Two new breweries opened recently in Bellingham: Aslan Brewing and Wander Brewing. If that’s not reason enough to visit Bellingham, here’s another: the Northwest’s first canned beer festival.
Event organizers call it “an all-American, 100 percent recyclable Fourth of July festival.” They also assert that it is the first all-canned beer festival in the Northwest. I have no reason to dispute the claim. Bellingham’s Yes We Can! Canned Craft Beer Festival features canned product from 30 local breweries, cideries and meaderies. The event takes place on J Street in front of Elizabeth Station in downtown Bellingham, offering a view of the fireworks display over Bellingham Bay.
In addition to beer and other libations, the event features wacky performances from the Bellingham Circus Guild (stilt-walkers, fire-jugglers, etc), as well as live music, food vendors, games, and other fun. The Yes We Can! Craft Beer Festival is an all-ages event and kids under 14 get in free. The party gets started at 5:00 and runs until fireworks time.
For more details, including tickets and volunteer opportunities, visit the official event website, which has a ton of information.
Proceeds from the event benefit RE Source, a non-profit environmental education organization founded in 1982 as Bellingham Community Recycling. RE Source builds healthy communities by promoting and supporting waste reduction; advocating for clean water, air and energy; empowering schools to reduce their carbon footprint; and putting sustainability tools into your hands.