A Deep Dive into Bellingham's Waterfront Community

Soul of Bellingham Bay Award recipients Loren Kapp & Cathy Wade show their award. Hear their story on our audio archive.

During our 14 festival hours in 2019, Bellingham’s waterfront community came to the shores of Bellingham Bay to eat, dance, teach, play, and show off our incredible working waterfront. But with thousands of attendees and so much to do during the festival, it’s hard to get to know the people behind all the action.

Thanks to the help of Whatcom Community Foundation, we were able to invite some of our Legacy & Soul of Bellingham Bay Award winners to learn more about their stories. And we got the real stuff: details of welding boats together, firing family members on a fishing crew, pranks between waterfront colleagues, reflections on a changing industry, and much more. We heard it all!

We asked Bellingham’s waterfront leaders to share what makes our waterfront unlike any other place. Some of the things we heard? Bellingham’s waterfront is for everyone! We have millions of dollars of economic activity coming in and out of our town from the waterfront. And the water is a place to challenge yourself and learn, unlike anywhere else.

We’re grateful to our partners at KZAX 94.9 LP FM and our volunteers for their editing support to bring these interviews to you.

Blue skies over SeaFeast 2019 as we celebrated the leaders of our waterfront during the Legacy and Soul of Bellingham Bay Award presentation.

All these stories live on our audio archive for all to enjoy. We also heard from YOU—our Bellingham SeaFeast attendees—about why you come down to experience the water here in Whatcom County.

So, make that cup of tea, or pour yourself some whiskey on the rocks, sit back, and soak up some tales of Bellingham’s waterfront.

Bellingham’s waterfront community gathered at SeaFeast 2019 for the presentation of the Legacy and Soul of Bellingham Bay awards on Saturday, September 21.