One of the things we love most about summer in downtown Bellingham is the way it brings people together. Whether it’s gathering with friends on a patio, discovering a new local business, strolling through the Farmers Market, or dancing in the streets at Downtown Sounds, these reliable, nostalgic shared experiences help create the thriving, welcoming community we all enjoy. We are also seeing a need for new experiences to complement tried-and-true moments.

In downtown Bellingham and communities across the country, people are increasingly seeking connection, experiences and reasons to gather. We know this in spirit and in data. Last month, we shared that downtown visitation continues to grow, with 7.9 million non-resident visits in 2024 (up 1.9%, year over year) and 8.1 million in 2025 (up 2.1%, year over year), fully recovering to pre-pandemic levels. Evening activity is also increasing, underscoring the importance of arts, entertainment and programmed experiences. At the same time, patterns of shopping, dining and entertainment continue to shift, requiring businesses, government and community partners to provide experiences people value now, not in the past.

At the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, we have a unique vantage point. Through our City Block Program, we convene businesses in each downtown district bi-monthly to share insights, surface challenges and spark collaboration. In 2026 alone, more than 150 businesses have trusted the space these meetings provide. A growing theme in these conversations is how entrepreneurs are responding creatively to changing consumer expectations, and we want to celebrate examples we believe are the future.