Downtown Bellingham is nestled perfectly between Bellingham Bay, the Historic Fairhaven district, and Western Washington University’s campus. It’s the perfect place to enjoy unique public art, specialty shopping, fine dining, and cultural entertainment – all within walking distances from each other!
Parking downtown is convenient and offers easy-to-use pay stations, meter, and privately owned parking options. Street parking is $0.75/hour. Most meters have a 2-hour limit (check the meter time restrictions, which are posted on each meter). Street parking is free after 5:00 pm, weekends and holidays.
Now, you are able to utilize the PaybyPhone app that allows you to pay for parking with ease. Read here for the details.
For longer stays and off-street parking, the first floor of the Commercial Street Parking Garage at 1300 Commercial Street is $6.00 has full-day parking. The parking garage is centrally located right in the heart of Downtown, within 2 to 5 blocks of many downtown restaurants and attractions. Find more parking details here.
The Downtown Bellingham Partnership hosts the First Friday Art Walks, an event that brings together the entire art community downtown. On the first Friday of every month, downtown businesses will host local artists, and attendees walk around on a self-guided gallery walk. The First Friday Art Walk has been a Downtown Bellingham staple for over 20 years, and it’s a great way to see the local culture and flavor!
There are often summer street events, outdoor music, and tons of fun in the downtown core. Check our events calendar or the downtown restaurants and venues' websites to be in the know!
The Bellingham Downtown Arts District features some of the following wonderful attractions:
Mount Baker Theater – The Mount Baker Theater in Downtown Bellingham’s Art 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.
Spark Museum of Electrical Invention – SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention offers an exciting and educational experience for audiences of all ages. Compelling, interactive exhibits spanning four centuries of scientific achievement and cultural heritage are featured in a world-class collection.
Pickford Film Center and Limelight Cinema – Pickford Film Center provides a forum and resource for independent cinema, strengthening community through education, dialogue, and the celebration of film. Additionally, PFC offers another cinema experience at another location downtown, the Limelight Cinema. At 70-capacity independent cinema for all ages.
Whatcom Museum – The Whatcom Museum provides innovative and interactive education programs and exhibitions about art and Northwest history. We seek to stimulate curiosity about our changing cultural, natural, and historical landscapes, for the youngest to oldest minds, and to inspire preservation of creative contributions to our region and beyond.
