Happy Friday, Bellingham. In today’s edition: Coat drives near Bellingham, the Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade, Christmas at Bellewood, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Environmental scrutiny at local range: Whatcom County officials issued a violation notice to Custer Sportsman’s Club after an investigation found lead bullets off-site. The club faces a Dec. 30 deadline and potential $125 daily fines — get all the details.

Easy local giving options: As temperatures drop, Stacker compiled a list of coat drives near Bellingham using One Warm Coat data. Demand is rising as more families struggle to afford basic needs — find coat drives near Bellingham.

Emergency declarations in Northwest: BP has fully restarted the Olympic Pipeline after a nearly two-week shutdown from a Nov. 11 leak, restoring fuel to Sea-Tac and Oregon as 2,300 gallons have been recovered — read the full update.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Celebrate life change at Collide’s gala
• Tour a festive historic Roeder Home
• Celebrate community at Bellingham Farmers Market
• Help restore habitat at Connelly Creek
• Holiday Makers Market benefits United Way
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Community arts alliance in action: Allied Arts’ Holiday Festival of the Arts is back for its 46th year, this time inside a repurposed Rite Aid in Bellingham. Executive Director Kelly Hart keeps the month-long pop-up humming, with centralized checkout for vendors. It’s open daily through Dec. 24 at 3 p.m., spotlighting longtime local makers. Read the full story.

A holiday arts milestone: Opus Performing Arts is teaming up with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra for The Nutcracker with live music at Mount Baker Theatre, Dec 20–22. It’s part of BSO’s 50th anniversary season, with the Bellingham Community Choir joining for Snowflakes. Expect lavish handmade costumes and a cast ranging from cupcakes to the Sugar Plum Fairy. Read the full story.

Pizza and pours: In Bellingham’s historic Union Depot, Aslan Depot is a 21+ taproom pouring organic Aslan brews, plus cider, natural wine, and cocktails. A New York-style pizza kitchen keeps things crispy, and regular live music makes it an easy pick for catch-ups or solo treats.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🕯️ The Light of Hope Returning @ First Congregational Church of Bellingham | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Vox Pacifica, under Wendy Bloom, fills the room with a multimedia folk oratorio, all women’s voices with fiddle, cello, bass, sax, and piano, as winter tilts toward light. Think ritual meets concert, cozy without the kitsch. Bring your listening self, leave the small talk.

❄️ Jami Templeton Quintet- The Magic of Winter @ FireHouse Arts & Events Center | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Whether you still love winter or just tolerate it for the sweaters, Jami Templeton’s quintet pours out warm, sultry jazz that makes the season feel like a good idea. Expert players, cozy vibes, and a reason to order something neat, not eggnog.

This weekend

🎤 Lend Us Your Ears – Incendiary @ Bellingham Theatre Guild | Saturday (12/6) at 2:00pm – Warm up at Bellingham Theatre Guild as Lend Us Your Ears kicks off with Incendiary, a neo-noir comedy where the fire chief moonlights as an arsonist, dates the arson investigator, and overshares in therapy. Talented locals read, content gets spicy, and it’s pay-what-you-will.

🔥 Winterfest Bonfire at Stones Throw @ Fairhaven Association | Saturday (12/6) at 4:00pm – Think you remember how winter used to feel before the mall parking gauntlet? Stones Throw is doing it right with a bonfire, the Firelight Stroll, Winterfest Ale, Gluhwein, hot cocoa, Girl Scout S’mores, and an expanded beer garden, plus every pint helps light up Fairhaven.

🎇 The Official 2025 Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade @ Lynden Chamber of Commerce | Saturday (12/06) at 6:00pm – Front Street transforms into a glowing river of lights as cars, tractors, floats, and all sorts of decked-out creations roll through downtown Lynden. It’s small-town holiday magic at its brightest—perfect for bundling up, grabbing your people, and soaking in the sparkly cheer. No vendors here, just pure parade fun.

⚓ Sunday Dockside Market! @ Bellingham Dockside Market | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Heads up, seafood faithful: Dockside Market is flipping to Sunday for one week only, December 7, not Saturday the 6th. The rest keep the usual first and third Saturdays, and from November through May we cozy up in Fishermen’s Pavilion, 2599 S. Harbor Loop.

🎁 Elizabeth Station Holiday Market @ Elizabeth Station | Sunday (12/7) at 12:00pm – Elizabeth Station’s Holiday Market is basically the North Pole, if Santa preferred barrel-aged. Shop a killer lineup of local makers, sip mulled wine, hot cocoa, and festive beers, and pretend you planned ahead on gifts. Low chaos, high cheer, real Bellingham.

🎅 Christmas at Bellewood @ Bellewood Farms & Distillery | Sunday (12/07) at 9:00am – Snap free Santa photos, sip warm cider by the bonfire, and wander a farm filled with music, fresh pies, gifts, and good cheer. With carolers popping in throughout the day and a tasting room pouring festive spirits, it’s a full-dose holiday outing for all ages. A cozy December tradition in the making.

Next week

🎁 North Fork Let’s Make Presents @ Whatcom County Library System | Tuesday (12/9) at 3:45pm – Swing by North Fork and make the kind of presents people do not pretend to like. They provide the supplies, ideas, and inspiration, you provide the stories. It is quality time with scissors, and a rare chance to skip the mall and still feel generous.

🎨 Next Chapter Cafe and Paint ~ Love is in the Frosty Air c1 @ Date and Paint | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:45pm – Consider this your excuse to stare at the ocean, eat well, and pretend your stick figures are ‘abstract.’ Next Chapter’s paint night pairs Bry’s Filipino bites, It’s a Sweet Thing desserts, and floor to ceiling views. Adults $35, kids $20, smiles included.

🏆 Scepter Awards | Celebrate Good Works @ Wild Buffalo | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:00pm – Downtown is hosting the awards show we actually deserve, celebrating the folks who make Bellingham shine. Cue Bellebrities lip-syncing, Hela Provisions bites with your ticket, drinks at the bar, a 50/50 raffle, plus Rising Stars, unsung heroes, and a proper kick-off to the holidays.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Watch Out For Flying Chairs @ New Prospect Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/6 Holiday Magic @ Mount Baker Theatre – 11:30 am
• 12/6 Celebrating the Winter Solstice: An Hour of Mystic Readings & Recitations @ Village Books – 4 pm
• 12/10 Andy “Bad Dogg” Koch @ Stones Throw Brewery – 6 pm
• 12/12 Rebecca Porter @ Honey Moon – 7 pm
• 12/12 Aerial Ruin and more @ The Shakedown – 9 pm
• 12/13 Subdued Holiday Special: Mike Edel & Friends @ First Presbyterian Church – 7 pm
• 12/13 Zepparella @ Bar Two Eleven – 7 pm
• 12/14 Noel: A Celtic Christmas @ Jansen Art Center – 3 pm
• 12/14 The Davanos @ The Old Edison – 5:30 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Bellingham edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Michelle R Harrington (COMPASS)

Modern build meets eco-minded living, with an open, like-new layout that keeps things sleek and sensible. The kitchen flexes a quartz-topped island, then glides into a fire-warmed living area. Modern French doors open to a covered breezeway patio built for all seasons, while the backyard goes low maintenance with turf, chic pavers, raised beds, and a 6-foot privacy fence.

Upstairs, the primary suite brings an ensuite and walk-in, two additional bedrooms share a full bath. A detached flex room handles office, gym, or studio duty, and the two-car garage keeps gear and gadgets in check.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →