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

I got word from the folks behind the Boulevard Park Concert series that tonight’s Veronica North show has been rescheduled due to rain. The new show date is July 31. ☔

Correction: I misattributed the wonderful article about the Bellingham Festival of Music in Wednesday’s edition. The article was authored by Margaret Bikman. Be sure to give it a read.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

What makes a wind turbine work? At Wind Technology Summer Camp, students explore renewable energy through hands-on projects, real-world engineering challenges, and plenty of experimentation. Campers design, build, and test their own wind turbines while discovering how blade shape, size, and materials affect energy production.

Through teamwork, inquiry, and creative problem-solving, students gain a deeper understanding of energy systems and the role of clean, sustainable power in our future. Part of Otter's Den's Technology Camp Series, alongside Ocean Technology Camp, it's perfect for curious minds who love building, testing, and figuring out how things work.

R.I.P. Bellingham Rock. After decades of use to announce graduations, memorials, engagements, and all sorts of local happenings, the rock that was, is now a pile of gravel. And, the Washington State DOT announced this week that they will be dumping that gravel on the Civic Stadium parking lot on July 11. 😆 If you want a piece of the rock, they are asking that you sign a waiver by noon of July 10.

“More than 1,000 pieces, averaging about 3 inches in size, will be available free of charge.”

“Rock pieces will be limited to one per person until 2 p.m. to ensure as many people as possible have an opportunity. Rock pieces will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Completing a waiver form does not guarantee a rock piece will be available for pick up on Saturday.”

A lot of us have memories of the Bellingham Rock. Some of us visited, and nearly all of us read it as we passed by. For it to be reduced to a thousand pieces of gravel is an anticlimactic end, to say the least… but times change. 🤷‍♂ Mark your calendar and fill out a waiver if you’re interested in a keepsake.

The Birchwood International Market is this Sunday, returning to the Park Manor Shopping Center parking lot (used to be Big Lots) for their 8th year of food, music, art, and vendors celebrating the cultural diversity of northwest Bellingham. Founded in 2019, the market brings together local businesses, nonprofit organizations, performers, and artisans.

The performance lineup kicks off with soul music from Cee Cee James & The Mission of S.O.U.L. at 1:05 pm, belly dancing by KiZmet and Company at 2:05 pm, Los Armados at 2:20 pm, a capoeira demonstration by the International Capoeira Angola Foundation at 3:35 pm, and DJ Yogoman to close out the afternoon. It’s a free event, and runs from 1 to 5 pm.

Before you head over to the Birchwood Market on Sunday, stop by Zuanich Point Park where the Bellingham Holi Festival will be in full swing. What is Holi?

“Holi is an Indian holiday rooted in celebration, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. It has been celebrated for generations across India and around the world as a way to welcome spring and bring people together.”

There is currently rain in the forecast for Sunday, so I’m not sure how that will play out. But I suppose wet shirts will make that chalk powder stick all the better. 🌈 The festival runs from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Here’s a fun Sunday afternoon activity for the kiddos. Bellingham author and wildlife photographer, Elaine Miller Bond, will be at the Fairhaven Village Books from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm sharing her new book BFFs! Black-Footed Ferrets: Love for One of North America’s Most Endangered Mammal.

The book is described as “a fact-filled and heartfelt introduction to one of the most endangered mammals in North America.” It’s an opportunity to read along while viewing “photographs of black-footed ferrets prowling, peeking out of prairie dog holes, cuddling with their families, and even dancing.” Reserve seats on the Village Books website.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday
Cornwall Rose Garden: Help the city weed and mulch (and stop to smell the roses!) during peak bloom at the Cornwall Rose Garden. Register
Chanterelle Trailhead, Wickersham Truck Trail: Join the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition for a trail maintenance day. Register

7256 W Wiser Lake Court (Fri-Sun 9 am)
Lots of fun antiques and furniture at this one. Plus, tools and a navy bell that looks amazing. Have fun! map

5150 Elder Road, Ferndale (Open Sat 11-1 pm)
Wow, this Ferndale home brings a lot to the table. The main home has a rental with a separate entrance, there’s a rented detached ADU, and it’s set up as a small farm on five acres (currently housing yacks!). It’s a hobby-farm or small farmer’s dream. 👩‍🌾 Listing

3650 E Badger Road, Everson (Open Sat 2-4 pm)
It’s not every day you run into a property with a home and a church! It’s not some itsy-bitsy church, it’s a full 2000-square-foot hall. This could make for an interesting church conversion, or maybe there’s a community looking for a gathering place. 🤷‍♂ Listing

Bellingham TheatreWorks
@ FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Fairview (theatre) | Tues, Fri
Brighton Beach Memoirs (theatre) | Wed, Sat
Appropriate (theatre) | Thurs, Sun

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Next To Normal (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

Mount Baker Theatre
The Dance Studio - Greatest Show (dance) | Sat, Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 8:00 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

Upbeat Vibe Collective brings upbeat pop and rock favorites to Lake Padden Golf Course tonight, June 26, as part of the Friday Night Live concert series. Music begins at 6 pm on the patio, with hits from the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond. It’s a free, all-ages event.

Cayley Schmid and Aaron Guest bring Celtic music to the Jansen Art Center on Saturday, June 27, from 7 to 9 pm. Violinist Cayley and pianist Aaron explore reels, jigs, waltzes, and airs from Scottish, Irish, and Cape Breton traditions, adding their own interpretations along the way.

Honey Moon hosts Rob Stauffer on Saturday, June 27, from 8 to 10 pm. Stauffer has been part of the Whatcom County music community for more than two decades, performing with groups such as The Love Lights and Bright Weapons before focusing on his own songwriting and recording.

The Bellingham chapter of the International Order of Mrs. Ropers will gather in Fairhaven on Saturday, June 27, for its third annual Roper Romp. From 4 to 6 pm, participants celebrate the enduring appeal of Helen Roper, the caftan-wearing neighbor from Three's Company, with costumes, a group photo at Fairhaven Village Green, and visits to participating local businesses.

Schoooool's Out for Summer Community Celebration, Trackside – A free family event from 3 to 7 pm with a live reptile show, superhero appearances, obstacle courses, woodworking activities, glitter tattoos, games, music, and activities hosted by local nonprofits and businesses to celebrate the start of summer.

Deals & Demo Event, Grizzly Industrial Showroom – A free open house from 8:30 am to 5 pm with woodworking demonstrations on bandsaws, hand planes, and table saws, a guest presentation by Northwest Maritime shop manager Joel Arrington, and a free community barbecue from 11 am to 2 pm.

Jam on the River 2026, Pioneer Pavilion and Centennial Riverwalk Park – A free, all-ages music festival featuring two days of live performances, local vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, and family activities, with music from 4:30 to 9 pm Friday and 11:30 am to 9 pm Saturday.

Friday Music & Trivia →

An American Choral Retrospective, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship – A free program at 3 pm featuring former music director Kevin Allen-Schmid leading a listening, viewing, and sing-along exploration of American choral music marking the nation's 250th birthday.

Salmon Trolling Rigging Demo, LFS Marine & Outdoor – A free hands-on demonstration from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, featuring experienced anglers from Puget Sound Anglers covering salmon trolling rigging, plus recreational fishing gear inspections, minor repairs, and fishing line recycling to help anglers prepare for salmon season.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Fix-It Fair, Kulshan Brewing Roosevelt Taproom (K2) – A free community repair event from 12 to 3 pm offering clothing mending, small appliance repair, knife sharpening, jewelry repair, and other volunteer-led services that help extend the life of everyday items and keep usable goods out of the landfill.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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