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Pride in Bellingham: Celebrate with these 6 local events

A marching band plays Lady Gaga’s queer anthem “Born This Way” during the Whatcom Youth Pride parade in downtown Bellingham, Wash., on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
A marching band plays Lady Gaga’s queer anthem “Born This Way” during the Whatcom Youth Pride parade in downtown Bellingham, Wash., on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The Bellingham Herald

June is Pride Month.

The annual tradition, which commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, aims to celebrate queer communities and recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ people have had on history, according to the Library of Congress.

The majority of Pride events in Bellingham occur in July, to avoid competing with Seattle Pride and other celebrations.

They range from a parade and dance parties to a cocktail garden and a queer book night.

Here’s what to know:

Pride Books and Brews

When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 10

Where: Village Books and Paper Dreams, 1200 11th St., Suite 201, in Bellingham

What: Upstairs at Village Books’ Fairhaven location, the Next Chapter Cafe will host an evening of “queer-focused books and mingling with other queer folk,” according to Pride in Bellingham.

Contact: 360-441-8746

Friends pose for a selfie with an instant film camera outside Bellingham High School in Bellingham, Wash., where an estimated 1,500 people attended the first Whatcom Youth Pride parade and festival in June 2019.
Friends pose for a selfie with an instant film camera outside Bellingham High School in Bellingham, Wash., where an estimated 1,500 people attended the first Whatcom Youth Pride parade and festival in June 2019. Robert Mittendorf The Bellingham Herald

Pride Fairhaven Family Fun Day

When: Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 11

Where: Fairhaven Village Green, 1207 10th St. in Bellingham

What: This event features “all-ages fun and games,” organizers said. Several Fairhaven restaurants will offer Pride Family To-Go discounts.

Contact: info@prideinbellingham.org

All-Ages Pride Dance at HUT

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11

Where: HUT, 1115 Railroad Ave., Suite A101, in Bellingham

What: Pride in Bellingham’s annual dance party returns in a new location. Join live DJs and drag queens at Bellingham’s newest 18-and-up nightclub.

Contact: 360-920-8881

Participants pose for a rainbow photo at the Whatcom Pride parade Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash.
Participants pose for a rainbow photo at the Whatcom Pride parade Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. Zay McShane Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

Pride in Bellingham Parade

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, July 12

Where: Various locations in Bellingham

What: Bellingham’s annual pride parade begins in the parking lot of Bellingham High School at Ohio Street and Cornwall Avenue. The route winds through downtown Bellingham, ending at the Pride Festival in Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue.

Contact: info@prideinbellingham.org

Kids dance on the Depot Market Square stage at the Bellingham Pride Festival on Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash.
Kids dance on the Depot Market Square stage at the Bellingham Pride Festival on Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash. Kiaya Wilson The Bellingham Herald

Pride in Bellingham Festival

When: Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 12

Where: Depot Market Square and Railroad Avenue in Bellingham

What: Keep the fun going after the parade at the Pride in Bellingham Festival, featuring artists, community groups, businesses and food trucks.

Contact: info@prideinbellingham.org

Rumors Pride Cocktail Garden & After Party

When: Noon to 2 a.m., Sunday, July 12

Where: Rumors Cabaret, 1119 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham

What: Rumors Cabaret is opening its patio for a 21-and-up sidewalk cocktail garden during the Pride in Bellingham Festival. After the festival wraps up, dance and drink the night away with DJs and drag queens.

Contact: 360-671-1849

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Julia Hawkins
The Bellingham Herald
Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
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