Good morning, Bellingham.

Bellingham city announces several April events: a film screening and discussion on housing laws on April 22 at Mount Baker Theatre, a briefing on rental laws on April 28 at City Hall, and trail closures at Maritime Heritage Park April 13-17 for safety, with Earth Day activities planned.

A California animal rescue is offering $25,000 for information on who dumped over 20 canine carcasses on Guemes Island, and authorities are awaiting lab results to identify the species and determine the cause.

County Public Works announced that the Lummi Island Ferry’s annual dry dock outage is postponed due to shipyard delays.

The three-week outage is now planned (September to October) and a new bid process will be launched soon.

County health officials urge residents to verify that any local food vendor shows a valid permit before consuming food to avoid risks from unsanitary conditions, including E.coli & norovirus.

They ask anyone suspecting illegal operations to contact the Whatcom County Food Safety team.

Today marks the start of Bellingham Beer Week at Wander Brewing with kick-off and block parties planned through April 19; in Lynden the Jansen Art Center features a shipwreck play and roller derby on Saturday, and Rick Steves’ travel talk + a music show rounds out the weekend.

A new report from Pacific Continental Realty shows that downtown and Sunset Square account for over half of Bellingham's vacant retail and office space in the first quarter — Barkley Village holds a 3% vacancy rate while industrial space near the waterfront sees its lowest vacancies since 2023.

Terry Tempest Williams in Conversation with Brenda Miller: The Glorians

6-7 p.m. — Sehome High School, 2700 Bill McDonald Pkwy, Bellingham, WA — General admission sold out, but book/reservation combo still available — Explore the beauty of the ordinary with eco-visionary Terry Tempest Williams.

Kenadie Lee: Handwritten Poetry Reading

6-7 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — Free entry — Experience a poetic journey through gratitude and nature with local writer Kenadie Lee.

Intro to the Laser Cutter

6-7 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Free for members — Get your laser cutter questions answered by an expert in a casual Q&A session.

TJ Poortinga Book Launch

6-7 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — In-person event — Explore TJ Poortinga's debut darkly-comic psychological fiction, 'Electric Orange!'.

April Brews Day Festival 2026

3-8 p.m. — Civic Stadium — Ticket prices may vary — Celebrate craft beverages with 40+ breweries, cideries, live music, and local food.

David Mason: Cold Fire

8 AM – 5 PM — Village Books and Paper Dreams — Contact via email for details — Attend a day of literary exploration at this local venue.

CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival 10th Anniversary

Various times — Pickford Film Center — $15-$395 — Celebrate global cinema and inclusive storytelling at a milestone festival featuring award-winning films.

Spring Car Show

All day — Les Schwab Tire Center — Free for spectators, $20 registration fee — Show off your wheels and enjoy a day of automotive camaraderie.

KMRE 88.3 FM Marks 20 Years of Independent Community Radio with “Whatcom in Food & Stories”

On Thursday, May 7, KMRE presents Whatcom in Food & Stories at the Ferndale Events Center (5715 Barrett Road). This one-night-only gathering blends inventive local cuisine with live storytelling, creating an immersive experience that reflects the richness, diversity, and creativity of the region. KMRE is a nonprofit, all-volunteer, independent community radio station serving Whatcom County.

Heather Lea: Riding Full Circle

6-7 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — Free entry — Enjoy humorous tales of adventure and life lessons learned from the road on a motorcycle journey across the world.