Bellingham · Whatcom County
Things to Do in Bellingham, by Season
From the Mt Baker snow that lands in November to the tulip fields of April and a whale season that runs all summer, here is what is worth doing around Bellingham right now and what is coming next. The guide below keeps itself current with the calendar.
Whatcom County · Seasonal
Bellingham, right now
A living guide to what is worth doing around town this week — the markets, the mountain, the migrations and the color. It re-sorts itself by the calendar, so what is in season floats to the top.
- Happening now
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On now
Mid-November – April
Mt Baker Ski Area
1 hour up the Mount Baker HighwayThe legendary snow record-holder is open for turns; check the conditions page before the drive up SR 542.
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On now
All April
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
30 minutes south, in SkagitA short drive turns whole fields red and gold; weekday mornings dodge the worst of the weekend crowds.
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On now
April – October
Salish Sea whale watching
Boats from Bellingham and the islandsOrca, humpback and minke move through the San Juans; tour season runs spring into fall and peaks mid-summer.
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On now
Memorial Day weekend
Ski to Sea race
Mountain to bay, every Memorial DayA seven-leg relay from the slopes of Mt Baker to the saltwater at Fairhaven, with a parade the day before.
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On now
April – December · Saturdays
Bellingham Farmers Market
Depot Market Square, downtownSaturday mornings fill the Depot with Whatcom growers, makers and food trucks from spring through the holidays.
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On now
Mid-June – August
Whatcom berry season
Lynden and Ferndale farmsStrawberries give way to the raspberries and blueberries that made this county famous; many farms open the rows for U-pick.
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On now
Wednesdays in summer
Downtown Sounds concerts
Free, on Bay StreetBellingham closes a downtown block on Wednesday evenings for free live music through the warm weeks of summer.
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On now
Late July – September
Artist Point and the alpine
End of the Mount Baker HighwayOnce the snow clears the road to 5,100 feet, the wildflower meadows under Mt Shuksan are some of the best in the state.
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On now
Mid-October – early November
Fall color in the parks
Whatcom Falls, Arroyo, Lake PaddenBigleaf maples turn the park trails gold and amber for a few short weeks; Whatcom Falls is the local favorite.
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On now
Late November – December
Holidays on the bay
Fairhaven and the Lighted Boat ParadeFairhaven’s village lights, the Lighted Boat Parade on Bellingham Bay and the last Saturday markets close out the year.
- Coming up
Seasons are typical local windows, not exact dates — check official event pages before you go. The badge above updates on its own from your device clock.
See more to exploreSeason by season
What to do in Bellingham, month to month
What is there to do in Bellingham in the summer?
Summer is the busy season. Saturday mornings belong to the downtown Farmers Market; afternoons are for the lakes, with swim beaches at Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom, or a paddle out on Bellingham Bay. Once the snow clears the road to Artist Point in late July, the alpine meadows under Mt Shuksan are some of the best hiking in the state. Add whale-watching tours through the San Juans, U-pick raspberries out toward Lynden, and free Wednesday concerts at Downtown Sounds.
What about winter in Bellingham?
Winter means the mountain. Mt Baker Ski Area, an hour up the highway, holds the world record for snowfall in a single season and runs from roughly mid-November into April. Back in town, Fairhaven lights up for the holidays with a village stroll and the Lighted Boat Parade out on the bay. The rest of the season is the cozy version of Bellingham: bookstores and cafes in Fairhaven, breweries downtown, and storm-watching along the waterfront.
What is the best thing to do in spring?
Spring is the showpiece. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival fills the fields half an hour south for all of April, the Bellingham Farmers Market reopens, and the whale-watching season starts back up. Memorial Day weekend brings Ski to Sea, the seven-leg relay that runs from the slopes of Mt Baker down to the saltwater at Fairhaven, with a parade the day before. The trails green up and the migratory birds move back through.
What is fall like in Bellingham?
Fall is the quiet favorite. Bigleaf maples turn the park trails gold and amber for a few short weeks in October, with Whatcom Falls the local pick for color. The Farmers Market runs right up to the holidays, the summer crowds thin out, and the shoulder season is the most affordable time to visit. It is the best stretch of the year for a long trail walk without sharing it.
What is it like to live in Bellingham through the year?
That is the real question behind this page. Living here means the mountain in winter, the islands and the bay all summer, and a farmers market that runs most of the year. If you are weighing a move, the rhythm of the seasons is a big part of what you are buying into. I help people figure out which corner of Whatcom County fits the life they are after, and I am happy to talk it through.
Thinking about making it year-round?
If these seasons sound like a life you want, let us talk through where in Whatcom County to land, and what it takes to get there.