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Lifestyle Lookout: Ski to Sea, Fairhaven Festival, Memorial Day Parade and live music

Lifestyle Lookout: Ski to Sea, Fairhaven Festival, Memorial Day Parade and live music

Photo: Saga Communications/Kathi O'Shea


BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Memorial Day weekend is here and that means Ski to Sea Sunday, beautiful weather and a whole lot more. We have a bunch of fun events for you in this week’s Lifestyle Lookout.

Ski to Sea, the annual relay race from the Mount Baker Ski Area to Bellingham Bay, is this Sunday, May 24 and wraps up in Fairhaven. Spectators can watch the action from various locations across the county; Heather Meadows, Hovander Park, Zuanich Park, and Marine Park are all great options.

The kayaker for last year’s winning team Birch Equipment looks back at the finish line after completing the Ski to Sea race. Photographer: Ellie Coberly.

Unfortunately, Riverside Park in Everson will be closed to spectators this year because of damage caused by December’s historic flooding. Whatever you plan on doing during the race this year, be sure to do it safely.

KGMI 790 AM and 96.5 FM will have live coverage from the starting line at Heather Meadows starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday and then again starting at 1 p.m. from Marine Park in Fairhaven. Listen on the radio or stream it live right here on MyBellinghamNow.com.

If you are heading down for the Fairhaven Festival this weekend, there are some changes this year. Rather than one large, organized event, the festival will be held at various locations offering live music, libations, food and more.

Stones Throw Brewery will host fundraisers on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23. Then on Sunday, they will have a beer garden with live music from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with local vendors on site from noon to 6 p.m.

Skylark’s, Paws for Beer and EVIL Bikes are also hosting events all weekend long. The Ski to Sea race wraps up at Marine Park on Sunday with the first sea kayakers expected to ring the bell at the finish line shortly after 1 p.m.

If you want to get out on Bellingham Bay before the big race, you are in luck. Sound Experience is offering an opportunity to take a sail on the historic schooner Adventuress on Saturday. Celebrate America’s 250th birthday aboard the iconic vessel on a three-hour tour of the bay and beyond.

The crew will tell participants all about the history of the ship and the surrounding marine environment. There will also be sea chanteys and ample opportunity to just kick back and enjoy the cruise.

Another time-honored Whatcom County tradition is on Saturday. The Whatcom Memorial Day Parade starts at noon and runs down Cornwall Avenue into downtown Bellingham.

Paying tribute to first responders and our nation’s heroes, the parade features marching bands, animals and will honor Jeremy Thomspson (LTCOL USMC Ret.) and his family.

We have two featured live shows for you in this week’s Lifestyle Lookout.

If you are a fan of heavy music, Shakedown is welcoming Seattle’s Witch Ripper to town on Friday night. Fans of Ghost, Melvins and Wild Throne don’t want to miss this one.

Opening for Witch Ripper are Mother Crone and Wet Temple.

On Saturday night, Seattle-based rapper and visual artist Sam Lachow is performing at Wild Buffalo. Lachow blurs various musical styles to make sounds steeped in hip hop, pop and other traditional American music.

BONUS SHOW: PNW icons Pedro the Lion are performing at Wild Buffalo on Sunday night. If you know, you know.

Listen to this week’s Lifestyle Lookout below and every Friday on the KGMI Morning News:

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