Summer Fun, Music, and News in Bellingham

Good morning, this is your Bellingham Local Frequency for Sunday, July 20, 2025. Bellingham is starting the week off strong with plenty of things to do and plenty of news worth knowing. For anyone craving fresh summer fun, Whatcom County is alive with events today. Just up the road, the Northwest Raspberry Festival is taking over Lynden with the Curt Maberry Memorial Basketball Tournament and, of course, dozens of stands serving berry treats. Ferndale is flying the flag for inclusivity with PRIDE Weekend celebrations continuing through tonight. And for those who love a quirky community get-together, the Sunnyland Stomp in Bellingham brings back the legendary chicken race at noon. If you’re looking to kick back or join in, you’ll find music in the air and something for everyone to enjoy. In the heart of town, Mount Baker Theatre has just launched early season ticket sales so music and theater lovers can start planning their fall outings now. For concert junkies, mark your calendars for July 24 when a triple-band show promises to pack out the venue. Local music fans also have options this weekend: Alain Johannes Band lights up Friday night and Jackie Venson brings her soulful guitar to the stage on Saturday. Community staples like Stones Throw Brewery are hosting their usual blend of entertainment and good vibes, with DJ Psychedelove spinning vinyl and sharing psychedelic jams tonight, and upcoming performances by the Ron Hardt and Jimmy Wright Duo for fans of classic hits. Families have a full slate of affordable fun too. The Bellingham Bells keep the base paths busy throughout July, with home games at Joe Martin Field promising affordable entertainment and ballpark favorites. If you're out early, the Marine Life Center is open daily and free, with spray parks and summer camps in full swing for energetic kids across town. Aquatic time is available all day long at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, and if you'd rather get creative, check out Lego Club at the South Whatcom Library or story times throughout the county. For the arts-minded, the Bellingham Festival of Music continues, including today’s cello celebration, "You Had Me...At Cello." The Fairhaven Summer Repertory Theater stages thought-provoking plays all July long for a little indoor adventure and, come sundown, Fairhaven’s Outdoor Cinema is gearing up for another week of movies under the stars. Check listings for specific titles and times. On the news front, Washington has joined 19 other states in a lawsuit to block a new health coverage rule, touching on issues that could shape access for many residents. Locally, a major arrest in Oak Harbor turned up nearly 5000 suspected fentanyl pills plus heroin and cocaine, part of ongoing law enforcement efforts against the opioid crisis. In Ferndale, four U.S. citizen children were released after two weeks in ICE detention—a story still unfolding as their mother remains in federal custody amid legal wrangling over her status. Whatcom County vo This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.