Stock Up on Sunscreen and Sativa—Summer’s not Over Yet!
And with just a month to go, we’ve got to squeeze every last ounce we can out of it. Luckily, here in cannabis-friendly Whatcom County, we’ve got some great local events and festivals still to come—some are even free! So check out this list, and feast and frolic your way through the rest of your dog days.
5-Point Adventure Film Festival
Spend the day participating in events like community parties, author appearances, yoga, bike clinics, and live music. Then, spend the evenings watching short adventure films at the Mount Baker Theater. Films begin at 7:00 pm and go for about 3 hours. 5-Point events are unique, multi-sensory experiences. Expect surprises, live performance, and an emotional ride. Strain? I’m thinking grapefruit.
Daytime events include:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Brendan Leonard presenting his book “60 Meters to Anywhere”
[if !supportLists]• [endif]American Alpine Institute self-rescue clinic
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Free community parties
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Van Life Rally
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Author discussions
[if !supportLists]• [endif]RRAD kid’s bike clinic
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Yoga, and
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Live music
Then… the movies!
Where: Throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County
When: Aug. 25–27, 2016
Admission: Free!
Event website
Discover Birch Bay Days & Crab Fest
Bring your down-home good vibes to this family-friendly festival celebrating Birch Bay—Whatcom County’s seaside town with sandy beaches, cyclists, classic cars, and kite-flyers.
Festival Highlights:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Parade
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Live music
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Arts and crafts Fair
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Food Vendors
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Beer garden
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Crab derby and boil
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Rubber Duckie Race with prizes
Where: 7800 Block of Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay, Wa.
When: Aug. 27–28, 2016
Admission: Free!
Check the event website for event schedule and more information.
1st Annual Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival
There’s a magical connection between music and marijuana, and the effect gets amplified exponentially when it’s live music. It gets amplified even more when you’re at a music festival, camping out over Labor Day weekend. Add the fact that it’s bluegrass music (it’s so cannabis friendly!) and that it’s happening right in Ferndale, and you’ve got a downright spectacular weekend to look forward to! (By the way, this would be a great opportunity to try some edibles!)
Festival Highlights:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Nationally-recognized bluegrass bands, emerging artists from across the country and lots of top notch local talent
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Festival grounds will be open for camping from Friday afternoon until noon on Monday (Labor Day)
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Craft and Food Vendors
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Beer Garden
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Instrument Contests
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Instrument Workshops
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Informal jam areas
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Children’s entertainment and activities
Where: Hovander Park, Ferndale, Wa
When: Sept. 2–5, 2016
Admission:
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Weekend pass – Adult $55
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Weekend Pass – Youth (age 13-16) $27.50
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Weekend Pass – Child (12 and under) FREE
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) Pass – Adult $30
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) Pass -Youth (age 13-16) $15.00
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) Pass -Child (12 and under) FREE
[if !supportLists]- [endif]Weekend Camping Pass $50
Event website
Whatcom County Farm Tour
This annual self-guided tour is a great chance to explore and savor our diverse local farms.
Meet the farmers and see how your food is grown, from seed to plate. Ponder healthy, locally grown munchie snacks with samples of fresh produce, cheese, apples, chocolate milk, and more! You can also purchase a VIP badge for $10 and receive discounts and coupons at every stop along the way. This year’s event includes 9 farms, 1 winery, and 2 farmers’ markets.
Participating Farms:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Ferndale Farmstead
[if !supportLists]• [endif]The Cheese Shop at Appel Farms
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Twin Brook Creamery
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Bellewood Acres
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Ten Fold Farm
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Vartanyan Estate Winery
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Bellingham Farmers Market
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Ulrich Nursery
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Cloud Mountain Farm Center
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Joe’s Gardens
[if !supportLists]• [endif]MyShan Dairy
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Twin Sisters Farmers Market
Where: Throughout Whatcom County
When: Sept. 10, 2016
Admission: Free!
Check the Sustainable Connections website for maps and more information.
Bellingham Traverse
This wild race, inspired by our regional salmon run sports all kinds of athletes, from hard-core cyclists out to win, to costumed runners just in it for the fun. Register to race or join the crowd in cheering on the Spawners. (The racers refer to themselves as Spawners, and try to think like fish as they go through the course.)
Course includes:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]5.5 mi. Greenways Run
[if !supportLists]• [endif]6 mi. Mountain Bike
[if !supportLists]• [endif]18 mi. Road Bike
[if !supportLists]• [endif]3.4 mi. Trail Run
[if !supportLists]• [endif]3.6 mi. Paddle
[if !supportLists]• [endif]0.65 mi. Team TREK to the Boundary Bay Brewery Finish Line
Where: Starts at Bellingham Farmers Market
When: Starts at noon, Sept. 17
Admission: Free!
Check event website for course details and more information.
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour
Okay, being the first two weekends of October, this event is after the autumnal equinox. But, who isn’t a sucker for good art? Featuring over 50 established and up-coming artists at 41 studios you’re sure to get your fill of stony-licious eye candy. Come prepared to add to your collection or simply admire the artistry. Want photos? Click on each artist’s name here to see examples of their work.
Here’s just a few of the featured artists:
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Don Anderson—Metal Sculpture
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Andra Millage—3-Dimensional Cake Sculpture
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Ria Harboe—Ethereal Landscape Painting
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Shawn Pagels—Enchanting Abstract Painting
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Kasey Potsler—Handbound Leather Journals
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Maren Larsen—Collage and Experimental
[if !supportLists]• [endif]Steve Satushek—Mixed Media
Where: Throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County
When: Oct. 1–2 & 8–9
Admission: Free!
Event website
If you’re looking for something special or want to try something new before the Summer’s out, come see one of our budtenders and set yourself up for high times. What’s next? The equinox. Fall colors, Thanksgiving, more reasons to keep on celebrating!
