The Portal Container Village Opens May 1 for 2026 Season
April 28, 2026
Bellingham, WA—The Portal Container Village will open for the 2026 season on Friday, May 1st, bringing a new season of activity to Bellingham’s downtown waterfront.
The Port will once again host a lineup of signature events including Shoestring Circus,
Northwest Tune-Up, and the Noisy Waters Mural Festival.
The waterfront event season begins with a free ‘Party on the Pier’ May 8th from 7-10 pm on the Central Pier next to the Granary Building. DJ Selector Joel Ricci will spin vintage and contemporary funk and jazz on 45RPM vinyl, with homemade food and refreshments available from Mercato delle Bonta.
Visitors can extend the evening by joining the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s Spring Wine Walk, featuring 23 downtown shops hosting pop-up tasting rooms with regional wines. Downtown and the waterfront are connected by a short walk over the Roeder Avenue Bridge, offering sweeping views of the waterfront and San Juan Islands.
Several new additions highlight this year’s season. One of downtown’s most popular establishments, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, will open a satellite waterfront location in The Portal featuring a rooftop deck with views of the Salish Sea. A new parking lot across from the Granary Building is under construction and scheduled to be completed by June. A Rivian Adventure Network site with eight high-speed electric vehicle charging stations is now available and compatible with all EV models.
The Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and its team of amazing volunteers are completing an annual refresh of the waterfront bike park in advance of the busy summer months.
Visitors arriving by bike, bus, car or foot will notice improved paths and lighting, along with artistic enhancements created by Western Washington University students, inspired by sustainable design in Denmark. The waterfront is a short walk from downtown, and the Port is supporting stronger pedestrian connections over the Roeder Bridge, which offers one of Bellingham’s most scenic viewpoints.
“The seasonal opening of the Portal Container Village is a celebration of everything that makes Bellingham special—our creative local businesses, our deep connection to the water, and a working waterfront that continues to shape who we are,” said Port Interim Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone. “We’re proud to welcome the community to this shared space where maritime heritage meets local entrepreneurship, and where the waterfront remains active, authentic, and welcoming for all.”
The Port will once again host a lineup of signature events including Shoestring Circus,
Northwest Tune-Up, and the Noisy Waters Mural Festival.
The waterfront event season begins with a free ‘Party on the Pier’ May 8th from 7-10 pm on the Central Pier next to the Granary Building. DJ Selector Joel Ricci will spin vintage and contemporary funk and jazz on 45RPM vinyl, with homemade food and refreshments available from Mercato delle Bonta.
Visitors can extend the evening by joining the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s Spring Wine Walk, featuring 23 downtown shops hosting pop-up tasting rooms with regional wines. Downtown and the waterfront are connected by a short walk over the Roeder Avenue Bridge, offering sweeping views of the waterfront and San Juan Islands.
Several new additions highlight this year’s season. One of downtown’s most popular establishments, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, will open a satellite waterfront location in The Portal featuring a rooftop deck with views of the Salish Sea. A new parking lot across from the Granary Building is under construction and scheduled to be completed by June. A Rivian Adventure Network site with eight high-speed electric vehicle charging stations is now available and compatible with all EV models.
The Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and its team of amazing volunteers are completing an annual refresh of the waterfront bike park in advance of the busy summer months.
Visitors arriving by bike, bus, car or foot will notice improved paths and lighting, along with artistic enhancements created by Western Washington University students, inspired by sustainable design in Denmark. The waterfront is a short walk from downtown, and the Port is supporting stronger pedestrian connections over the Roeder Bridge, which offers one of Bellingham’s most scenic viewpoints.
“The seasonal opening of the Portal Container Village is a celebration of everything that makes Bellingham special—our creative local businesses, our deep connection to the water, and a working waterfront that continues to shape who we are,” said Port Interim Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone. “We’re proud to welcome the community to this shared space where maritime heritage meets local entrepreneurship, and where the waterfront remains active, authentic, and welcoming for all.”
Contact:
Mike Hogan, Public Affairs Administrator
mikeh@portofbellingham.com, (360) 676-2500
