Crowds gathered for the fifth pride resurgence event in Bellingham
A parade and festival on Sunday capped a weekend of celebrating Pride in Bellingham. The parade hit the ground running at 11 a.m. with rainbow flag-sporting cars and parade participants making their way under blue skies from Bellingham High School, through downtown, to the Pride festival at Depot Market Square.
An assortment of booths set up by artisans, community groups, nonprofit organizations and businesses waited at the square, as well as a performance stage hosting various drag artists and guest speakers.
“My favorite part is seeing all the hard work come together. It’s about four to five months of planning prior,” said drag performer Rikki Sinsation, who was an organizer of the event with local volunteer group Pride in Bellingham. “Seeing the community come together, all the entertainers come together. It’s beautiful and it makes me emotional.”
While drag performers hit the stage to LGBTQ+ anthems by the likes of Lady Gaga and Queen, the smells of the food stands along Railroad Avenue mixed with chatter and laughter as community members walked through the market where booths offered local art, interactive games and prizes and amenities.
Among the groups present was Whatcom County’s chapter of Free Mom Hugs, a nationwide nonprofit that works to empower the LGBTQ+ community, commonly recognized by its volunteer members who wear shirts and pins offering “Free Mom Hugs” at LGBTQ+ events.
“It’s the best thing I do in my free time,” said Rachel Sullivan of her volunteer work for the local Free Mom Hugs chapter. “So far it’s been great. I made three people cry on the parade route, which is kind of silly (to say) but it’s because you know that they needed it for whatever reason that they did.”
Although Bellingham was home to its first Pride celebration in 1999, 2026 marks the fifth annual Pride celebration the city has seen in recent years.
When the COVID-19 pandemic made hosting a Pride event in 2020 impossible, a group called Whatcom Pride hosted a pop-up event in 2021. The next year, Pride in Bellingham formed and the group has organized the city’s Pride events for the last six years.
Leading up to Sunday’s events, a Pride Family Fun Day took place in Fairhaven on Saturday, which offered games for all ages and Pride related discounts from participating businesses.
Later that night, an all ages Pride dance party with live drag and DJs took place at the local event space at 1115 Railroad Ave., the HUT.
“I always get emotional during Pride. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been,” said festivalgoer Julia Bredenburg. “You swell with emotion. You see all these people here for the same cause. We’re all so happy. We’re all so full of love. That’s what it’s about.”
—By Jae Ranney
Internship sponsored by Puget Sound Energy