Bellingham's Bustling Weekend: Boats, Bikes, and Pride Celebrations

Good morning, this is your Bellingham Local Frequency for Saturday, July 12th, 2025. The weekend is off to a lively start here in Bellingham, with the city buzzing from downtown to Fairhaven. First up, heads up for those planning a day by the lake: the Bloedel Donovan Park boat launch is temporarily closed today until 2 p.m. If you were hoping to get out on the water early, you’ll want to adjust your plans, but the rest of the park remains open and ready for summer fun. One of the biggest happenings this weekend is the Northwest Tune-Up Festival, a hybrid celebration of bikes, music, and community energy. Things kick into high gear today with the FMB Freestyle Showdown — a dirt jump competition that’s free to watch, featuring some of the top freeride talent showing off gravity-defying tricks. For those who would rather take part than cheer, there are skills clinics running all day for mountain bikers of all levels, plus a full schedule of rides and events stretching into tomorrow. If high-octane adventure isn’t your scene, the festival has live music, local food, and family-friendly activities that capture Bellingham’s community spirit. For families, there’s a spectrum of activities—Lee Memorial Park hosts “Fun Fridays,” filled with games, crafts, and even a Taylor Swift-themed dance session for the kids. Or swing by the Bellingham Farmers Market in Depot Market Square from 10 to 2 for fresh produce and local art, always a Saturday staple. Today is also a big day for Bellingham’s Pride celebrations. Kick off the festivities at the Pride Family Picnic from noon to 4, and for those wanting to keep the celebration going, there’s the all-ages Pride Dance from 3 to 8 at The Hut. And don’t forget, the Pride Parade and festival are set for tomorrow, promising another colorful day downtown. Sports fans, the Bellingham Bells are on the road tonight as they take on the Kamloops NorthPaws, but you can catch their next home game at Joe Martin Field soon. Meanwhile, for a bit of nostalgia, classic car lovers can make a quick trip to the Firecracker Car Show in Ferndale this morning. In civic news, starting August 1, new city ordinances will cap rental junk fees—limiting what landlords can charge for things like screening and late payments, aiming to make housing more affordable for everyone. Keep an eye out for information sessions next Saturday at the Bellingham Public Library for anyone who wants to understand how these new rules could impact them. If you’re up for a neighborhood adventure, the city is looking for your input on the new Bakerview neighborhood park. There’s an open house coming up next week, so don’t miss your chance to help shape this new community space. Lastly, a note for trail users: the South Bay Trail between Taylor Dock and Fairhaven will soon close for redevelopment, so enjoy it while you can before the 18-month project begins. That’s your Bellingham Local Frequency for today. Whether you’re seeking music, outdoor adventure, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.