• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Logo

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

Travel, Hotel and Visitor Information

Bellingham Outdoors Animated Logo
  • Home
  • Places to Stay
    • Hotels / Resorts
    • Vacation Rentals / Bed & Breakfasts
    • Camping / RV Parks
    • Hotel Packages / Special Rates
    • Park n’ Fly Hotel Packages
  • Places to Eat
    • Restaurants
    • Craft Breweries
    • Wine, Spirits & Wineries
    • Coffee Shops & Sweets
  • Things to Do
    • Events Calendar
    • Annual Events
    • Agricultural
    • Attractions
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Cannabis
    • Casinos
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Itineraries
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Shopping
    • Snowsports
    • Spas & Health
    • Theaters & Music
    • Tours
    • Water Adventures
    • Summer Activities
    • Fall Activities
    • Winter Activities
    • Spring Activities
    • Whatcom Arts Project
  • Outdoors
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Snowsports
    • Water Adventures
  • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Ground Transport
    • Air Transport
    • Water Transport
    • US/Canada Border
  • Blogs
  • Communities
    • Bellingham
    • Birch Bay
    • Blaine
    • Downtown Bellingham
    • Fairhaven Historic District
    • Ferndale
    • Lummi Island
    • Lynden
    • Mt. Baker
    • North Cascades
    • Point Roberts
    • Sumas
  • Media
    • Media Request Form
    • Articles & Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Photo Contest
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Weather
    • Request Information
    • Jobs & Volunteer
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Membership
    • Member Directory
    • Services
      • Event Planning
      • Relocation
      • Business
      • Education
      • Financial
      • Medical
      • Out of Area
Home / Press Releases / AirFest Returns to Bellingham Aug 24 Featuring Astronaut Wendy Lawrence
For Immediate Release:

July 15, 2019

Media Contact:

Michael Hogan

Port of Bellingham

mikeh@portofbellingham.com

AirFest Returns to Bellingham Aug 24 Featuring Astronaut Wendy Lawrence

The Port of Bellingham will host AirFest at Bellingham International Airport from 10:30am-3pm on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. The event will be at Bellingham’s new airport location and will feature a new activity – the Haggen Aerospace Speaker’s Pavilion with speakers on topics for both kids and adults.

“We are excited to bring a retired NASA astronaut to AirFest as part of our first industry speaker event,” said Port Commission President Bobby Briscoe. “One of AirFest’s goals is to introduce young people to aviation and careers in the field. Our event speakers either have a direct connection to youth aviation or have inspiring stories designed to appeal to both kids and adults.”


Img 20180908 142442 1

The Haggen Aerospace Speaker’s Pavilion Schedule:

• 11:00 a.m. – Martin Spencer, Whatcom Young Aviators, will discuss aviation-related opportunities for middle and high school students in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

• 12:30 p.m. – Betsy Case, author of the book “Trailblazers: The Women of Boeing,” will talk about women who were aviation pioneers in the industry.

• 2:00 p.m. – Wendy Lawrence, retired US Navy Captain, former helicopter pilot, and former NASA astronaut, will share her inspiring story with many ‘firsts’ including as the first female Naval Academy graduate to become an astronaut and being on the first return to flight mission after the Columbia accident.


In addition to the new Haggen Aerospace Speaker’s Pavilion, the event will also include:
• Aircraft on display

• Aviation-themed arts and crafts with Allied Arts

• A ‘radio booth’ with the Washington Pilot’s Association – North Sound Chapter to listen to conversations between the air traffic control tower and pilots with volunteers on site to explain the conversations and activities.

• Informational booths and industry professionals with information about aviation career opportunities.

• Sign up opportunities for kids with the Young Eagles program for free flights
(scheduled at a later date).

• Area scenic flight tours with Bellingham Aviation Services, $50 per person

• Vendors

• Food Trucks

• Display of airport fire truck and snow removal equipment

• Free admission and free parking


The new free parking location will be in the main airport parking lot thanks to parking sponsor SP+, and the event itself will be in a new location on airport property just north of the commercial terminal building. Attendees should follow signs to the main airport parking lot located right across the street from the terminal. Groups transporting mobility-impaired individuals will have a special pick up/drop off site at the event entrance.

Attendees can also take Whatcom Transpiration Authority’s Route 3 directly to the airport terminal from both the Cordata and Downtown bus stations every hour. The new event location on the north side of the airport terminal will allow spectators an unobstructed view of the runway to get even closer to aircraft activity and view aircraft landing and taking off while still maintaining a safe distance from air operations.

AirFest is hosted by the Port of Bellingham at Bellingham International Airport and is only possible through generous donations from local, regional, and national businesses. AirFest 2019 sponsors are: Haggen Food & Pharmacy, SP+ Corporation, Walton Beverage, Mead & Hunt, Phillips 66, and Whatcom Young Aviators.

AirFest Sponsorship and aircraft display opportunities are still available. Contact AirportOffice@portofbellingham.com for more information.


Share:

Filed Under: Press Releases Tagged With: Bellingham International Airport, Wendy Lawrence, Whatcom County Airfest, Whatcom Young Aviators

Footer

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229

Hours: Due to COVID-19, the Visitor Center is open limited hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Masks required.

Phone: 360-671-3990
Email: tourism@bellingham.org

Join

Sign up to receive Bellingham Whatcom County events & information!

Share

site by highwaters.net