Happy Friday, Bellingham. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Bellingham Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Downtown hides playful octopus cutouts for prizes, Padden Creek will get a $1.5 million fish highway makeover, and August ballots hit mailboxes — catch up here.

State-level stories: Ivy sales get axed statewide, Washington asks for public takes on future EV chargers, and 21 AI wildfire cameras go live for fire alerts — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: 24/7 social security access, dogs detect Parkinson’s, and a new method or reclaiming 98 percent of battery metals — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Pre-register for free library legal clinic
• Cheer Ethan’s endurance feat for hunger relief
• Join Monday evening City Council meeting
• Learn to become a foster parent
• Explore preschool options with Opportunity Council
• iTustCapital offers $0/mo crypto IRA accounts

🫶 We got your back

Wellness: Time to roll out your mat and find your flow? From heated sweat-your-buns-off sessions to soothing restorative classes for every level, these yoga studios have you covered.

Coffee: Forget gas station swill and drive-thru letdowns. From baristas who remember your “usual” to pastry cases whispering sweet temptations, these nearby caffeine sanctuaries know great coffee is about way more than just the beans.

Music Scene: Spotify playlists work for folding laundry, but if you’re craving something louder than your earbuds can deliver, these live music venues bring the kind of energy that makes you remember why you stayed out past 10 pm.

Family Fun: Need creative screen-free activities for the littles? This guide covers some of the coolest summer outdoor toys and games for on-the-go kiddos.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 Around town this weekend

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

Today

🎆 Post-Game Fireworks & Giveaway @ Joe Martin Field | Friday (7/18) at 6:35pm – Grab your glove and head to the waterfront diamond for the opener against those HarbourCats, then hang tight when the home team’s done. First 900 fans snag a free 40oz Bells tumbler, and we light up the sky with postgame fireworks.

🎶 Adrian Xavier & Ska Island | Friday (7/18) at 8:00pm – This mini-beach vacay in our favorite beer garden features Adrian Xavier’s deep reggae dub vibe and Ska Island’s Salish Sea ska explorations. It’s like a backyard BBQ with a tropical soundtrack, minus the uncle who always asks for your Wi-Fi password.

This weekend

🚗 Razz & Shine Cruise In | Saturday (7/19) at 8:00am – If you’ve ever wondered why we polished our hubcaps better than our speeches, this weekend’s Razz & Shine Cruise In has your answer in a sea of gleaming classics. Bring your ride or just curious eyes, swap engine gossip, and indulge in horsepower therapy.

🌼 Creating a Meadow Garden | Saturday (7/19) at 10:00am – Tired of your yard starring in one long grass-comparison montage? This free workshop shows you how to swap that sad lawn for a buzzing pollinator haven that bees, butterflies, and even moths won’t ghost. Sign up at the register or call 360-676-5480.

🎁 Bellingham Bells Giveaway @ Joe Martin Field | Saturday (7/19) at 6:35pm – Evening breeze, hometown ballpark, and the Bellingham Bells ready to rumble in game two against the Victoria HarbourCats. Expect a classic pitchers’ duel under the lights, craft beer in hand. First 900 fans snag a keepsake bell, because who doesn’t love free noise?

🚘 Vietnam Veterans 14th Annual Car Show @ The Barkley Green | Sunday (7/20) at 10:00am – If you’re into classic chrome and a side of nostalgia, swing by VVA #165’s 14th annual car show on July 20th. Expect laid-back vibes, veteran pride parked next to cherry-red beauties, and enough engine rumble to satisfy your inner gearhead.

🌕 Rising Moon Festival @ Rising Moon Meadows | Sunday (7/20) at 2:00pm – Midsummer meadow magic awaits outside Bellingham, where you can swap your inbox for sunrise yoga, soulful tunes, and art installations that won’t judge your interpretive dance. Family-friendly vibes let the kids join drum circles, while you sneak off for a sunset sound bath.

Next week

💃 Monday Night Dance @ The Majestic Ballroom | Monday (7/21) at 6:30pm – Think you know Monday nights? Trade your usual armchair slump for a wiggle fest with The Bellingham Embodiment Collective’s rotating guides from 5Rhythms to Open Floor, just handing you permission to move, no steps required.

✍️ VB Writes – Nonfiction & Memoir @ Village Books and Paper Dreams | Tuesday (7/22) at 9:30am – If your dusty journal, last opened during a council rant, has never seen the light of day, drag it kicking, screaming into nonfiction at our writers’ circle in the Readings Gallery, guided by patient Ted Leonhardt and fellow nerds. No experience needed, drop-ins welcome.

🧠 Trivia for the Masses @ Uisce Irish Pub | Tuesday (7/22) at 7:00pm – Grab your smartest pals and head to Trivia for the Masses every Tuesday with Aireekah and Glitt3r Lyfe, pay two bucks per player, grab a pizza, and sip a stiff cocktail. Show off useless facts you swear you’ll never need again, cash prizes included.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 7/18 LarraBAAY 1 @ Larrabee State Park – 5 pm
• 7/18 County Rose @ Pioneer Park – 5:30 pm
• 7/18 Ben Meyer @ Bellwether – 6 pm
• 7/18 Richie Aflleje @ Corner Taphouse – 8 pm
• 7/19 JP Falcon Grady Band @ Skylark’s Hidden Cafe – 3 pm
• 7/19 Jackie Venson @ The Blue Room – 7 pm
• 7/19 Vinyl Williams @ The Shakedown – 7 pm
• 7/20 Our Town Show @ New Prospect – 2 pm
• 7/20 Ron Bailey & The Tangents @ 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).