3 Events Around Bellingham You Don’t Want to Miss This May

by Briddick Webb

May is one of my favorite months in Whatcom County. The sun starts showing up more often, people come out of hibernation, and there’s always something happening around town. If you’re looking for a reason to get out and soak up the season, here are three local events worth adding to your calendar.

Trackside Beer Garden Grand Opening:

📅 Friday, May 2
📍 298 W Laurel St, Bellingham
⏰ 11 AM – 10 PM
🎟 Free to attend

Kulshan’s Trackside is back for the season and it kicks off May 2nd with a grand opening celebration. If you’ve never been, it’s basically a beer garden made out of shipping containers near the waterfront—super laid back and always a good time. They’ll have over 20 beers on tap, live music, food trucks, and a crowd of folks ready to toast the start of summer. It’s family- and dog-friendly too, so feel free to bring the whole crew.

Blaine Spring Block Party

📅 Saturday, May 17
📍 Downtown Blaine (H & 3rd Streets)
⏰ 10 AM – 5 PM
🎟 Free to attend

If you’re up for a mini road trip, head north for Blaine’s Spring Block Party. It’s a chill, small-town vibe kind of day—local vendors, food trucks, live music (starting at 1 PM), and some fun family-friendly activities. It’s one of those events that’s perfect for wandering, people-watching, and maybe grabbing something from a local maker you didn’t know about before.

Ski to Sea

📅 Sunday, May 25
📍 Race starts at Mt. Baker | Ends in Fairhaven
🎟 Free to attend (spectating + festival)

This is the big one. A 93-mile relay race that starts up on Mt. Baker and finishes at the bay in Fairhaven—Ski to Sea is basically the Super Bowl of outdoor races around here. The teams tackle everything from skiing to kayaking to cycling and more. Even if you're not racing, the energy is unreal. Fairhaven turns into a full-blown party that day, with live music, food trucks, beer garden, and all kinds of vendors. It runs from 11 AM to 7 PM at Marine Park, right at the finish line. Grab your friends, cheer on the racers, and plan to hang for a while.

Mark these down and get out there—May doesn’t mess around when it comes to events. Whether you’re into outdoor adventure, local beer, or just walking around a fun street fair, there’s something for you this month.