First Fridays
First Fridays is a monthly celebration that showcases local artists and galleries, places to dine and sip, late night shopping, events, live music, and more! Join us on the first Friday of every month from 6:00pm - 10:00pm.
With fresh programming each month, First Fridays provide opportunities to engage with Downtown Bellingham and discover the city center throughout the year. Dozens of businesses host artists, feature signature dishes, become a stage for musicians, and more!
May First Friday coincides with Children’s Art Walk hosted by Allied Arts of Whatcom County. It’s a great night to experience Downtown!
Heads Up! January 2026 First Friday Update:
To accommodate for New Year’s festivities and holiday breaks, January “First” Friday will take place on Friday, January 9th. The event map will be live on Wednesday, January 7th.
For First Friday Goers
Find your own adventure each First Friday! To help your journey, we publish printable and digital maps each Wednesday before the event. Limited printed maps are also available at participating venues. Look for the signature colorful buntings adorning participating doorways and entrances!
Special bonus for November First Friday: Salish Sea Poetry Festival!
For the weekend of November 7-9, downtown Bellingham will host the inaugural Salish Sea Poetry Festival: a smorgasbord of free readings and workshops, poetry-themed food and drink, poetic movie screenings, poetry walks, an appearance by Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield, and the 2025 Salish Sea Poetry Slam--an audience-rated competitive poetry showdown featuring some of the most celebrated poets and spoken word artists in the Pacific Northwest. Plenty of fun to be had for the adventurous poet! A poetry crawl through downtown Bellingham, as well as improv theatre with a poetry influence.
For Businesses & Artists
Register for upcoming First Fridays to be included in venue guides, and receive your signature First Friday door buntings. Registration due the Monday before each First Friday.
Are you an artist interested in your work being displayed at First Friday?
Summer busking to bring live music to the streets during First Fridays made possible by Chuckanut Health Foundation!
The local businesses below have joined Chuckanut Health Foundation’s generous matching campaign to sponsor this seasonal event. Learn more and join!
