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

Yesterday was the first time this year I found myself skulking around in the shade of a tree trying to avoid the sun. February me rolled his eyes and judged. 😉🌞 Enjoy it while we have it.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

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.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 72°F 🌡️ 55°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 13% | 💨 S 5 to 10 mph

Thursday: 69°F 🌡️ 53°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 12% | 💨 SSW 5 to 8 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Plan Your Independence Day Festivities

Bellingham does not allow the use of fireworks within city limits. A fact they took great pains to communicate in a recent news bulletin. “all consumer fireworks are prohibited within the City of Bellingham. This includes fountains, sparklers, smokeballs, and ground-spinning fireworks commonly referred to as “safe and sane” fireworks, in addition to rockets, aerial missiles, roman candles, and other projectile fireworks.” 

So what alternatives are there? Lots!! 🎆🎇🎆 

In town we have several great options:

• The Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Peoples Bank and the Port of Bellingham to provide the community with its annual July 4th fireworks display. The fireworks show will begin at 10:30 pm at Zuanich Point Park, but the festivities begin long before, with food trucks arriving as early as noon.

• Hotel Bellwether is a special Blues, Brews and BBQ event with live music from Chris Eger Band & The Powerhouse Horns and a fabulous view the firework show over Bellingham Bay.

• Kulshan Brewing is throwing a Surf-Rock Americana themed bash at their Trackside Beer Garden. Brews will flow all day, with live music from The Dusty 45’s and Sanoma kicking off at 7 pm.

Beyond city limits:

• Join thousands of Whatcomites for WECU’s Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration from 8 am to 11 pm in Downtown Blaine! Kick off with a pancake breakfast, browse over 100 vendors at the street fair, enjoy the noon parade, and rev up at the car show. Kids love the 1–5 pm kid’s zone, while adults groove at the beer garden with live music. End with fireworks at 10:30 pm over Semiahmoo Bay. Details.

• Semiahmoo Resort is hosting a full weekend of seaside celebration July 4th & 5th, with coastal BBQ, local artisan markets, live music, tidepool exploration, and more. Enjoy a Summer BBQ with The Shakedown, sip local flavors at the Seaview Café, and catch fireworks in Blaine. It’s family-friendly fun with a scenic view. Details.

• Looking for a reason to get out of town for the day? The Heather Meadows Cafe on the 2nd floor of the Heather Meadows Day Lodge opens on Friday.

• The Whatcom News website published a great list of laws relating to fireworks in the various towns throughout Whatcom County.

In other news…

☠️ The Disposal of Toxics facility is temporarily closed this week for staff training. It will reopen on Monday, July 7.

These guys and gals are awesome!

So helpful, and they provide an indispensable service when the time comes to deal with all those cans of mystery chemicals in your basement. 😜 

Solstice Senior Living

Artful Living

Sip, Paint & Celebrate Creativity

At Solstice Senior Living, retirement is your time to explore and thrive! Join a vibrant community that offers engaging sip and paint classes where friends gather to enjoy wine, conversation, and creative expression—no experience required.

Every month, Solstice showcases inspiring art by local artists, connecting you to Bellingham’s creative spirit. Discover a retirement lifestyle that celebrates imagination, fosters friendship, and brings joy every day. At Solstice, artful living truly comes home.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

New Prospect Theatre
SeaMAN | Sat 7:30 pm

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Bellingham TheaterWorks Summer Repertory Theatre
Translations | Thurs 7:30 pm, Sun 5:00 pm
The Foreigner | Fri 7:30 pm
The Language Archive | Wed & Sat 7:30 pm

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

 Salsa & Bachata 
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm

 Tango  
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm

 Other  
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 8:00 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

New Constellations - the ethereal brainchild of lifelong sidekicks Harlee Case and Josh Smith, and recent addition Kyle Farook - encapsulates a sonic dreamscape of eager melodies, striking guitar hooks, and celestial vocals that softly tangles listeners into a web of cosmic glory. Get your Synth-pop fix.

As meowsters of zen relaxation: the cats will guide your yoga purractice. If you’re a practiced yogi or new, this 45 minute class is suitable fur all levels. The yoga class is followed by 30 minutes of kitty & beer time. Intuitive Flow Yoga fur all-levels!

WEDNESDAY

Barre3 Mindful Flow, Barkley Village Green - B3 Flow is a dynamic, breath-driven movement experience designed to mobilize the spine, engage the core, and target muscles around the joints that support a healthy range of motion. This class will create a deeper mind-body connection, foster harmony in the body, and promote active recovery. Register for the free outdoor event.

Parent To Parent in the Park, Cordata Park - A casual meet-up for families to connect with staff and meet with other families with children with developmental disabilities and on-going medical needs. The splash park opens at 11am so bring your towels and lunch. 11 am to noon, no registration needed.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

DIY Leather Earring Workshop, Kara's Beauty Barn - A leather earring workshop hosted by Julie Simon with Moss Bags. Moss Bags is partnering with Kara’s Beauty Barn to bring this fun workshop together. All materials, supplies, and instruction will be provided. Each participant will have the opportunity to make 5 pairs of their own custom leather earrings, so get ready for a hands-on, creative event. Get crafty.

Puzzles in Pigment Gallery Exhibition, Allied Arts of Whatcom County - An exhibition celebrating the diverse language of abstract art through the work of five distinctive local artists. The show features Brett Sandström's balanced compositions emphasizing mindfulness and simplicity alongside Jake Gombis's large-format conversational paintings that explore both tangible and abstract relationships through pedestrian mediums. Opening reception.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Wednesday!!