by June Hathaway

Never mind the thermometer – the truth is, summer is slip-slidin’ away. Fortunately for those of us who spent the past couple of months hiding in darkened rooms, there’s still time to experience Bellingham’s seasonal outdoor markets (the OG Downtown Farmers Market at Chestnut and Railroad runs year-round). Find our local markets below, listed in order of time left to get your butt over there before they wrap up for the season.

In town

Fairhaven Farmers Market
Wednesdays through August, 3pm-7pm at 10th and Mill (map).
The Downtown Farmers Market’s chill little sister features fresh local produce arrayed under the shady pergolas that ring the Fairhaven Village Green’s sunny lawn. There’s live music from 4-6, making it a lively spot for a midweek picnic.

The Barkley Market
Wednesdays through August, 11am-6pm at Barkley Village (map)
The northeast side shopping-center-slash-office-park livens up the workweek with a Wednesday market offering food trucks and lawn games from 11am-2pm, mini farmer’s market 4pm-6pm.

Birchwood International Market
Last Fridays through September, 6pm-10pm at Park Manor Shopping Center aka Old Albertson’s (map)
No doubt folks in Birchwood, part of the city’s largest food desert, would rather have a grocery store. But since Albertson’s hasn’t released its death grip on their old store location even now that they’ve sold it, residents will make the most of this neighborhood market with craft vendors, food trucks, and music in the meantime.

Farther afield

While Bellingham proper is home to a few urban farms, most of the produce you’ll see at markets comes from farms in the rural areas surrounding the city. These community markets get you even closer to the source.

Lynden Farmers Market
Saturdays through September, 10am-2pm at Centennial Park (map)
Produce, handmade toys, and more, just a short walk from the Jansen Arts Center and the delightfully old-timey Pioneer Museum, which will have free admission on September 22.

Edison Farmers Market
Sundays through September, 10am-2pm at the Edison Granary (map)
Check out the goods at the farmers market, and then explore tiny Edison, the manic pixie dream girl of towns-that-don’t-officially-exist.

Ferndale Farmers Market
Fridays, 3pm-7pm through October 5 at Centennial Riverwalk Park (map)
In addition to a weekly bounty of local eats and goods, you’ll find a monthly flea market here on September 14 and October 5.

by June Hathaway

Food trucks are like the craft breweries of Bellingham grub on the go – they’re trendy, they’re local, and there’s a new one every time you turn around. In fact, the local food truck scene has grown by piggybacking on the proliferation of brewpubs, as the mobile eateries allow  kitchen-less breweries to keep hungry patrons bellied up to the bar.

While not all of these fit the classic food truck mold – the taco trucks pretty much stay in one place, and Mile Pie Club is bicycle-based – they all provide satisfying to-go eats. The links will take you to each truck’s Facebook page, where you can see their upcoming locations.

A Que Tacos

Back East BBQ

Bare Bones BBQ

Big Stick BBQ

Big Trouble Dumplings

Chow Gourmet Hot Dogs

Cicchitti’s Pizza

Cubano Cubano Sandwiches

El Tule Tacos

El Tapatio Tacos

Hot Mess Cheese Steaks

JT’s Smokin’ BBQ

Mile Pie Club

Mouth Hole Chicken and Waffles + Sandwiches

New Public Cafe Plant-based Eats

Ovn Wood Fired Pizza

Sage Against the Machine Vegan Eats

Simmering Tava Organic Indian Food

Something Cheezy Grilled Sandwiches

Streat Food Burgers and Sandwiches

Super Mario’s Salvadoran Food

Tacos Tecalitlan

Weeny Bunz Hot Dogs