Summer Life in Bellingham This Monday

Happy Monday, Bellingham. June is almost done, and summer is very much in full effect. Here is what is happening around Whatcom County to start your week.

Today's Weather: Cloudy to start, then gradually becoming mostly sunny this afternoon with a high near 73. South-southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Overnight, clouds return with a low around 56 and a 30 percent chance of rain after 5am. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Community

Summer Mornings, Paddlers, and Everything That Makes This Place Worth Noticing

There is a particular quality to summer mornings in Bellingham. The light comes off the Bay at a low angle, catching the wake of a kayak or the dew on a spider web in the park. The Bellingham Experience community page captures this feeling regularly, and right now, their feed is full of it.

Residents who hike Galbraith Mountain in the morning and walk along Boulevard Park at sunset have developed a practiced eye for the way this place moves through light and season. That awareness tends to spill into how the community documents itself online, and it is worth paying attention to.

Across Whatcom County this summer, the calendar is filling up fast. Bellingham Parks and Recreation has the swim area at Bloedel Donovan Park open with lifeguard supervision for the season. Farmers markets are running at full capacity from Depot Market Square to Lynden and Ferndale. And the trails are busy. If you have been meaning to get out this summer, this week is a good one to do it. More on the community moments shaping Bellingham right now.

Safety Update

Lifeguards Return to Bloedel Donovan Park Starting Today

Good news for families: lifeguards are back at Bloedel Donovan Park starting Monday, June 29. Staff will be on duty from 1 to 6 p.m. Hours are weather-dependent, so check before you go on questionable days.

The season runs through August 30. More details from Bellingham Parks and Recreation.

Library

Last Call for June: Bellingham Library's Pride Month Picks for Adults

With June wrapping up, Bellingham Public Library is sharing a final round of Pride Month reads and watches for adult patrons. Public Services Clerk Lark put together three picks with very different tones. All three are available through the library's collection.

"First Light" by Liz Kerin is a post-apocalyptic vampire sequel with a quiet sapphic love story running through it. Lark calls it a good fit for readers who enjoy complex characters, familial dysfunction, and imagined futures turned upside down.

"Camp Damascus" by Chuck Tingle goes somewhere bolder. Lark's pitch: "The only thing scarier than forced conversion therapy is demon possession. This book has both." If you like horror with wit, this one is apparently both funny and biting.

"Saving Face" rounds things out as a DVD pick. Alice Wu's 2000s romantic comedy follows a Chinese American family navigating identity, community, and change. Lark writes that it champions "the need to evolve and create inclusive societies which value authenticity and flexibility in addition to tradition and honor." Full details on all three picks here.

Home Sweet Bellingham

What Summer Does to the Bellingham Real Estate Market

June and July are traditionally the busiest months for home sales in Whatcom County, and this year is no exception. Inventory has ticked up slightly compared to spring, which gives buyers a bit more room to breathe. Fairhaven and Sehome remain consistently popular for walkability and character. Cordata and Birchwood continue to offer more square footage per dollar for families who need the space.

If you have been thinking about making a move before fall, mid-summer is historically one of the better windows. Motivated sellers tend to price more realistically as August approaches, and competition eases off a bit from the spring frenzy. The Northwest MLS has current Whatcom County listings, and the City of Bellingham Community Development office is a good resource if you are exploring neighborhoods for the first time.

And for those not buying anytime soon, the Bellingham Farmers Market at Depot Market Square (Saturdays, 10am to 2pm through mid-December) is a reliable way to figure out which neighborhood actually feels like yours.

Family + Kids

Summer Reading Superstars Can Score Free Mini Golf

The Bellingham Public Library's Summer Reading Program has a fun incentive this year: kids and teens ages 5 to 18 who earn Summer Reading Superstar status may receive a coupon to play glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Mammoth Mini Golf in Bellis Fair Mall for free.

Mammoth Mini Golf is a prize partner for the program, which runs through August 31 at all BPL locations. More information on how to sign up and earn prizes is at the library's program page or stop by any BPL branch.

The Upcoming Week

The Upcoming Week

Sponsored

Sponsored by Cascade Home Cleaning

Summer Is the Perfect Time for a Fresh Start at Home

Longer days, more guests, and post-school chaos are all very real. Cascade Home Cleaning is offering 40% off your first deep clean for new recurring clients.

Book by end of the week to lock it in. Whether you are in Fairhaven, Barkley, Birchwood, or anywhere across Whatcom County, they will come to you. Local, trusted, and neighbor-approved. Book your clean at cascadehomecleaning.com.