The Bellingham Bay Marathon could not be more excited to kick off the race on Sunday, September 30th. To count down the days, we checked out other events happening in Bellingham during the same weekend. A weekend out and about before the race can improve not just your stamina but your overall mood and attention span, so please take a look and see if any upcoming events catch your eye.
Friday, September 28th
Fairhaven Fourth Friday Art Walk 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Once a month, the artsy historic Fairhaven district encourages visitors to participate in the art scene by displaying local artists creations Head to Mambo Italiano to see local favorite Ben Mann paint a new piece live. View Michael Flaherty’s handmade ukuleles at the Artwork Gallery. Or, become an artist for an evening at Uptown Art where they teach visitors to paint their own wine glasses. Check out these and 15 other small, pop-up galleries.
Note: the same businesses are open for the September 2018 Art Walk
Saturday, September 29th
Food Truck Roundup 11:00am to 3:00pm
Does everyone in your group have different tastes? Perfect. Head to Barkley Village where 23 food vendors will gather for one afternoon. The goodies include BBQ, sushi, beer, crepes, poutine, and ice cream. The street side meal comes with live entertainment: a performance by SpaceBand. Pro tip: Skip the line by grabbing your $7 tickets and a stack of truck bucks ahead of time at Industrial Credit Union.
Fresh Hop Forum 3:00pm to 11:00pm
To bring in fresh hops season, Aslan Depot will host a release party. Aslan will introduce its own local brew with hops from Growing Veterans. To make the event extra special, Sleepy Alligators will perform music by The Grateful Dead starting at 6pm. A $15 VIP pass will grant you dibs on the limited supply of fresh brews and access to exclusive Charlie Foxtrot Fresh Hop IPA glassware.
Best Buds 1 Year Anniversary Event 8:00pm to 2:00am
Fairhaven’s favorite gaming bar is celebrating its first birthday with a cosplay contest and an old-school Mario Kart 64 tournament. Anyone who shows up in costume automatically wins 15% off all night long, but only one will go home with a $100 gift card…! Second place wins a month-long membership with all the perks and third place wins a Best Buds T-shirt. The Mario Kart tournament starts at 9:30pm and will not stop until there is a victor.
Bellingham Bay Marathon Pre-Race Expo 11:00pm to 6:00
Get ready for the annual Bellingham Bay Marathon! Head to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal for exhibitor booths, race and tourist info, and packet/merch pick-up for registered racers. Haven’t registered yet? No problem! If space is still available, sign-up on-site. This event is free and open-to-the-public.
Sunday, September 30th
Bellingham Bay Marathon 6:45am to 3:00pm
Note: different races have different start times
Not just for long distance runners, the Bellingham Bay Marathon features not only a full-marathon but 5K, 10K, marathon relay, and half marathon events as well.
Each path runs along the gorgeous Bellingham Bay. Aid stations are ready along the way with water, electrolyte-rich beverages, and petroleum jelly. The audience congregates around checkpoints and finish lines to cheer on the hard-working participants. The Finish Line Festival is open to the public and will go on throughout the event, featuring live music by Groovebot, a lively beer garden, and a variety of food trucks. Registered participants are also invited to take part in the Saturday night dinner cruise.
Important note: The last day to register for the relay race is Sunday, September 23rd – all other races can register up to the 30th
It’s hard not to get antsy as the big day approaches. Experts suggest avoiding heavy workouts the day before a marathon, but a day spent out and about keeps the muscles spry. Remember to register early and plan ahead. Good luck from all of us!
Heading South? Explore Chuckanut Drive all day
The fine folks at The Heliotrope Hotel fleshed out a great way to spend any Sunday, especially if you’re heading south after the big race: a drive down Chuckanut. This road winds along the bay offering peek-a-boo views of the San Juans and has plenty of lovely places to stop for oysters, tacos, tortes, baked goods, and more. Plus, the drive allows you to avoid the freeway for 30 or so miles and takes you to I-5 in Mount Vernon.
With so many great options, we’re sure you’ll have a great first weekend of fall.