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

Few things capture Bellingham’s charm quite like a rainy evening stroll, with the sound of a Celtic fiddle floating through the air from the glow of a neighborhood pub. Hat tip to Menace Brewing.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Bellingham Circus Guild

The Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of Doom

Oct 24-26 & Oct 30-Nov 2

The Bellingham Circus Guild returns with its 8th annual Halloween extravaganza, The Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of DOOOOOM! This all-ages spectacle at The Cirque Lab blends acrobatics, juggling, dance, and aerial antics into a vampire-themed pageant of comedy, chaos, and spine-tingling fun—perfectly balanced between spooky and spectacular.

With shows spanning two weekends and a mix of family-friendly and 21+ performances, this year’s circus promises thrills for every kind of Halloween reveler. Expect slick tricks, jaw-dropping moments, and a bar for the grown-ups.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 62°F 🌡️ 42°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 1% | 💨 N 2 mph

Thursday: 60°F 🌡️ 48°F | ⛅️ Sun then Showers | 🌧️ 49% | 💨 SSE 2 to 8 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Ski Ya Later, Garage Clutter 🙄 

With the return of fall, it’s time once again for The Swap, Bellingham’s oldest and largest ski swap, at Bloedel Donovan Gymnasium. Hosted by the Komo Kulshan Ski Club (KKSC), the two-day event will see the gym filled with new and used skis, boards, boots, and outerwear. The doors open Friday, October 17, with a special Early Bird hour from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, followed by free public shopping through Saturday afternoon.

Proceeds from The Swap support KKSC’s Scholarship Program and the Mt. Baker Race Team, helping local youth access skiing and snowboarding lessons, lift tickets, rentals, and coaching. Each purchase at The Swap helps fund these opportunities, keeping mountain adventures accessible to more Whatcomites.

Have gear to sell? There’s still time. Register online, then drop off items tomorrow, October 16, from 4 to 9 pm at the Bloedel Donovan Gymnasium. Gently used skis, snowboards, boots, and winter apparel are all welcome. ⛷️ 

In other news…

🐟️ An update from Bellingham Public Works this week includes a photo of one of the fish-friendly arch culverts that have been installed along Padden Creek in Fairhaven. 👇️ This one at the 14th Street project site.

As a child of the Southside, I can attest to how much progress the city has made improving the Padden Creek corridor. My friend Liam and I used to tromp that waterway from estuary to lake, and it was dense, overgrown, trash-strewn, and dotted with fish-passage obstructions. What a change in just a few decades.

⛏️ Volunteer Opportunities This Week: There’s one outdoor work party this week.

• NSEA Stream Team: Help 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. All tools and instructions needed will be provided. Register to attend.

🤝 The Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission (MNAC) meets today, October 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Mayor’s Board Room at Bellingham City Hall, with Zoom available for remote participation. The meeting, led by Mayor Kim Lund, will include a city budget update, a presentation on National Preparedness Month and The Great Washington ShakeOut by Greg Hope from the Office of Emergency Management, and a neighborhood roundtable for representatives to share updates.

🏙️ The Bellingham Planning Commission meets tomorrow, October 16, in the City Council Chambers at 6 PM. Attend in person or virtually. The commission will review code amendments necessary to comply with Washington State law regarding the allowance of co-living housing as an equivalent to multifamily housing. The agenda packet includes the code changes in red.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Bellingham Circus Guild
Vaudevillingham | Wed

iDiOM Theater
DRACÜL | Wed-Sun

BAAY Theatre
 Zombie Dance Showcase | Wed-Sun

WWU, College of Fine and Performing Arts
Tartuffe | Wed-Sun

FireHouse A&E Center
Bobby Peep's Lost Generation | Thurs

Larrabee Lager Co
Laughs at Larrabee (comedy) | Thurs

New Prospect Theatre
OBSCURA | Fri, Sat

The Blue Room
Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival Finale (comedy) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Dance Fusion - Senior Activity Center - Sat 10:30 am
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:00 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

Step back into 1920s Paris as actor Thomas Prosser channels writer Bobby Peep in Lost Generation, a solo performance at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center. Thomas, as Peep, recounts his experiences with Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and many other illustrious figures of that era that impacted the culture of the 20th Century. Tomorrow, October 16, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Donations accepted at the door.

Black Viiolet, the solo project from Nicole Laurenne of The Darts and The Love Me Nots, brings sultry, cinematic sound to the Odd Fellows Temple Room. Nicole blends neo-soul, jazz, and lounge with smoky vocals and noir-inspired production. Sage Eisenhour opens the evening show, tomorrow, October 16, at 8 pm.

A night of circus and spectacle! Vaudevillingham is a monthly community open stage that’s uncurated, unexpected, and UNBELIEVABLE! Every month is a completely new & amazing show. The best part is that you never know what might happen... Axe juggling? Aerial silks on roller skates? A mad-lib singalong? A symphony made purely from conch shell noises? You'll have to show up to find out! 7:00 pm - Family Friendly, All Ages. 9:00 pm - (Almost) Anything Goes, Adult(ish) show. Grab tickets for tonight’s shenanigans.

WEDNESDAY

Stefania Heim & Donald Antenen: Homer’s The Odyssey, Village Books in Fairhaven - Poet and translator Stefania Heim joins classical scholar Donald Antenen for an illuminating conversation about translating Homer’s The Odyssey. The discussion explores what makes a “good” translation, how translators navigate meaning across time and language, and why ancient epics continue to speak to modern readers. Reserve a seat.

Naturopathic Support for Mood, Stress, and Sleep, Living Earth Herbs - Learn practical ways to to support and improve sleep, mood and stress from naturopathic physician Dr. Genevieve Wohlford. 6:30 to 8 pm. Pre-register by calling 360-734-3207, or drop by the shop.

An Evening of Art and Italian Cuisine, Bar Cicotti – Enjoy a three-course Italian dinner at Bar Cicotti, where Chef Jonathan Cicotti serves recipes inspired by his family’s Northern Italian heritage. Afterward, join Curator of Art Amy Chaloupka for a guided tour of the exhibitions myself inside your story and Meander in The Lightcatcher. Limited tickets.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

Wildly Funny Improv, The Upfront Theatre - Support Wild Whatcom with a night of laughs, silliness, and your favorite outdoors stories, courtesy of The Upfront Theatre! Improvisers will take inspiration from your suggestions to create hilarious scenes sure to make you giggle. All proceeds will go to support Wild Whatcom. Get your tickets.

Women’s Adventure Film Tour, American Alpine Institute – A cinematic celebration of courage, creativity, and exploration, this year’s Women’s Adventure Film Tour showcases a dynamic lineup of stories from across the globe. From the icy rush of skeleton sledding to a solo cycling odyssey spanning five continents, these films highlight women pushing physical and emotional boundaries through adventure and art. Details and tickets.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Wednesday!!