In its second year, the festival organized by Bellingham-based cultural nonprofit Paper Whale brought storytelling, song — and fire — to the waterfront.
The Fire and Story Festival lit up Bellingham’s waterfront this past weekend, bringing together artists, musicians and storytellers to celebrate community and culture. Organized by Paper Whale, a local nonprofit focused on promoting the arts, the event marked its second year with an expanded lineup of local talent and a strong focus on storytelling around the fire.
Numerous performers brought their specialties to the stage at Fire and Story, one being Paul Chiyokten Wagner, a Wsaanich tribal member from Vancouver Island, who shared traditional stories with attendees. The music lineup featured bands such as Three for Silver, known for their eclectic mix of folk and gypsy-punk music, alongside other performers, including Jet Black Pearl, an accordion-wielding singer-songwriter.
For Paper Whale, the festival is more than just an annual event. It’s a platform for inspiring creativity and community involvement. The organizers hope that by bringing people together in this unique way, they’ll spark new ideas and conversations about how individuals can contribute to the cultural fabric of their own communities.
“Our hope is that people leave the festival feeling inspired, not just by the performances or the art, but by the sense of community they’ve experienced,” said Nick Hartritch, cofounder of Paper Whale. “We want people to think about how they can take that energy and bring it into their own lives, whether it’s through art, storytelling or simply being more engaged in the world around them.”
Tour — or revisit — the festival in photos below.
Walking into the Fire and Story Festival, attendees were immediately greeted by a large glowing jellyfish towering overhead, changing colors in response to participants bouncing on one of two yoga balls on either side. A sign set up in front of it read “butt-activated jellyfish.” Here, an attendee reaches up to touch a tentacle floating out to her.
A large metal shell by Sparks Design and Femme Metal Collective sat between the story stage and lore tent. Called the Nautilus Deep Sea, the exhibit was there to evoke a sense of reverence for the mysterious nautilus and deep-sea ecosystem. It beamed in multiple colors, reflected on the ground.
Cirque Cadia — a Bellingham troupe group of fire dancers, circus artists and other creatives — was tucked in next to the lore tent on Friday night. Here, a performer dances with hoops of fire.
Three For Silver, a band out of Portland, performed their lively set on an array of instruments at the song stage on Saturday evening. Here, two of the trio play, on accordion and steel guitar.
The story stage featured storytellers presenting a wide variety of stories, personal and traditional. Here, on Saturday night, Paul Chiyokten Wagner (Wsaanich) encourages attendees to join him in raising up their hands and feeling the weight of our ancestors. “We all have an Indigenous identity,” said Wagner.
A view from the bridge above Bellingham’s DIY skatepark offered a view of each separate set of the festival from a distance. Here, a crowd of attendees gather for a performance at the lore tent.
A fiery performance lit up faces on Thursday night at the lore tent. Here, a family smiles and looks in awe at the performer before them.
— Story and photos by Isabella Vandaveer