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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

Experience the magic of early cinema accompanied by live music under the summer sky. Members of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra perform an original score alongside a collection of silent comedy classics, creating a one-of-a-kind outdoor movie experience.

Arrive at 7 pm for food, drinks, trivia, and community before the films begin at dusk. Bay Street Outdoor Cinema is always free, so bring a chair, gather your friends, and enjoy a summer evening unlike any other.

Bellingham Flower Farm is opening its fields for the Bellingham Dahlia Festival this Sunday, August 30, right as thousands of dahlias are reaching their late-summer peak. If you are looking for a way to soak up the last of our August sunshine, this one comes with rows of color, views toward the North Cascades, and room to wander.

The afternoon includes U-pick flowers, fresh bouquets from the farmstand, food from Juanita’s Taco Truck, live music from Silent Cowboy, and a collection of local vendors. There will also be demonstrations on dahlia care and seed saving, plus a floral design workshop with Poppy & Pomegranate. The farm grows another three acres of flowers beyond the dahlias, so there will be lots to look at and explore.

The festival runs from noon to 5 pm at 5709 Putnam Road. Advance admission is $10, or $15 at the gate, with U-pick flowers and some workshops priced separately.

For an in-town adventure this weekend, wander down to Little Squalicum where crews have begun restoration work near the new dog-beach adjacent estuary. The city is positioning boulders and large pieces of wood in the creek to stabilize the banks and reduce erosion, following completion of the larger Little Squalicum Estuary project in 2024.

The in-water work will continue through early September, with measures in place to protect fish and other aquatic life while crews are working. Native plantings are planned for this fall. I’ll watch for any planned work parties and include them in the volunteer section. 👍

There’s nothing says Whatcom County like a festival on Lummi. The LI-Lapalooza Music Festival takes over The Islander Store tomorrow, August 29, with live music from Amanda West, Creaky Toasties, I Fly Kites, The Sleestax, and Baby Cakes. The day also includes local food and beer, arts and craft vendors, a dunk tank, photo booth, and a kids zone with face painting, bubbles, crafts, and games.

LI-Lapalooza also serves as the grand finale for Lummi Island’s annual Summer’s End Parade, with the floats and parade winners sticking around before the music gets fully underway. The festival runs from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm at The Islander. Tickets are $20 at the door, with kids 19 and under getting in free. Proceeds support the Beach School and other educational opportunities for kids on Lummi Island.

LOCAL READS

A half-term in, Bellingham’s ‘outsider’ mayor makes her own noise — by listening
By Ron Judd · The BellingHammer
Lund’s first two and a half years have included permitting changes, housing measures, downtown initiatives, homelessness responses and tighter budgets, with mixed results across her original priorities. Ron details how she has paired that record with direct public outreach, including a brewery meeting where more than 100 residents questioned city leaders for about 90 minutes. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Keeping an eye on pigeon guillemots key to protecting region’s habitat, species
By Bean Drake · Cascadia Daily News
Pigeon guillemots live year-round along the Salish Sea, where shoreline development, oil spills and abandoned fishing gear can threaten nesting and feeding habitat. Bean explains how citizen scientists can help track the birds through eBird, iNaturalist and regional seabird surveys, filling gaps in what is known about local colonies. Read more →

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Fri, Sat, Sun
Olsen Creek: Help Washington Trails Association implement a multi-use recreation opportunity just outside of Bellingham. Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Saturday
Canyon Lake Community Forest: Spend the day with Whatcom Land Trust caring for trails in this stunning old-growth forest, tackling tasks such as moving rocks and dirt, clearing brush, and using hand tools including saws, rogue hoes, and shovels. Register

Ellie Electric (LLC) is a woman owned and operated small business bringing a more approachable, transparent experience to electrical work. With free estimates and clear communication throughout your project, you can feel confident you’re getting the best option for your unique needs.

From troubleshooting to remodels, additions, and new construction, every job is handled with care, flexibility, and quality craftsmanship. It’s electrical work without the intimidation.

And, we clean up after ourselves 👍

2615 Lincoln Street (Open Sat 11-1 pm)
You can’t beat these little 1920s homes. This one’s cute and you basically have Memorial Park as an extended back yard. Is is just me, or is it time for parquet flooring to make a comeback. 😂 Listing

7037 Yukon Way, Ferndale (Open Sun 12-2 pm)
Oh boy, horse person’s paradise here. “Featuring a 7,500 sq ft outdoor riding arena, multiple stalls with runs, tack room, inside stalls, and a large two-car shop, this property is ready for horses, hobbies, and more.” Giddyup! 🐴 Listing

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Jonathan van Halem (comedy) | Fri

Larrabee Lager Company
Laughs at Larrabee (comedy) | Fri 8 pm

New Prospect Theatre
Pippin (theatre) | Fri-Sun

The Upfront Theatre
ANATOMICA: A Comedy About Meat, Bones, & The Skin You’re In | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:00 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

The Yawpers headline The Shakedown on Friday, August 28, joined by ToadMortons and The Stringlights for a three-band rock show. The Denver group marks 15 years together with a sound built around guitars, amplifiers, and a live approach that has kept them on the road for more than a decade. Music starts at 9 pm.

The Patio Players Ensemble performs at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden on Saturday, August 29, from 3 to 4 pm as part of Play Music on the Porch Day. The string quintet will play a mix of classical favorites, movie themes, and familiar popular tunes during the free afternoon concert.

Lucid Frequencies presents Electric Hollow at The Blue Room tomorrow, August 29, from 9 pm to 1 am, an all-ages EDM night built around an enchanted forest theme. Four DJs cover a range of electronic styles, with Terrestrial playing downtempo, LIV bringing 140 bass, BZAR on dubstep, and GUY RIOT on trance. Face painting, hair tinsel, and kandi making are included with admission, and the venue will have a separate 21+ bar section.

Enjoy An Evening with Walter Parks this Sunday, August 30, at New Prospect Theatre, with songs in the musical traditions of North Florida and the Okefenokee Swamp. Parks blends original work with reimagined hollers, hymns, and reels, drawing from research now held by the Library of Congress American Folklife Collection. He spent 10 years touring and recording with Richie Havens and has also accompanied Judy Collins in concert. Tickets

Living Rumors, Boulevard Park Stage – The all-star show band plays from 6 to 8 pm with a genre-crossing set drawn from several decades of music.

Friday Music & Trivia →

2026 Bellingham Wiffleball Tournament, Squalicum Creek Park Field #1 – The fourth annual tournament runs from 9 am to 2 pm with four-player teams, four guaranteed games, divisions from elementary age through adult, and proceeds benefiting Blue Skies for Children. Registration

46th Annual Summer Fun Rod Run, Bellewood Farms & Distillery – A one-day open car show from 8 am to 2 pm featuring trophies, raffles, an engine blow, and dash plaques for the first 100 participants, with proceeds supporting Project Santa Claus and scholarships.

Bellingham Traverse, Bellingham – A timed multisport race from noon to 5 pm with five legs covering two runs, road biking, mountain biking, and kayaking, open to soloists, tandem teams, and teams of five. Registration

Chuckanut Classic, Portal Container Village – Mount Baker Bicycle Club’s signature ride runs from 7 am to 5 pm with fully supported 25-, 38-, 62-, and 100-mile routes through western Whatcom County. Registration and details

The Fairhaven Amazing Race, Bellingham Training & Tennis Club – Teams of two to four race from noon to 3 pm through Fairhaven, solving clues, completing movement challenges and photo missions, and checking in at local stops along the way. Registration and details

Sweet & Savory Saturdays with DAWdust & Friends, The Admiralty Lounge – A free 21+ DJ set from 9 to 11 pm featuring genre-fluid, hi-fi lounge music shaped by turntablism, with dancing optional.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Bellingham Off-Road Triathlon, Lake Padden Park – A USAT-sanctioned race starting at 8:30 am combines swimming, mountain biking, and trail running, with solo and relay team options.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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