpson Family Nature Reserve: Join Whatcom Land Trust as they focus on removing invasive English holly, creeping buttercup, and herb Robert along the trail. Register.

Saturday
Birchwood Park: Join the city in removing invasive species, mulching, and planting at Birchwood Park near the pump track. Register.
Deer Creek: NSEA with landowners, volunteers, and Fourth Corner Fly Fishers have been planting a buffer along Deer Creek in recent years. Help them maintain this young buffer so that salmonids can continue enjoying cold, clean, and clear water that restoration can bring them. Register.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham (comedy) | Mon 9:00 pm

Bellingham Senior Activity Center
Holiday Variety Show | Thurs

The Claire
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Thurs-Sun

iDiOM Theater
Shark Tank: Island Time Edition | Thurs-Sat

Bellingham Circus Guild
Aerial Showcase | Thurs-Sun

BAAY
Esme’s Adventures in Another World | Fri-Sun

Blaine High School
Christmas in Oz | Fri-Sun

New Prospect Theatre
Watch Out For Flying Chairs | Thurs-Sat

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Sister Act | Fri-Sun

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
A Holiday Evening of Belly Dance (Dance) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Contact Improv - Aikido Peace Education Center - Mon 7 pm
Beginning Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 8 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

FEATURED

Whatcom Land Trust invites you to Huckleberry’s Holiday Hoedown at Beach Cat’s South Paw Oasis in Bellingham, where GivingTuesday gets a lively twist with line dancing lessons, live music by Lynne Givler and Keith Carpenter, and tasty offerings from Simmering Tava and Beach Cat. The event runs from 6:30 to 9 pm, featuring an original song celebrating Huckleberry the G.O.A.T. 👆️ and a chance to join others in supporting local land conservation.

Tyler Morgan Clarke is a multi-instrumentalist local renaissance musician. You may find him playing Grateful Dead, Jazz, Bossa Nova, or original compositions in familiar and/or unexpected places around the PNW. On Tuesday, December 2, he’ll be playing at The Admiralty Lounge from 7 to 9 pm.

Catch free live jazz every Tuesday from 8-10 pm at the Aslan Depot. Enjoy pizza, wings, craft cocktails, and more all while listening to local musicians play lively jazz music.

MONDAY

North Pole Mail Express, Launching Success Learning Store – Bring your kiddos to the North Pole Mail Express to write and mail a letter to Santa, complete with provided supplies and a magical mailbox. Enjoy refreshments while you craft your note during store hours, 10 am to 4 pm.

Allied Arts 46th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts, Allied Arts of Whatcom County – Explore over 100 booths featuring local artisans and craftspeople offering handmade gifts, specialty foods, jewelry, and art. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, the festival includes live music, artist demos, and family-friendly activities celebrating the holiday season.

Monday Music & Trivia →

TUESDAY

WinterFest, Whatcom Art Market – Explore handmade art and gifts from local creators at WinterFest, open daily from 11 am to 6 pm.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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