Celebrate the holidays in Downtown Bellingham!
Gather your crew and soak in the festive vibes with sparkling lights, stunning decor, and over a dozen magical events. From cozy window displays to unforgettable memories, we've got the ultimate holiday experience waiting for you!
Thank You To Our 2024 Shine Bright Bham Sponsors!
Support Holiday Magic!
Help make Downtown Bellingham’s holiday season shine by sponsoring, Shine Bright Bham, our annual celebrations of festive cheer and community spirit!
This year’s highlights include Shop Small Saturday on November 30, encouraging the community to shop locally instead of big box stores or online. Your support helps showcase our unique local businesses, making Bellingham a prime holiday shopping destination. Thanks to a generous grant from BECU, our campaign is already funded with $4,500 to award 30 street-level businesses with $150 microgrants to invest in holiday window displays! Help us match or exceed this generous seed fund to further brighten our streets and events.
Shop Small Saturday - November 30th
Go big by shopping small this holiday season! Find unique and delightful gifts at Downtown Bellingham's array of boutiques, shops, and galleries stocked with special finds and one-of-a-kind items. Skip the craziness at big box stores and find the perfect items for your lists (or yourself!).
Tree Lighting Ceremony - December 7th
Embrace the magic of the holiday season and be part of the community tradition of lighting Downtown's tree!
Join us at 5:30pm for free cocoa and cookies, free photo booth from Glitt3r Lyfe, craft tables from Art and Happiness where you can create your own masterpieces to take home, treats from Ralf's Bavarian Bakery, and more! Then, join the countdown to 6pm when the tree comes to life in a burst of lights
Stay with us and continue enjoying the fun activities until 7pm, making your Saturday night Downtown a memorable night filled with festive joy!
Sustainable Connections’ Holiday Passport
Local lovers all over are invited to visit numerous locally owned businesses around Whatcom County with the Think Local First Passport. At each stop, simply check in using your digital passport, collect points, and earn prizes. This passport not only helps you experience the finest local retailers, but also offers many opportunities earn points and win prizes. By supporting your favorite local businesses, we all win!
Signing up is easy! Just click the sign-up button on your phone. Each time you check into a location on the digital passport, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for Think Local First swag. There are no paper passports to keep track of and you don’t have to bug a cashier for a stamp! It’s all available on your smartphone.
Shine Bright Window Displays
Starting Thanksgiving weekend, 40+ storefront windows throughout Downtown will be shining bright with festive lighting and creative décor, illuminating street level spaces and brightening the city center.
Your stroll through Downtown will be bright and festive thanks to grants from BECU funding 30 businesses to decorate their storefronts!
Lighted Bike Parade - December 14th
#ShineBrightBham rides on with a Downtown - Fairhaven Lighted Bike Parade on Saturday, December 14th starting at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave) at 4:30 pm. Riders will depart for Boulevard Park at 5:00 pm for music from the Bellingham Youth Jazz Band, interactive play with Play Lab, a magic show from Gage, WTA Operator and Magician, and a friendly best decorated bike contest.
Riders return from 6:00 - 6:20 pm to original locations.
Thanks to our partners - WTA, Western Washington University, Fairhaven Association, SMART TRIPS, and the City of Bellingham.!
100+ Monthly Events
Discover the lively scene of Downtown Bellingham, your go-to spot for a wide variety of events: trivia, game nights, drag shows, art exhibitions, performances, or educational activities, Downtown has it all. Whether you're with your squad or flying solo, you’re in for good vibes, great times, and a whole lot of laughs.
Make Your Downtown Bellingham Experience Even Better
Whether it’s your first or fiftieth trip Downtown, make your next experience better by being in the know. Plan your route, take advantage of hassle-free parking by downloading the Pay by Phone app, save by becoming an INSIDER, and find new (or new to you) restaurants, bars, shops, and experiences to enjoy during your visit. The more you know about Downtown, the more you’ll want to be Downtown.
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More Downtown Essentials
Food & Drink
Whether it's date night, lunch meeting, after-school-snack or late night snacking, reimagine dining out dining Downtown and rediscover all Downtown eateries have to offer.
Can’t skip: Storia Cucina
New Experiences
Grab a workout at our yoga studios, stimulate your mind with a documentary at our independent theaters, discover new wonders at our electric museums, or try something completely new.
Local Legend: Pickford Film Center
Live Music
Bellingham has a deeply talented local music scene. From local favorites to nationally touring acts, catch your next show Downtown.