Whatcom County residents have an unusually full weekend ahead, with warm weather expected and a lineup that ranges from an Oktoberfest-themed brewery crawl in Bellingham's Sunnyland neighborhood to a vegan food festival at Barkley Village and a formal food walking tour in downtown Ferndale. There are also two concerts Sunday evening, a forest water scavenger hunt, and the final day of Whatcom Water Week. Here is a guide to what is happening and where.
SunnylandFest: Bellingham's Neighborhood Brewery Crawl
The seventh annual SunnylandFest runs all weekend, celebrating the cluster of craft breweries in Bellingham's Sunnyland neighborhood on the city's east side. The participating taprooms are El Sueñito, Stemma West, Wander Brewing, Otherlands Beer, and Kulshan Sunnyland, each offering special beers timed to Oktoberfest season.
Friday night brings a stein holding competition hosted by Stemma Brewing. The event is sanctioned by the U.S. Steinholding Association and counts as a qualifier for the USSA State Stein Holding Championship, which means participants are competing for more than just bragging rights. Stein holding competitions test grip and endurance, with contestants extending a full one-liter mug of beer straight out at shoulder height for as long as possible.
Otherlands Beer, known for its Central European-style lagers and traditional food menu, anchors the Oktoberfest feel of the weekend. SunnylandFest is a self-guided crawl format, so participants can visit the taprooms in any order at their own pace throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Taste of Ferndale: A Friday Night Food Walk
The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce is hosting Taste of Ferndale on Saturday, September 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is a walking tour of seven locations in downtown Ferndale, each offering a snack, local artists, and drink options. Tickets are $20, available for check-in online or in person at WaFD Bank at 2045 Main Street in Ferndale.
The WTF: Where's the Food? food truck will also be out this weekend, posting up at Fringe Brewing in Ferndale and at the Lummi Bay Market. Ferndale's compact downtown makes the walking format well-suited to the event, and the Chamber has used Taste of Ferndale in past years to draw visitors to businesses that otherwise see lighter foot traffic on weekday evenings.
Bellingham Vegfest at Barkley Village
Bellingham Vegfest returns on Sunday, September 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barkley Village Green, the outdoor plaza at the Barkley Village shopping and dining development on Rimland Drive. The event is free and features food, art, crafts, and vendors focused on plant-based living. It is family-friendly and open to anyone curious about vegan food, whether they follow a plant-based diet or are just looking for something interesting to do on a Sunday afternoon.
Barkley Village has become one of the more active community gathering spots in northeast Bellingham, hosting seasonal markets, outdoor events, and the free paint recycling event scheduled for October 3. Vegfest fits the area's draw as a walkable community hub with parking access for visitors from across the county.
Whatcom Water Week Final Days
Whatcom Water Week, which began Saturday, September 12, wraps up this Saturday, September 19. The final days include a Toddler Family Nature Walk at Whatcom Falls Park and an Accessible Nature Walk for Adults on Saturday, September 19, as well as a Salmon Seeker's Guide to the County. Saturday's closing events include the Bellingham Dockside Market, a Forest Water Scavenger Hunt, and a Beach Cleanup.
Whatcom Water Week is an annual celebration of the county's water resources organized by local environmental and government partners. Events are free and designed to help residents explore Whatcom County's rivers, lakes, streams, and shorelines while learning about the water quality issues and conservation efforts that affect them. More information is available through the Whatcom County website.
Sunday Night Concerts
Two live music shows round out the weekend on Sunday evening. At the Shakedown Bar on Bay Street, a death metal lineup headlines with Morta Skuld, joined by Ripping Remains, Coffin Rot, and Human Puzzle. Morta Skuld is a veteran act with a sound rooted in thrashy rhythms and riff-driven songwriting, and this kind of multi-band show is a regular feature of Bellingham's long-standing underground music scene.
At Wild Buffalo, California-based reggae band Fortunate Youth takes the stage Sunday night with opening support from For Peace. The band draws comparisons to Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, and classic roots reggae, and the Wild Buffalo on Magnolia Street has been one of Bellingham's primary venues for touring acts for more than two decades. Tickets are available at wildbuffalo.net.
With sunny weather in the forecast and a range of events from family-friendly to late-night, this weekend offers something for nearly every Bellingham and Whatcom County resident. For more on community events and seasonal activities in the area, earlier coverage of Whatcom County parks and gathering spots offers a useful guide to the region's best outdoor destinations.
