Bellingham SeaFeast Brought the Sunshine!
The 10th annual Bellingham SeaFeast blew in and out as fast as the sun did!
What was supposed to be a gloomy, rainy couple of days in Bellingham turned into one of the last sun-soaked weekends of the season, full of beautiful weather, and thanks to Bellingham SeaFeast, plenty of festivities to match. From the docks of Squalicum Harbor to Zuanich Point Park, the whole city seemed to turn out and celebrate everything that makes this community special.
Not only was there an impressive showing of waterfront businesses, local artists, and incredible seafood, but the community truly made this weekend magical. Booths lined the pavilion, the smell of fire-roasted salmon filled the air, and the energy in the crowd that made it clear just how much this event means to Bellingham. This kind of weekend reminds us why this waterfront community is so worth celebrating.
A sunny SeaFeast moment; Picture credit Gina Finazzo
The irreplaceable waterfront community.
The Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation and Coalition tabled together the whole weekend, sharing updates on advocacy, education, and knot skills. The opportunity to apprise our community on workforce enhancement efforts, our NMA apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship, and lobbying and legislative goals was only surpassed by the experience of community feedback sharing longtime sea-stories and personal respect. SeaFeast is an event that reminds us why what we do is so important and why we need community support and engagement. For everyone who stopped by the booth, thank you for making this weekend truly spectacular.
Just across the way from our booth, The Port of Bellingham put on their classic fish toss, sparking competition, laughter, and excitement among kids and parents alike. Watching families line up to take their turn and cheering each other on is what makes SeaFeast so special, it brings the community together, one friendly game at a time.
The waterfront community in action; Picture credit Gina Finazzo
The future of the waterfront is bright!
SeaFeast is a gathering where local traditions meet and generational exuberance. From an open-pit traditional salmon bake to vessel tours, all weekend long, people wandered from booth to booth, boat to boat, conversation to conversation, soaking in a side of Bellingham that doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves.
Locals are invited to see for themselves all the things the waterfront provides them, things they maybe hadn't even realized were there. What SeaFeast does best is turn a weekend of festivities into a moment of real connection between this community and the waterfront that sustains it.
Deb and Pete Granger giving a net demo; Picture credit Dan Tucker
We’ll see you next year SeaFeast.
We are endlessly grateful to everyone who made this year's SeaFeast possible: the organizers and coordinators who pulled it together, the volunteers who gave their time and stories, the businesses and artists who dedicated their weekend, and most of all, the people of Bellingham who showed up and showed out. It's that kind of turnout, year after year, that proves this waterfront community isn't going anywhere.
Here's to another incredible SeaFeast in the books, and here's to seeing you all on the waterfront again soon.
