Events & Activities Happening in Downtown Bellingham
Photo Credit: Kelsey Chance and Good Chance Creative
HOLIDAY WINE WALK
Tickets Live Now!
On Friday, November 15th, meander around 18+ shops as they host pop-up tasting rooms showcasing an array of regional wines. Plus, save while kickstarting your holiday shopping with fun offerings, deals, and discounts from each participating retailer.
Join us in kicking off the holiday season by sipping and shopping local!
NEKO Cat Cafe
REDISCOVER DOWNTOWN
Just minutes from your doorstep
Embrace fall in Downtown Bellingham with indoor and outdoor experiences perfect for the whole family. Rediscover your Downtown with the family, over a cocktail, at an event, or perusing deals and discounts as an INSIDER.
There’s something for everyone!
Photo Credit: Kristina Gray - INSIDER benefits at Black Sheep
BECOME A DOWNTOWN INSIDER
Donate monthly to support & save at your favorite Downtown businesses
Give a little - get a lot.
Ready to get year-round deals at your favorite businesses and support the health and vitality of the Downtown neighborhood? Sign up or gift a membership today starting at $5/month!
More Ways To Engage With DBP
City Block District 5 meeting at the Ranch Room
CITY BLOCK PROGRAM
Connecting businesses with their neighbors
The City Block Program fosters connection, collaboration, and discussion between businesses through monthly meetings in respective “districts”. Find your district and get plugged in!
Western Wednesday poster on WWU’s campus
WESTERN WEDNESDAY
Welcoming WWU to Downtown every Wednesday with deals, discounts, and experiences
Experience everything Downtown has to offer with deals on everything from coffee to cocktails and everything in between! Featuring 60+ participating businesses, grab your WWU ID and head Downtown to experience the city center on a budget.
Every Wednesday. All. Day. Long.
CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD
Join us in continuing our programs, events & projects with a donation!
Downtown is the heart of Bellingham and Whatcom County, providing a gathering place for community, offering a wealth of retail, dining, and entertainment experiences, & acting as the focal point for culture and creativity. We are committed to championing the vitality of our community, and can't do it without your support.
2023 Annual Report
From The Executive Director
2023 was a vigorous and transformative year for both our organization and the Downtown district. Highlighted by the launch of new programs and the growth of existing ones, along with extensive neighborhood advocacy efforts, the Partnership deepened the important work of championing the health and vitality of Downtown Bellingham.
This 2023 Annual Report demonstrates the breadth of the vital efforts we committed to throughout the year, including expanding micro-business grant offerings, strengthening key relationships with community champions and stakeholders through our City Block Program, implementing an alley improvement pilot project and digital marketing seminars in collaboration with key partners, increasing Downtown’s flower basket footprint, producing a new event and program in partnership with WWU, and launching a critical Public Safety Campaign – to name a few.
Discussions within City Block meetings and DBP committees helped lay the groundwork for our Public Safety Campaign in collaboration with the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. This campaign made significant strides in addressing Downtown's challenges, emphasizing the need for both short-term and long-term solutions.
In addition to these public-facing initiatives, we also bid farewell to two amazing colleagues - our Operations Manager of five years, Melissa Sorinsin, and our dedicated executive leader of seven years, Alice Clark. However, challenges often present opportunities – we welcomed David Sadowsky as our new Operations & Finance Manager, and I assumed the role of Interim Executive Director at the start of 2024 while our committed Board of Directors embarked on the vital task of finding the Partnership’s next Executive Director.
After 16 years with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, it is my great pleasure to address you as the organization’s new Executive Director. As we look ahead, our dedicated team is eager to uphold our commitment to the Downtown district through economic vitality initiatives, innovative place activation projects, ongoing events, and unwavering advocacy for our resilient downtown business community. We look forward to the impactful work and meaningful collaboration ahead in 2024.
Be In The Know
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter about Downtown Bellingham events, happenings, business openings, and more!
Our Donors & Partners
City Support
The City of Bellingham provides financial support via contracts supporting partial staffing and execution of our signature events, and full funding of our landscaping and cleaning services.
Main Street Supporters
A major source of financial support we receive each year is through accreditation with Main Street America and the Washington State Main Street Program, making our organization eligible for the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program. Businesses who pledge to the WA Main Street Tax Incentive Program receive 75% credit on their state B&O taxes and the entire donation may be tax deductible. Those tax dollars are then reinvested in the Downtown Bellingham neighborhood - a true win-win for everyone!
Thank you to the over 40 businesses and government entities supporting the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s mission in 2024.
Financial & Legal Institutions
Realty & Property Management
Construction & Building Services
Education & Personal Health and Well Being Providers
Retailers, Distributors & Consumer Product Manufacturers
Food, Beverage, & Entertainment Venues
Public Utility & Government Partners
Video & Media Production
Regional & Peer Organization Partners
We recognize the important work of regional economic development organizations and nonprofits supporting commerce, culture, and celebration to further the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s mission of champion the health and vitality of downtown Bellingham.
This project, co-funded by the Port of Bellingham, City of Bellingham, and Whatcom County, is designed to help all business professionals find the information they need to be successful in Whatcom County.
The Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce is the leading advocate for businesses in the Northwest Washington region. The chamber advocates for a strong business community and aims to make the Bellingham and Whatcom County area a great place to live, work, shop and play by influencing public policy, aiding in economic development, and helping its members succeed.
The Western SBDC brings a consortium of business development resources to your community. These assets are delivered to you through one-on-one counseling with our certified business advisors, our popular and proven training events and our best-in-class small business market and strategy research.
Sustainable Connections advances a regenerative local economy that builds community, strengthens food systems, catalyzes climate solutions, and expands access to housing in NW Washington.