This weekend in Bellingham, WA

A casual gathering of car lovers takes place at Bellis Fair Mall, presented by Broken Motor Car Club. Enthusiasts of classics, exotics, muscle cars, trucks, motorcycles, and daily drivers are welcome. Coffee and pastries from local vendors will be available. Upon arrival, attendees should check in at the Broken Motor Car Club table so attendance can be recorded for insurance purposes. To keep the meet safe and enjoyable, no burnouts, excessive revving, or reckless driving are permitted, and participants are asked to follow event signage and parking directions while respecting the venue and fellow attendees. Admission is free.

Start paddling with confidence in a welcoming, small-group class at Lake Padden designed for first-time kayakers and returning learners. The morning focuses on core boat control, including key strokes and maneuvering skills. After a lunch break, please pack your own meal, the afternoon is devoted to safety, practicing how to rescue yourself and assist a partner back into their kayak. By the end, you will be ready for relaxed outings close to shore, a useful stepping stone before connecting with a local paddling club or planning longer adventures on your own. Group size is limited to maximize personal attention, and all gear is provided, from kayaks to wetsuits, and included in the fee. Instruction is led by Josh White, an ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor. For ages 18 and up. The fee is $195.

This free community offering in Bellingham, Washington features two days of restful practice. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.

This artisan market showcases work from local artisans and offers a welcoming place to discover memorable pieces while supporting the people who made them.

At Lightcatcher Studio at the Whatcom Museum, explore intermediate scientific illustration in watercolor with natural history artist and Burke Museum Ornithology Collections Manager Madison Erin Mayfield. The day begins with observational sketching, then progresses to two completed paintings, one featuring seasonal summer flowers and another depicting a Blackburnian Warbler native to the eastern United States. Expect guidance on rendering specimens with technical accuracy while strengthening the observational skills that enhance any painting. This workshop is intended for adults 18 and older who maintain a regular drawing practice and have some painting experience. Enrollment is limited to 10 participants. Museum admission and all materials are included, and you are welcome to bring your own watercolors, brushes, and paper if you prefer. A 30 minute lunch break is built in. Members $140 and the public $160. Registrations are nonrefundable, with transfers permitted when requested at least 24 hours in advance. Please arrive within 15 minutes of the start time.

Imports & Classics presents the second annual waterfront car show celebrating car culture across classics, JDM, exotics, and high performance builds. The show welcomes all makes and models and is organized by a passionate team of enthusiasts. Expect 18 award categories, a live DJ, raffles, and a welcoming, all ages atmosphere. Vehicle registration is $20 with pre registration and $25 on the day of the show, while spectators are free. The lot is gravel, so lowered vehicles should use caution. Event guidelines prohibit burnouts, speeding, and reckless driving, and ask that everyone respect each other, the City, and the Port of Bellingham. For questions, email Milad@importsandclassics.com.

ʻOno Kitchen & Bar presents its outdoor concert series with John Cruz featured on the bill. An opening set will take the stage before his performance, offering a live music experience that brings a bit of Maui to the Pacific Northwest.

Learn to paddle with confidence and care in a sea kayaking class that centers safe, responsible techniques. Build the fundamentals for independent outings, become familiar with essential gear, refine stroke mechanics for efficient travel, and practice smooth launch and landing skills. The session also highlights cold water preparedness and clear communication on the water so everyone in a group can stay connected. This experience acknowledges a long-standing relationship with the ocean, honoring traditions from the ingenious hunting practices of northern Indigenous peoples to the maritime labor and coastal navigation carried by African and Indigenous ancestors, reflecting a shared heritage with the sea.

This free, family-friendly gathering features local illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell, the creator behind Squirrel Draws Big Feelings, and includes a hands-on chalk art activity. Through the characters Squirrel, Porcupine, and Bear, the book explores what it feels like when emotions run high and how creativity can offer calm. As the story unfolds, Squirrel channels big feelings into chalk drawings, and friends who are unsure at first discover that making art together, sharing, and friendship can help. With rhyming text and lively mixed-media artwork, the book encourages readers to express themselves even when words are hard to find. Registration is requested to help anticipate audience size. Powell is an award-winning illustrator who started her career in Brazil, moved to the United States in 2002, and now lives in Washington state. She has illustrated more than twenty children’s books and enjoys hiking with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

An outdoor screening of The Princess Bride is part of Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema’s 25th anniversary season of films beneath the night sky. Set at Historic Fairhaven’s Village Green, this long-standing summer tradition brings together families, friends, visitors, and the greater Bellingham community for an evening filled with entertainment and hometown charm. Before the movie even begins, families spread out blankets, friends share dinner, kids play on the Green, and neighbors reconnect on a beautiful summer evening. Many attendees pack a picnic, grab pizza from OVN, and pick up something sweet from Sweet Haven or It's The Sweet Things, then settle in for a night of community, connection, and outdoor fun.

Experience the ghostly side of historic Fairhaven on a walking tour that travels up and down Harris Avenue, stopping at places connected to reports of haunted activity. Explore notable spots along the route that have a reputation for hauntings. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Move with friends in the open air as the sun sinks over Bellingham Bay at Zuanich Point Park. Wireless headphones will be provided so you can dance to a varied playlist broadcast by radio, and gear will be available on a first come, first served basis. Plan to meet by the statue to get set up. This gathering welcomes everyone, including people of all shapes and sizes, every color, gender, sexual identity, age, and ability. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and dress for the weather. Free parking is available in the lot next to the park, and public restrooms are on site. Donations are appreciated and can be made via Venmo, PayPal, credit card, or with cash or check at the event. If moving in public feels new, participants can choose their own pace, express themselves in ways that feel right, let go of self judgment and judgments about others, and enjoy the feeling of moving together. Share a few songs and a sunset, then settle into the simple pleasure of knowing your body is already part of the dance of life.

Come enjoy an improvised rock musical with a live band called “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Rock.” The show follows a mismatched band as they create brand new rock songs and ridiculous storylines on the spot, with everything from rival bands and mythical festivals to shady managers and possibly saving the world. You’ll give the suggestion, and they’ll bring the noise. This is an all-ages show featuring live local talent, with instrumentals provided by guest musicians.

The lineup brings together Gallowmaker, Constance Tomb, Slow Goat, and Fomorian for a night of post-punk, gothic rock, and heavy metal. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the show.

Head to The Upfront Theatre for Saturday Night High, a 420 show featuring improvised stoner-comedy. Expect a set of improv games with a highlarious twist, with wild characters, lots of laughs, and plenty of unpredictable moments throughout the evening. This is an 18+ event, so plan accordingly. The venue does not allow outside food or beverages, and smoking indoors is not permitted, with additional cannabis-related rules noted for Washington state.

This quiet morning of practice takes place at Sansui-ji temple or online, centered on seated and walking meditation. The structure is intentionally simple, with no dokusan interviews and very little ritual, offering a straightforward retreat to settle in deeply. It is offered on the second Sundays of July and August while the weekly Sunday Program is on summer hiatus. New participants are encouraged to attend a weekly practice meeting first and request an orientation to the meditation style, forms, and procedures. Coordinated by Ikushun Desiree Webster.

Discover a stately 1910 residence built for influential citizen Victor Roeder, born on Bellingham Bay in 1861. The house and surrounding grounds were later donated to Whatcom County for public use in 1971. Tours are offered through a collaboration between the Whatcom County Historical Society and Whatcom County Parks and Recreation. Group sizes are limited and participation is first come, first served. Street parking is available, with accessible parking located at the rear of the building.

Bring any broken item that you can comfortably carry to the NW Free Repair event, and the volunteer team will evaluate it and fix it for free if they can. Owners need to be present and participate during the repair, and kids must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Some basic parts and materials may be provided, but if special parts are needed, you’ll be responsible for purchasing them. Items must be suitable for a public setting and the event does not accept things like gasoline or petroleum-based items, leaking or hazardous items, items with strong noxious odors, or large items that can’t easily be carried.