Bellingham mayor cancels all citywide events through end of August to curb coronavirus

All city-sponsored summer events in Bellingham through the end of August have been canceled after an executive order from Mayor Seth Fleetwood Friday, April 24.

Applications for special events or facility reservations will also not be accepted or approved through Aug. 30, according to the order. The order affects any previously scheduled festivals, concerts, park activities and street closures. Picnic shelters and sports fields will not be available to be rented or reserved.

As a result of the order and Joe Martin Field not being available, the Bellingham Bells canceled their 2020 season. The three full-time front office staff members will remain and the team has pledged to return in summer 2021.

“We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, vendors, partners, host families, players, coaches, fans and everyone in the Bells family who has supported us so passionately over the years,” the team said in a news release. “While this cancellation certainly comes with great disappointment, we also have incredible excitement and optimism for the return of baseball at Joe Martin Field in summer 2021.”

Major pubic events affected by the order include Downtown Sounds, the Tour de Whatcom bicycle ride, Lake Whatcom Triathlon, Ragnar Race, April (August) Brews Day and neighborhood block parties.

Fleetwood noted in the release that the county is “on the downside of the first wave of COVID-19”, but said if group events return too soon, the spread will continue to be deadly.

“We acknowledge there are painful financial and social impacts of these cancellations throughout our community,” Fleetwood said. “Yet the Health Department recommendation and other data we are seeing lead us to feel strongly these are the right steps to take to protect public health and be able to resume economic activity.”

Interim Parks and Recreation Department Director Nicole Oliver said that parks will remain open for the time being, but will be monitored regularly. Oliver also said that Parks and Recreation, the Bellingham Public Library, Whatcom Museum, and the Public Works Department are considering small group activities for the summer with strict public health limits.