The second weekend of September has apparently decided nobody in Whatcom County should stay home.
From Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13, the calendar includes Greek food, live funk and soul, a free farm tour, a salmon-themed 5K and an entire festival devoted to dogs.
Here are five worthwhile ways to spend the weekend around Bellingham and Whatcom County.
1. Bellingham Greek Festival
Come hungry. That is the primary practical advice here.
A Bellingham tradition since 1984, the festival returns with gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, baklava, Greek coffee and loukoumades served beneath a large outdoor tent. Live music, dance performances, shopping, guided church tours and a taverna round out the weekend.
Admission and parking are free, according to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. The gyros, tragically, are not.
When: Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Where: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 510 E. Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225
Cost: Free admission; food and drinks available for purchase
Details: Bellingham Greek Festival
2. Tower of Power
Tower of Power brings nearly six decades of funk and soul to downtown Bellingham on Friday night.
The band is known for its horn-driven sound and songs including “What Is Hip?” and “You’re Still a Young Man.” This is the weekend’s big-ticket option, both figuratively and quite literally.
The Mount Baker Theatre lists only limited ticket availability, so this is not the event to approach with a casual “maybe we’ll decide after dinner.”
When: Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.; end time not listed
Where: Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
Cost: $49.75–$74.75; advance tickets recommended due to limited availability
Details: Mount Baker Theatre tickets
3. Run With the Chums
Run With the Chums is a free, family-friendly 5K along the Whatcom County shoreline near Birch Bay.
The event welcomes participants of all ages and speeds, so nobody needs to arrive dressed like they are qualifying for the Olympics. Children 10 and younger can tackle the Smolt Sprint obstacle course before the main 5K begins.
Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m., and free event shirts will be distributed while supplies last. The Whatcom Conservation District says leashed pets are welcome and advance registration can help participants skip the race-day line.
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 8:30 a.m.–noon; Smolt Sprint at 9:30 a.m.; 5K at 10 a.m.
Where: BP Highlands, 6898 Point Whitehorn Road, Blaine, WA 98230
Cost: Free; advance registration encouraged
Details: Run With the Chums
4. Whatcom County Farm Tour
The 19th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour gives visitors six hours to roam among 13 participating farms across the county.
The self-guided tour includes everything from aquaponics and raw-milk production to flower fields, pasture-raised animals and a greenhouse described as a “Tomato Jungle.” Several stops will offer demonstrations, children’s activities, farm tours and products for sale.
Organizers recommend bringing water, layers, closed-toe shoes and a cooler for anything purchased along the way. Pets are not allowed because of livestock safety and farm biosecurity, according to Sustainable Connections.
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: 13 farms in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Everson, Custer and Blaine; individual addresses are listed on the official tour page
Cost: Free; online registration available
Details: Whatcom County Farm Tour locations and registration
5. Dog Days of Summer Festival
Sunday belongs to the dogs.
The Whatcom Humane Society’s Dog Days of Summer Festival includes canine games and contests, pet-related vendors, rescue groups, exhibitions, an animal caricaturist, food and a beer garden. Admission is free, with money raised during the event benefiting animals in the organization’s care.
Dogs must remain leashed and should be vaccinated. Organizers ask people to leave reactive or aggressive dogs and females in heat at home.
Parking will be available at several neighboring businesses, but it is limited. There is no shuttle, and the festival grounds are an uneven dirt-and-grass field; accessible parking will be available at the shelter, according to the Whatcom Humane Society.
When: Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Field behind the Whatcom Humane Society, 2172 Division St., Bellingham, WA 98226
Cost: Free
Details: Dog Days of Summer Festival
There are, of course, more than five things happening around Bellingham and Whatcom County this weekend.
But this lineup offers a solid starting point—whether your ideal Saturday involves baklava, running shoes, baby goats or absolutely none of the above.
