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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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Maria Bamford brings her fearless, deeply personal comedy to the Mount Baker Theatre stage. Known for her inventive standup, unforgettable characters, and candid humor about mental health, Bamford has built a career unlike anyone else in comedy.

From Netflix’s Lady Dynamite to her bestselling memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, Bamford blends vulnerability, absurdity, and razor-sharp wit in a way that is uniquely her own. See one of comedy’s most original voices live in Bellingham.

The Bellingham Veg Fest keeps it simple: everything sold, sampled, handed out, or displayed has to be vegan. The free festival takes over Barkley Village Green from 11 am to 3 pm this Sunday, September 20, with food, local goods, music, raffles, and a Kids’ Corner. You do not have to be vegan to go!

Organizers expect around 50 small businesses and nonprofits, and this year they intentionally limited the vendor count while giving priority to Whatcom County businesses and organizations. The lineup includes Sammies Vegan, El Fuego Hot Sauce, and Juicy J’s Smoked Burgers, along with artists, makers, and animal-focused nonprofits.

A few practical notes: Veg Fest is a Toward Zero Waste event, so reusable bottles, utensils, napkins, and other dining gear are encouraged. You can also bring a nonperishable plant-based food item for Birchwood Food Desert Fighters and get a free raffle ticket, and there will be a vegan cookbook and T-shirt swap. Admission and onsite parking are free, and leashed dogs are welcome this year.

With five of Washington’s nine Supreme Court seats up for election this November, the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County is hosting Behind the Black Robes on Saturday, September 19, to explain what judges actually do and what qualities matter on the bench. The panel includes Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal, Washington Court of Appeals Judge Cecily Hazelrigg, and Washington Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud.

The discussion runs from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at Whatcom Community College’s Syre Auditorium, followed by coffee and conversation until 12:30. Candidates for the state Supreme Court have also been invited to join that informal portion of the morning, giving you another chance to put some faces to the names you will see on the ballot in November. The event is free, and registration is recommended.

LOCAL READS

California or Bust
By Joe Meche · Whatcom Watch
A family visit to San Francisco became a nine-day road trip from Bellingham, with stops at Crissy Field, Dillon Beach, Bodega Bay and the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Joe details the birds, coastal detours and practical lessons gathered along the way, including reconsidering 13-hour first-day drives. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

25 years later, are we moving past 9/11? Dream on.
By Ron Judd · The BellingHammer
Memorial Park’s century-old arch and war memorials offer a local record of conflicts spanning World War I through Iraq and Afghanistan. Ron explains why, 25 years after 9/11, he sees the site as a place to consider how national crises can reshape public life long after the immediate danger passes. Read more →

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday
Cherry Point (Gulf Road Beach): Join Re Sources from 11-1pm for International Coastal Cleanup Day. Cleanup supplies will be provided, along with snacks from the Bagelry and Community Food Co-op.

5447 Barr Road (Fri-Sun 8 am)
Someone has put an enormous effort into setting up this amazing six-family garage sale. 🙂 It looks like a rad vintage shop. It would be a darn shame to miss it!

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Saturday), from 10 am to 2 pm at GATE 5 in Squalicum Harbor.

Salmon is the theme at this Saturday’s Bellingham Dockside Market, with fresh catches from the Salish Sea and Washington coast, plus frozen options from Hood Canal and Alaska. At the market you’ll find fresh groundfish from Jean C Family Fisheries, mushrooms and produce from Fish Fed Foods, artwork and books from The Scow, and island-style music from Ki’ihele starting at 10:30 am.

Lookout Arts Quarry
The Mmmatchmaker! 💔❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥 (dinner theater) | Fri-Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing (theatre) | Fri-Sun

Bellingham Theatre Guild
The Importance of Being Earnest (theatre) | Fri-Sun

The Claire
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (theatre) | Fri-Sun

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
“Best of the Fest” Southside Edition of The Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival (comedy) | Fri

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Ballroom, Latin and Swing - Cordata Senior Center - Fri 6:30 pm
Ballroom, Swing, Latin - The Majestic - Fri 6:30 pm
Square Dance: Potluck - Details - Sat 6 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:30 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Dance Fusion - BSAC - 10:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

A mix of country, trop-rock, pop, and jam music is on the menu at Great Blue Heron Grill when The Saltwater Cowboys play tonight, September 18, from 6 to 8 pm. The free acoustic set takes place at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club in Blaine, with dinner service available during the show.

Before the Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival spreads across Bellingham in October, The Firehouse is hosting a preview tonight, September 18, at 7:30 pm. The venue’s first Firehouse Comedy Hour features stand-up comedian Jaci Terjeson, Dan Mills, and host Nikki Kilpatrick of Venus Comedy.

The Quartertones perform at the Jansen Art Center on Saturday, September 19, from 7 to 9 pm. Their repertoire includes beloved classics, traditional instrumental pieces, and original arrangements, with oud, strings, piano, and percussion, with a focus on maqamat, the melodic modes that help define Arabic music and give each piece its own tonal character. Admission is $20.

Walker & the Stardust Rangers play Honey Moon tonight, September 18, from 8 to 10 pm. The band works in country and Americana territory.

Noisy Waters Mural Auction Closing Night & Happy Hour, Bar Cicotti – A free, all-ages gathering from 6 to 8 pm offers a final look at the festival’s 8-by-8-foot murals before the auction closes, with food and drink discounts for anyone who bids or donates.

Steinholding Competition, Stemma Brewing West – A U.S. Steinholding Association-sanctioned qualifier begins at 5 pm, with a $10 entry fee covering a one-liter stein of Festbier and prizes for the winners.

Taste of Ferndale, Downtown Ferndale – A seven-stop walking tour from 5:30 to 8 pm pairs local art with light bites and beverages at businesses throughout downtown for $20.

Friday Music & Trivia →

Out of the Darkness Walk, Bellingham High School – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosts a free event from 9 am to noon with a mental health and awareness fair, opening ceremony, and a one-mile walk through downtown Bellingham. Details

The Work Beneath the Work Book Party, 107 Soundview Road – Author Ted Leonhardt marks the launch of his new book from 2 to 5 pm with readings from both its memoir and advisory sections at this free gathering. RSVP by text to the author, Ted Leonharddt, at 206-914-8338

Grape & Gourmet 2026, Hotel Bellwether Ballroom – Regional wineries and Whatcom County restaurants pair wine tastings and appetizers from 4 to 8 pm, with ticket proceeds supporting Blue Skies for Children.

Heart & Sole Fun Run & Roll, Camp Korey – A 1K and timed 5K begin at 10 am, followed by a finish-line party with food trucks, Seattle Seahawks guests, and a community art project, all supporting Camp Korey’s free programs for children with life-altering medical conditions. Details

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Dinking for Dogs Pickleball Tournament, Armory Pickleball Facility – A recreational pickleball tournament runs from 11 am to 2 pm, with $80 team registration and all proceeds benefiting dogs in the care of Happy Tails Happy Homes. Register

Equinox Sound Journey, Woodstock Farms – A guided sound bath from 5 to 6 pm uses a meditative soundscape and deep listening to mark the fall equinox, with guests encouraged to bring floor padding, a blanket, and a small pillow. Register

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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