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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

Have a story to tell? Screenwriting 101: The Fundamentals is an eight-week class where you’ll learn all the fundamentals—logline, plot and dramatic structure, character development, action, dialogue and formatting. Led by writer and film industry veteran Alison Gallant, the workshop combines lectures, class writing exercises, and feedback to help you bring your ideas to life.

It’s going to be an exciting weekend in the Ham, with the Bellingham Folk Festival and Fire & Story festival, both kicking off on Thursday. I expect a palpable buzz downtown over the next few days as visiting musicians, performers, and a whole lot of hamsters converge for a weekend of music, fire, libations, and unusually good PNW weather. 😎

The Bellingham Folk Festival, now in its twelfth year, brings four days of inspiring performances, dances, workshops, and jams at a variety of Bellingham locations, featuring a mix of local and touring performers and instructors. The festival schedule lists over 50 unique gatherings! There’s bound to be something for everyone with a mix of free and reasonably priced events.

Meanwhile, Fire & Story will light up the waterfront with illuminated art installations, roaring fire pits, music, storytelling, fire dancing, live metalsmithing, and saunas. Running through Saturday, the event is all outdoors (except for the saunas) so bundle up when you head that way. Check the festival schedule for the full event lineup.

The Washington State Department of Health confirmed measles outbreaks last week in Snohomish and Kittitas Counties, the first in-state cases since 2023. The agency’s interactive Measles Public Exposure Locations map lists possible exposure sites and timeframes for anyone who may have been affected.

Not in the mood for the festival crowds? I get it. Introverts of the world unite. ✊ This might tickle your fancy. On Sunday at the Lightcatcher Studio, Renee Scherrer of Social Fabric is holding a hands-on Bits and Bobs Assemblage Workshop inspired by Io Palmer’s installation, Meander.

It’s a neat opportunity to make art in conversation with current gallery work. And it sounds like fun! “A wire frame will be your starting point, but what you assemble is unique to you. Sort through bins of collected items from Social Fabric to find objects that speak to your spirit, or bring your own pieces to include, such as photographs, small trinkets, and keepsakes.” Grab a spot.

CIVIC CORNER

Wednesday
Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission, 6:30 pm, Mayor’s Board Room at City Hall

Thursday
WTA Board Meeting, 5:00 pm, WTA's office at 4011 Bakerview Spur
Whatcom County Planning Commission, 6:00 pm, Northwest Annex Conference Room, 5280 Northwest Drive

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday
Whatcom Land Trust Office: Join Whatcom Land Trust for a special Field Friday on a different kind of land trust land, their downtown Bellingham office. Register to attend.

Saturday
Fairhaven Park: Spend your Saturday helping Bham Parks & Rec steward the Outdoor Classroom and Native Plant Garden! They'll remove pesky weeds, plant native plants, and spread mulch. Register to attend.
Kenney Creek: Join NSEA in the continued planting of Kenney Creek, a tributary of the North Fork Nooksack River that provides spawning habitat for Chinook, chum, coho, and pink salmon, among other salmonids (steelhead, bull trout, cutthroat trout). Register to attend.

New Prospect Theatre
The Rage of Achilles (theatre) | Thurs

Lynden Christian High School
Frozen (theatre) | Thurs, Sat

iDiOM Theater
The Illusion (theatre) | Thurs, Fri

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Biosphere (theatre) | Fri-Sun

WWU Old Main Theater
Hip Hop Theatre (theatre) | Fri-Sun

iDiOM Theater
Serial Killers (theatre) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Honky-Tonk - Odd Fellows - Thurs 7:30 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Honky-Tonk - Majestic - Sat 1 pm
Honky-Tonk - Cof& - Sat 7 pm
Contra - Christ the King Hall (Norway Hall) - Sat 6 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Belly Dance - Karate Church - 1 pm

Witness high-fantasy, high-heeled, high-rolling, high-larity as three Drag Queens play Dungeons and Dragons Live tonight! Since starting in Seattle, the show has inspired many, and now sells out across the country and globe! Tickets.

The 12th annual Bellingham Folk Festival opens with a concert tomorrow, January 22, featuring Laurel Bliss and John Clark followed by the debut of an exceptional new trio, Sami Braman, Allison de Groot, and Quinn Bachand. Bliss and Clark bring decades of Old Time, Cajun, and classic Country harmonies to the stage, while Braman, de Groot, and Bachand unite fiddle, banjo, and guitar in a set of original and traditional tunes. Tickets.

IFMGA-certified mountain guide and author Ian Nicholson presents Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel at the American Alpine Institute tonight, January 21, at 7:00 pm. This free event includes a slideshow and discussion highlighting key techniques for glacier travel and rescue, followed by an optional hands-on demo and book signing. Nicholson, is a veteran guide with nearly two decades of experience. Details.

Open Decks, The Blue Room – A free, open-format DJ night featuring sets from local DJs, MCs, and producers runs from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, with sign-ups starting at 7:30. Performers can bring a properly formatted Rekordbox USB for a 20-minute slot, with all genres and styles welcome. Open to all ages, with a 21+ bar.

Bryophytes as Windows Into Past Climates and Present Landscapes, Virtual – Hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society, Bellingham-based botanist Miles Berkey will discuss how bryophytes reveal clues about past climates and the environmental patterns shaping today’s ecosystems. The talk runs from 7:00 to 8:00 pm and includes an introduction to bryophyte biology and distribution. Registration is required for this virtual event.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

Typewriters 101: An Introduction, Bellingham Public Library – Explore the history and mechanics of the typewriter in this hands-on session at the Central Library’s SkillShare Space from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Local typewriter expert Jennifer Dunn will share insights on classic models, offer cleaning and repair tips, and invite attendees to test different machines, write freely, and take part in a “take a poem/leave a poem” project.

K-POP Demon Hunters Party, Bellingham Public Library - Kids ages 5 to 14 are invited to the Central Library’s Lecture Room from 2:00 to 4:00 pm for an afternoon of K-POP fun inspired by Demon Hunters. The event features dance battles, karaoke, games, crafts, and a photo booth, with costumes encouraged for those who want to fully join the action.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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