Holiday updates
New Year’s cheer…
Ring in the new year at Whatcom Museum with live music from local band Baby Cakes, cocktails and local brews, and galleries-turned-swanky lounges. Last year sold out, so make sure to buy your ticket in advance. The event is 21+.
The next morning, join other brave souls at our free New Year Resolution Walk/Run and Padden Polar Dip on Jan. 1, 2026. We’ll supply the popcorn and warm beverages. You bring shoes that can get wet, a warm change of clothes, and your New Year cheer!
…and a New Year’s break
Most City services will be unavailable on Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. However, the following services are always available for emergencies:
- Police, Fire and Medic services: call 911
- Public Works and Parks emergency services: call 360-778-7700
We’re also taking a pause on the Inside Bellingham newsletter. We’ll be back on Jan. 8, 2026!
Sections of Woburn Street and Hannegan Road remain closed
Sections of Woburn Street and Hannegan Road remain closed after last week’s heavy rainfall and flooding exposed weaknesses in underground culverts beneath both roadways, leading to significant damage. Woburn Street is closed to through traffic between Lakeway Drive and Iowa Street and Hannegan Road is closed between Bakerview Road and Van Wyck Road following a culvert failure that resulted in a large roadway collapse.
Crews and contractors continue to assess conditions and evaluate repair options while working in challenging, water-saturated conditions. These closures are disruptive, and we appreciate the community’s patience as crews prioritize safety and work to move repairs forward as quickly as conditions allow. There is no estimated timeline for reopening at this time. Updates are available at cob.org/road-closures.
City Council approves 20-year growth management plan
On Dec. 15, City Council approved the Bellingham Plan, which will guide how our city grows over the next 20 years — including how we plan intentionally for more housing, jobs, and services.
Development of this comprehensive plan has been more than two years in the making. It included significant community engagement, collaboration with experts across the City, County, and partner organizations, and incorporation of new state laws.
While some of the recently passed ordinances already reflect goals and policies in the Bellingham Plan, we can expect to see more updates to our City rules based on this guiding document.
See what’s new at Hundred Acre Wood
We’ve completed our planned Hundred Acre Wood improvements just in time for last week’s heavy rains. The improved site drainage and trail work helped the park better weather the storm. Keep an eye out for these (and other!) other improvements on your next visit:
- New benches (our first made of recycled plastic!)
- A new bridge over Hoag’s Creek
- Two new boardwalks along the main trail
- Trail resurfacing and rerouting
- Lots of habitat restoration
This marks the final phase of the project, which began in 2022. Learn more about future improvements outlined in the park’s master plan at our Hundred Acre Wood project page.
Hoping to read more this winter? Join our Winter Reading Challenge!
If you ask our librarians, winter is the best time to cozy up with a warm mug and a good story. Join Bellingham Public Library for a new Winter Reading Challenge for adults, running January through March. Learn more at the kick-off on Dec. 30 from 4 – 5:45 pm in the SkillShare space at the Central Library. This drop-in event features book recommendations by Adult Services Librarian Katie Bray. You can also pick up a print copy of the Winter Reading Challenge for adults at any Bellingham Public Library Branch starting Dec. 30.
BPD helps Bellingham kids fill their wish lists
On Saturday, Dec. 13, Bellingham Police Department held the annual Shop with a Cop event in conjunction with Walmart. With the help of generous community donations and several local law enforcement agencies, we were able to make the holidays wonderful for 60 kids. Our officers look forward to this event each year to build relationships with the young shoppers. Bellingham Fire Department even had the honor of delivering Santa to the occasion in a firetruck!
