Two events worth circling on the calendar if you live in Bellingham: the creator of one of television's most talked-about dramas is coming home to Western Washington University, and the annual Spring Wine Walk returns to downtown for an evening of local wine and wandering through the city's retail district.
Dan Erickson, the writer and creator of Severance, the Apple TV+ series that earned widespread critical acclaim and a devoted following for its surreal exploration of work-life balance and corporate identity, will appear in conversation at Western Washington University on May 15 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Erickson is a WWU alumnus, and the appearance brings him back to the campus where his creative path began. The event is free and open to the public, and will include a Q&A session with the audience. No ticket registration appears to be required, though interested attendees should check WWU's events calendar for venue details and any updates as the date approaches.
Severance debuted in 2022 and built a passionate audience through its second season in 2024 and 2025. The show follows employees at a company called Lumon Industries who have undergone a medical procedure that separates their work memories from their personal ones, creating two distinct selves who share the same body but never interact. The series became a cultural touchstone for discussions about work, identity, and the absurdity of modern professional life. Having its creator speak at a public university in Bellingham is a genuine get for the local arts community.
Earlier in the month, the Spring Wine Walk takes over Downtown Bellingham on May 8 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. More than 20 shops throughout the downtown core will host pop-up wine tasting rooms, offering a selection of regional wines from Washington and beyond. The event has been a spring staple for years, giving people a reason to walk the city's streets, discover shops they might not otherwise visit, and sample what the Pacific Northwest wine scene has to offer.
New this year: the Wine Walk includes an afterparty at Central Pier, next to the Granary building, featuring a DJ to keep the evening going after the shop-to-shop tasting portion wraps up. The Central Pier is a scenic waterfront location near the Bellingham waterfront district, and the addition of a proper afterparty suggests organizers are looking to extend the event into a fuller evening out.
Tickets for the Wine Walk are typically required and available through the Downtown Bellingham Partnership. Interested participants should check the partnership's website for pricing and purchase information, as capacity at individual venues can be limited during popular events like this one.
Both events land in a stretch of May that is already shaping up to be busy for Bellingham. The Procession of the Species returns May 2 with its annual parade of costumes celebrating biodiversity, and Ski to Sea weekend on Memorial Day caps off the month with the region's signature multi-sport race. May in Bellingham tends to punch well above its weight for community events, and this year appears to be following that tradition.
For a full rundown of what is happening in and around Bellingham, the Bellingham Experience maintains an updated events calendar covering festivals, arts, outdoor activities, and more throughout the year. Whether you are a longtime local or just passing through, the calendar is a reliable first stop for planning.
