Procession of the Species celebrates wonders of natural world in Bellingham
Procession of the Species, Bellingham’s creative and lighthearted springtime celebration of the natural world, returned Saturday after a six-year pandemic hiatus.
Participants in colorful homemade costumes ranging from a giant owl to dinosaurs and frogs, storks, jellyfish and ravens walked the route from the Bellingham Public Library to a festival at Maritime Heritage Park.
More than 600 entries were registered in advance and walk-on parade participants were welcome, said Casey Alexander of Gabriel’s Art Kids, which organized the event in cooperation with the Bellingham Department of Parks and Recreation.
“We are so grateful to everyone who showed up for the fun,” Alexander told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Entries represented the imaginations of friends, families and schools.
Neil McKay of Bellingham, who was dressed as a bright yellow goldfinch and playing a tambourine and cymbals with the band Brasscadia, told The Herald he was participating for the first time after watching as a spectator for years.
“The parade is Bellingham. It’s children, it’s adults looking silly, it’s music — it’s the whole spirit of Bellingham here,” he said.
This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM.
