Downtown Sounds has officially returned for the summer. The first event, held July 9 at the intersection of Bay Street and Prospect Street, went from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and was the beginning of a summer-long event. These events will continue every Wednesday night until Aug. 6.
Downtown Sounds is free to attend and features live music, food vendors, and a beer garden. According to many, the mix of music, food and alcohol fosters a lively gathering space at the heart of downtown.
“I absolutely love the energy, the people are so nice,” said Caleb McArthur, a first-time attendee who discovered the event through a friend.
McArthur described the community as inviting and recommended it highly to others who have not been before.
“I’ve had at least six people come up to me and just start a conversation out of nowhere, which I was not expecting at all,” said McArthur.
August Quinnett, a local who has attended the event for the past few years, spoke of his first experience at Downtown Sounds and how he has enjoyed the lively environment surrounded by the arts.
Aside from providing a space for the community to gather and interact, Downtown Sounds also plays a vital role in boosting the traffic of surrounding businesses during the event.
“Especially with so many beer garden vendors, all the breweries are doing great with this kind of event,” Quinnett said.
According to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership website, the beer garden offers select drinks from Boundary Bay, Aslan, Wander, Structures, Beach Cat, Kulshan, Bellingham Cider Company, Thorntail’s Hard Agave Cocktails, and Athletic Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic Brews.
Tokens can be purchased on-site at the event for $10 each or $25 for three drinks. This year also features a happy hour that takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., offering $2 off a single drink token.
ChebaHut is featured with their participation in Downtown Sounds VIP Lounge. The VIP lounge features a dedicated bar, dedicated restroom, seating, complimentary snacks from ChebaHut and table-side delivery of ChebaHut’s full menu.
There are two ways to become a Downtown Sounds VIP: become an “INSIDER” or sponsor/donate to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s annual campaigns. To become an INSIDER and support events like Downtown Sounds, visit downtownbellingham.com/insiders to set up a monthly donation.
Downtown Sounds has offered two decades of free live music and bringing people together in the Bellingham community. The event serves the surrounding local businesses just as much as it serves its consumers.
The event started in the alley between Mindport and the Wild Buffalo House of Music on Holly Street, and now has expanded to taking over the intersection of Bay and Holly Street.
Lilli Maki, a Bellingham local, has given a glowing review of Downtown Sounds.
“I will definitely be going again, it’s such a fun event to bring new people to, and the music creates such a fun atmosphere, so I would definitely recommend it to everybody who hasn’t gone before,” said Maki.
Bridgette Jennings (she/her) is a senior at Western Washington University finishing her bachelor's degree in communication studies. She is a news editor/reporter with a strong interest in reporting on local events and businesses. You can reach her at bridgettejennings.thefront@gmail.com.
