The ‘raddest beer garden in the PNW’ and The Portal announce reopening
One of Bellingham’s most popular summer spots is reopening for the season, bringing live music, a beer garden, food trucks, mini golf and more back to the city’s waterfront.
The Portal Container Village is opening on Friday, May 1, expanding this year with new offerings and local businesses.
“The seasonal opening of the Portal Container Village is a celebration of everything that makes Bellingham special—our creative local businesses, our deep connection to the water, and a working waterfront that continues to shape who we are,” Port Interim Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone said in a news release.
The Portal is home to Kulshan Brewing Company’s Trackside Beer Garden, named “the raddest beer garden in the PNW” by Forbes Magazine. It’s also home to a bike pump track, Selkie Scoop Ice Cream, Zeeks Pizza, Bin 13 wine bar, Rain or Shine Riviera Club, Our Kitchen and even a mini golf course at Portal Putt and bike rentals at Sun-E-Land Bike.
This year, The Portal is adding a new cocktail bar from local distillery and restaurant, Chuckanut Bay Distillery in downtown Bellingham.
“We’re proud to welcome the community to this shared space where maritime heritage meets local entrepreneurship, and where the waterfront remains active, authentic, and welcoming for all,” DeSimone said in the news release.
More new additions this summer include a new parking lot that is scheduled to open in June, and a Rivian Adventure Network site with electric vehicle charging stations.
The Portal’s 2026 season will also feature events, including the Northwest Tune-Up festival, the Noisy Waters Mural Festival and the Shoestring Circus.
Operating hours vary at each business at The Portal. The Portal Container Village is open from May through late summer, and is located at 296 W Laurel St. in Bellingham.
