NW Tune-Up + Bellingham Pride: Downtown Road Closures This Weekend

Happy Friday, Bellingham. It is July 10 and downtown is buzzing. The Northwest Tune-Up is rolling into day two, Pride IN Bellingham kicks off today, and road closures are in effect through the weekend. A lot to know before you head out the door, so let's get into it.

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Today’s Weather: Mostly cloudy with a high near 73 degrees and a light south-southwest breeze around 7 mph. Tonight stays mostly cloudy, dipping to around 55. Sunshine returns Sunday with a high near 73. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Road Closures

Downtown Roads Rerouted This Weekend for the NW Tune-Up and Bellingham Pride

W Laurel Street and Granary Avenue are closed to vehicles through Sunday morning. W Chestnut between Roeder and Bay Street closes 6-11 p.m. nightly through Saturday. Foot traffic, bikes, and WTA buses can pass freely.

Sunday adds Pride Parade closures from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Cornwall Avenue between Ohio and W Chestnut, and W Chestnut between Cornwall and Railroad. Roads reopen by early afternoon.

Best approach: bike, walk, or take WTA. Drivers can park along Commercial or State Street and walk in. WSDOT's traffic map has real-time updates. Full street-by-street closure details here.

Weekend Festival

Northwest Tune-Up Is Here: Mountain Biking, Music, and Three Days of Downtown Summer

The Northwest Tune-Up Bike and Music Festival runs through Sunday, July 12, in downtown Bellingham. Mountain biking demos, live music, craft beer from local breweries, and live art, all concentrated near the Port of Bellingham waterfront.

The festival includes bike demos and clinics for all skill levels, kids' programming, and live music spanning bluegrass, indie, and dance. Full event schedule at nwtuneup.com/bikes/events. Music lineup at nwtuneup.com/music.

Biking or WTA transit are the easiest way in. Maps at nwtuneup.com/getting-to-the-festival. More on the full weekend lineup.

Free Event Tomorrow

Free Shakespeare in the Park Saturday at Boulevard Park

Pack a camp chair or a blanket. The Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) is bringing a free outdoor performance of "Much Ado About Nothing" to the Boulevard Park stage tomorrow, Saturday July 11, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Rain backup: BAAY Theatre, 1059 N. State Street. Free, no tickets required. Details on the Bellingham Parks page.

Community Resource

Flood Aid Now Available for Whatcom County Families with Young Children

Whatcom County families with children ages 5 and under who are still dealing with losses from December's flooding can apply for financial assistance through the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group. Funds cover uninsured home repairs, rent and security deposits, utility payments, and temporary lodging.

Eligibility: a child ages 5 or under, December 2025 flood damage or displacement, and income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (a family of four can earn up to $95,350 and still qualify). New applicants email [email protected]. Enrolled families will be contacted by their case manager.

Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Full eligibility details and other open programs.

Feel Good Friday

A Latino Cast Takes the Stage in Bellingham's 'In the Heights'

Bellingham's New Prospect Theatre is staging Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" with a Latino cast. The cast rehearsed Thursday, with opening performances this weekend.

Worth putting on your calendar, especially for a break from the festival circuit. More on the production from BAAY Bellingham Arts Academy and at Bellingham Arts and Culture.

Civic Action

Public Hearing Monday: Should Bellingham Permanently Eliminate Parking Minimums?

Bellingham City Council holds a public hearing Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 210 Lottie Street, on permanently eliminating parking minimums. An interim ordinance has been in effect since January 2025.

Under current interim rules, developers decide how much parking to include. At least one proposed 54-unit building in Bellingham is moving forward with zero on-site parking, something impossible under prior code. Proponents say parking mandates inflate housing costs. Residents worried about spillover parking in their neighborhoods can weigh in at Monday's hearing.

Attend in person or participate virtually through the city's meeting portal. Written comments go into the official record. Background on the proposal and what permanent rules would look like.

Local Connection

Bellingham Man in National Guard Shooting Case Hospitalized at GWU

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Bellingham resident charged with killing a National Guard soldier near the White House last November, was transported to George Washington University Hospital this week after an extended period of refusing to eat while held in federal pretrial detention. U.S. Marshals Service officials flagged the situation to prosecutors last month, warning of risk of "long-term health consequences, including death."

An emergency hearing Thursday before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta followed news of his overnight hospitalization. The judge described his health as "deteriorated quite substantially" and ordered access to his recent medical records. No trial date has been set.

Lakanwal was resettled in Bellingham in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome. He is charged with killing Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in an attack near the White House on November 26, 2025. Full case background and Thursday's court developments.

The Upcoming Week