The Procession of the Species parade and festival is back in downtown Bellingham on Saturday, May 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. The City of Bellingham is partnering again with Gabriel's Art Kids to bring the event to life, filling the streets with handmade wildlife-inspired costumes, live music, interactive performances, face painting, and hands-on art activities for all ages.
The parade route begins at Lee Memorial Park, on the lawn of the Central Library at Laurel Street and Central Avenue, and ends at Maritime Heritage Park along Whatcom Creek. The route winds through the heart of downtown, making it easy to find a good spot to watch from almost anywhere in the corridor. No ticket is required to attend or to join the parade itself.
The event is one of the more distinctly Bellingham celebrations on the calendar, rooted in the city's deep tradition of public art and outdoor gathering. The Procession of the Species concept originated in Olympia in 1989 and spread to communities across the Pacific Northwest that share a commitment to nature, creativity, and community-scale spectacle. Bellingham's version leans into the city's arts community and its connection to the natural world, with participants creating elaborate costumes representing birds, marine animals, insects, and other wildlife.
If you do not yet have a costume, there is still time. Gabriel's Art Kids is hosting a family craft day this Sunday, April 26, where participants can build their wildlife-inspired costumes together with support from the organization's artists. The craft day is designed to be accessible for families with children of all ages and skill levels, and no prior art experience is required.
The parade and festival are supported through the City of Bellingham's Downtown Activation and Beautification grants program, which funds projects that bring creative energy and foot traffic to the downtown core. The program has supported a range of events and installations this spring, including the Bellingham Blooms floral window displays currently on view at storefronts throughout the downtown district.
May 2 is shaping up to be a busy Saturday in Bellingham. The Ski to Sea race is now less than four weeks away, and Memorial Day weekend community events are filling in across the county. The Procession of the Species typically draws a crowd of several thousand, and parking near the parade route can be limited. The Whatcom Transportation Authority runs service into downtown on weekends, and biking or walking from nearby neighborhoods is a practical option for many residents.
After the parade, Maritime Heritage Park is a natural gathering spot. The park sits along Whatcom Creek at the edge of Bellingham Bay and often hosts informal activity after major downtown events. Families with younger children tend to congregate near the playground and waterway, while older participants frequently make their way toward the Bellingham waterfront for the rest of the afternoon.
For more upcoming events and community news, the City of Bellingham publishes a weekly Inside Bellingham newsletter with details on city programs, grant opportunities, and public meetings. This week's edition is available at cob.org. For a look at another major outdoor community event coming to Bellingham this spring, details on the Ski to Sea race at Zuanich Point Park are available in this preview.
