A collection of professional and hobby circus artists, the Bellingham Circus Guild’s mission is to assist and support the circus arts community of Whatcom County, to promote circus arts to the community at-large, and to radically proliferate delight at every opportunity. The Guild’s Bellingham facility (the “Cirque Lab”) serves as an arena for events, classes, and practice space for members. They support circus arts in Bellingham and beyond through classes, open studio times, and shows. Above all, they aim to play like they mean it and encourage others to do the same.

Nestled in a grove of evergreens above Lake Whatcom sits a unique city park showcasing original sculptures in a 2.5 acre garden. Big Rock Garden Park boasts a collection of 39 permanent sculpture pieces by distinguished international and local artists. The permanent collection has been acquired through purchase, donation, award and memorial. The most recent addition to the permanent collection, Swell by Aaron Loveitt, is featured to the left. Restrooms are available.

Designed by local artists Jason LaClair and Yolanda Felix-Wilbur, the two murals painted on the side of Pioneer Pavilion at Pioneer Park pay tribute to the history of Ferndale and the Lummi Nation. LaClair's mural, “One From the Heart" honors the shared love of people, particularly during the pandemic. Felix-Wilbur's mural depicts the story of Lummi Nation.

Painted inside an old train tunnel that leads to walking trails, this mural was designed and painted by Seattle-based artist Ryan "Henry" Ward. The mural depicts Ward's brother, who passed away at the age of 25 and whose ashes were released in the water at Larrabee State Park. In the mural, Ward's brother plays the guitar around paintings of plants and animal.

The Bellingham Festival of Music is one of America’s premier virtuoso orchestra festivals. Each summer, the Festival returns to Bellingham to perform a repertoire of the finest symphonic music. Members of the orchestra all hold artistically prestigious positions elsewhere, and many of them are principal players in major North American symphony orchestras. The Festival also features world famous guest artists and young rising stars.

The Claire Theatre is the home of the Lynden Performing Arts Guild, a non-profit community theatre group that puts on at least four productions a year, playing to full houses. The theater is named for Claire VanderGriend, who was born in Lynden in 1917 and became an accomplished pianist and organist, finding work in New York with the world-famous team of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Western Washington University's outdoor sculpture collection is open to the public to enjoy at any time and indoor sculptures are open to the public when campus buildings are open. Stop by the Western Gallery when it's open to get resources and information from an expert, or visit the gallery's website to find a digital map of the sculpture collection.

Western Gallery is the art museum of Western Washington University, offering free access to a wide range of contemporary art. The gallery's exhibitions concentrate on national and international art. As an academic art museum, the Western Gallery emphasizes education and public programming, offering guided tours to organized groups and more than 40 events per year. Events range from artist talks to symposia and performance festivals.

Artwood Gallery in Historic Fairhaven Village represents a small sampling of what's happening in today's fine woodworking movement. In the gallery you'll find one-of-a-kind, individually designed and constructed pieces, most of which are functional as well as sculptural. The gallery's goal is to exhibit the finest quality craftsmanship and pleasing designs from artisan woodworkers.

The Blue Room is an all-ages music & arts venue located above K-POP Chicken and Beer in the heart of Downtown Bellingham. The venue hosts immersive events including live music concerts, comedy nights, open mics, art galleries, fashion shows, and more! Whether you’re a performer, artist, concert-goer or art lover, inclusion is The Blue Room's top priority, creating a safe space for anyone to groove, laugh, collaborate, and make long-lasting memories.

The Whatcom Museum provides innovative and interactive educational programs and exhibitions about art, nature, and Northwest history. The Whatcom Museum's three-building campus includes Old City Hall, home to the Whatcom Museum since 1941. See local history and rotating community art and culture exhibits at Old City Hall, as well as performances and lectures.

Village Books and Paper Dreams is a community-based, independent bookstore and gift shop located in the Historic Fairhaven Village on the southside of Bellingham and in the iconic Waples Mercantile Building on Front Street in Lynden, Washington. Since 1980, we have been "building community one book at a time." Village Books and Paper Dreams is a place to meet your friends, talk books, or just while away an hour or two among our shelves or at Evolve Chocolate + Cafe deliciously perched on the mezzaine of Village Books in Fairhaven, overlooking the Village Green. If you're in the neighborhood come on in to explore!

The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention attracts thousands of curious visitors from all over the country, and all over the world. They arrive looking for sparks, fun and a few surprises. What they actually get is much, much more. Located in the heart of downtown Bellingham’s cultural district, the SPARK Museum has become a premiere destination experience, appealing to visitors of all ages and walks of life. What began as a simple collaboration between two life-long collectors turned into a public treasure devoted to science, history and getting everyone excited about discovery and the process of invention. At SPARK we believe every person who visits our Museum is looking to have an experience. They might be here to see the fantastic galleries, attend a field trip or event, or see the Museum’s signature MegaZapper Electrical Show—it doesn’t matter. What everyone wants is to have a memorable experience, something they’ll never forget. We are reminded of that message every time we open our doors to the public. In 1998, longtime local resident Jonathan Winter (Bellingham Antique Radio Museum), joined forces with John Jenkins to create one of the most complete collections of authentic electrical devices and scholarship ever displayed in one location. This spectacular collection follows a continuous thread of scientific invention and discovery. Beginning with The Dawn of the Electrical Age, the first of the Museum’s six interactive galleries. “It all begins with magnets, amber and fir,” says Museum co-founder Jon Winter. “We start with the earliest machines ever used to make, measure and store static electricity, then progress to the hands-on SPARK Static Lab.”

Founded in 1998 by a small group of local film fans dedicated to making high-quality cinema available in Bellingham and the entire Whatcom County region, the mission of Pickford Film Center is to provide a forum and resource for independent cinema, strengthening community through education, dialogue and the celebration of film. PFC offers year-round, independent, foreign and documentary film, world class performing arts, and related special events. We’re also proud to host special events for schools, universities and community organizations.

The Mount Baker Theatre in downtown Bellingham's Arts District is the largest performing arts facility of its kind north of Seattle. A beautifully restored 1927 architectural treasure, listed on the register of National Historic Places, the theatre is dedicated to showcasing some of the best live performing artists on both the professional and community levels for audiences in the North Puget Sound area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

The Jansen Art Center is a multi-purpose facility offering many avenues for the community to engage with the arts. Our studios in Ceramics, Jewelry, Music & Theatre, Paint & Fine Arts, and Textiles provide opportunities for both seasoned artists and beginning students to hone their skills in learning and open studio environments. The J offers programs for students anywhere from age 6 upward, features pieces from hundreds of local artists in our solo and juried exhibits, and welcomes large audiences to our various performances and recitals.