We are here for you! Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism has reformatted our Tourism Talk e-news to provide ongoing information. We have also added  tourism industry  resources  to Bellingham.org for access at anytime. We are here to help all our members navigate these uncertain times. 
American Traveler Sentiment
  • 29.5% of Americans feel the coronavirus situation will get better in the next month. 
  • 70% of Americans miss travel, but nine in ten will approach travel carefully, with at least some trepidation.
  • 55.2% of Americans say they will take a staycation this summer. 
  • 55.7% of Americans say they will avoid crowded destinations.
  • When asked the place they will visit on their first post-pandemic trip, beach/resort destinations top the list (38.2%), followed by small towns/rural areas (30.0%).
Local Whatcom County Updates

Whatcom Unified Command (WUC), which includes the Whatcom County Health Department as a lead partner in Bellingham, is working to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 locally.  Consistent with that key objective, and in line with recent simulation models, the Health Department recommends cancellation of summer events throughout Whatcom County.


After serving as Mount Baker Theatre's Interim Executive Director since January 2020, John Purdie has been appointed by the Board of Directors as the new Executive Director.

Local Scenes of Inspiration

Join a live-stream gathering of the trail running community from across the globe for a night of films, revelry, and community building. Grab a beverage, connect online, and get ready for some serious inspiration, tons of prizes, and a much needed fostering of the trail running spirit in these crazy times. For years the Trail Running Film Festival has brought this sport's most relevant trail stories and visual artistry to theaters across the country and now they're live-streaming into our living rooms!

The 2020 Trail Running Film Festival (Virtual)

Bellingham Symphony Orchestra - Here for Our Community

Even though the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra isn't at the concert hall, it is still here for our community. The BSO has been busy this past month bringing the joy of music from their homes to yours. The BSO is reaching thousands of people through their online At Home with the BSO video performances and Learn At Home! lessons - one features BSO Music Director Yaniv Attar teaching kids how to conduct.


Looking for a new source for online entertainment and educational resources while you're spending time at home? Turn to  Whatcom County's  library. In addition to the wealth of digital content such as streaming music and movies, eBooks and eAudiobooks, genealogy tools and more on  wcls.org , the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is now creating original programming for  WCLS@Home.  The daily online feature created by library staff is everything you love about your local library - at home.


Swim Club wants to help Bellingham bring the good times home! Starting this week, we will be making to go cocktail kits available. With a dedicated website where you can order, pay and select your preferred pickup day and time, we will be ready to fill your order and your glasses easily and from a safe distance.
Whatcom Community College and ArtsWA seeking artist for Phyllis and Charles Self Learning Commons

Whatcom Community College  and the  Washington State Arts Commission  (ArtsWA) are seeking an individual artist or artist team to design and create original artwork for the College's new Phyllis and Charles Self Learning Commons. This opportunity is open to artists residing in Washington State and British Columbia. Applicants who can design and create artwork that reflects WCC's collaborative campus community and the Indigenous traditions of the Pacific Northwest, particularly those of the Coast Salish, Lummi, Nooksack, Semiahmoo and/or the other Tribes of Washington state are specifically encouraged to apply.


Since COVID-19 arrived in  Whatcom County  and  Whatcom Unified Command  (WUC) activated a multi-jurisdictional agency as the coordinated approach to mitigating the spread, our community has demonstrated great compassion and resiliency. WUC Incident Commanders noted that from March 8 to April 8, local organizations and community members have stepped up to provide essential protective personal equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and first responders. In addition to PPE, WUC has also received and distributed tables, tents, sleeping pads/bags, personal hygiene items, food, portable toilets and hand-wash stations.

Insider Blogs
by Brandon

It's 5 p.m. on a weekday, and I'm sipping a fresh glass of Structures Fuzz on my front porch. Normally I'd be out for happy-hour with family or friends at one of Bellingham's brewery taprooms. But nothing is "normal" in the time of coronavirus, with all in-house dining temporarily prohibited throughout the state. Despite these restrictions, many Bellingham breweries and restaurants remain open for delivery and takeout - a welcome taste of normalcy in these uncertain times.
 
by Lorin

Looking for something to do? Just because we're at home doesn't mean we can't keep exploring. Check out these videos for virtual tours of beautiful Bellingham and Whatcom County.
 
Modified Calendar
April 16

Online: A Conversation with Cheryl Boone Isaacs

Online
Time:  11:00 am - 1:00 pm
April 17

Drive-Thru: Friday Fish Fry

Boundary Bay Parking Lot
Time:  4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
April 18

Modified Bellingham Farmers Market


Depot Market Square
Time:  10:00 am - 3:00 pm
April 20

Online: Music Mondays


Online
Time:  8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Photo Contest

March & April 2020
Our region is full of beauty! Send us your scenic photos from all around the county and enter them in our latest contest for a chance at a prize! Yes, members can enter. Members can also donate prizes. Enter here. 

Questions? We are happy to answer them for you.
Give us a call at 360-671-3990,  email us or visit our website at  bellingham.org .
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229