Around Town
First Friday celebrations and happenings throughout May!
Music returns to the city center with May First Friday
Busking is BACK starting with May First Friday. Coordinated by our friend Pace Rubadeau, attendees can look forward to a “diverse series of raw and rare acoustic performances highlighting the creative genius of our shared scene” over the next 5 months of First Friday celebrations. Specific performance locations and times will be announced the first week of each month on the First Friday website, and through Downtown Bellingham Partnership social media channels (Facebook and Instagram).
If you're headed downtown on May 7 for First Friday celebrations, look for busking performances from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Without further ado, here's this month's lineup...
Pete Irving and Ani Banani (Hot Damn Scandal/The Best Intentions)
1304 Bay Street - the little acoustic alcove between SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention and Bayou on BayPeter Ali (Native American Flutist)
1308 Cornwall Ave - across the street from Chuckanut Bay DistilleryRobert Lashley (Poet Laureate)
228 E Maple St - the corner between Honey Moon and BAAY Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth
The Busking Program and First Friday programming is made possible with community support from Whatcom Community Foundation and Unity Care NW. Thank you to our partners for being committed to a healthy and vibrant city center!
21st Annual Children's Art Walk
Presented by Allied Arts of Whatcom County, the Children's Art Walk once again brings the creative work of local students to windows of downtown businesses. Children's Art Walk kicks off on May 7th, but artwork will be displayed throughout the month. You can find an interactive map of locations at Allied Arts and a printable version at the First Friday event page.
Live Outdoor Music Series at Thousand Acre Cider House
Thousand Acre Cider House will host local bands performing live music every weekend through Summer ’21, beginning Friday May 7th. Lefty and the Right Hand Band, a Bellingham-based Rock & Blues band, perform this Friday from 7:00 - 9:00pm in an outdoor setting. Customers are encouraged to pre-book tables for all performances online at www.thousandacreciderhouse.com/. Any remaining tables will be first come, first served. Cover charges go directly to the bands.
CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival
CASCADIA celebrates it's 5th year of bringing exceptional films directed by women all over the world to viewers in Bellingham and beyond. The festival, which usually takes place in downtown Bellingham each spring was “re-envisioned” following 2020’s COVID shutdowns, will again be shown online this year May 13th through May 22nd, and will feature 27 films of different lengths and genres from women filmmakers all over the world. Festival passes on sale May 1. More information available on the CASCADIA website at www.cascadiafilmfest.org.
Syttende May Celebration
Join Waffles in Paradise in celebrating Syttende May, Norwegian Constitution Day, at the Rebel Artists of Whatcom Market in downtown Bellingham at the Commercial Street Plaza. Syttende celebration is May 15th from 3:00 - 7:00pm.
Featuring live music, beautiful artwork and Nordic-style heart-shaped waffles made on cast iron waffle griddles!
PArtnership NEws
Updates from the Downtown Bellingham Partnership.
Downtown Marketplace refresh: Springtime Gifts
Looking for fresh springtime gifts? Headed to an upcoming socially-distanced celebration? Don't get caught empty-handed!
We've just updated our online marketplace with gift ideas from local downtown spots like Fringe Boutique, Seifert & Jones Wine Merchants, Brazen Shop + Studio, 11th Hour Tea & Coffee Bar, Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen and more.
Whether you're looking for the mother figures in your life (reminder: Mother's Day is this Sunday!), upcoming graduation gifts, or a spring birthday head over to downtownbellingham.com/marketplace to get inspired.
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2021 Storefront Improvement Grant - accepting applications!
The goal of the Storefront Improvement Grant is to help business owners achieve their vision for the front of their space – check out how the 2020 grant recipient, Veritas Media, used the grant to upgrade their facade! They added vinyl decals to their windows and installed a street level display screen and colored lighting.
The Storefront Improvement Grant is a competitive matching grant program (up to $2,000) to assist downtown businesses with improvements to exterior building facades, signage, and/or surroundings.
Examples of eligible projects include:
Signage on windows/doors or hanging from awning
Windows and/or door treatments
Improved lighting
Fresh coat of paint
Landscaping, plants and containers
Tile or other decorative material
Imaginative exterior elements. Get creative!
Project inspiration and application available at downtownbellingham.com/sig. Grant applications accepted until May 26.
Help Downtown Bloom with Hanging Flower Baskets
Heading downtown this weekend? You might notice some fresh flowers baskets are here to greet you! Our Downtown Bellingham Partnership Landscaping team recently hung over 36 sun and shade baskets around the city center. These beautiful baskets are made possible by generous community contributions. More donations = more baskets! Want to help Downtown bloom? Head to downtownbellingham.com/flower-basket-fund
Join our team as a Board Member!
The Downtown Bellingham Partnership is looking to expand it's Board of Directors. Interested in helping to create a more healthy, vibrant and exciting Downtown Bellingham district? Sounds like we're on the same page! Learn more and apply at downtownbellingham.com/board-application.
Exclusive deals for Downtown INSIDERS...
Downtown INSIDERS get access to exclusive deals at your favorite businesses all over Downtown, from places like Black Sheep, Brazen Shop + Studio, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, Fringe Boutique, Pure Bliss Desserts, Saltadena, Third Planet, Thousand Acre Cider House, WinkWink, and more!
Ready to become an INSIDER? Take a look at all the deals and sign up!