Since 1911, International Women’s Day (Saturday, March 8) has dared people to imagine a world “free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.” Here are just a few ideas for how to celebrate and support women and female-identifying folks in Bellingham, this month and all year long.
If you want to honor International Women’s Day in community, look no further than Fairhaven. Stones Throw Brewery, Shifting Gears and a handful of local artisans are teaming up from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday for an International Women’s Day Celebration and Makers Market.
Festivities kick off at noon with Shifting Gears’ gravel bike ride, which is open to all female-identifying participants. It’s one of the final events during the outdoor recreation nonprofit’s annual Wild Women Week (Feb. 25 to March 8).
Paddlers make their way across Bellingham Bay toward the Community Boating Center in September 2022. The Community Boating Center will host a women’s paddle on March 5 as part of Shifting Gears’ Wild Women Week. (Ron Judd/Cascadia Daily News)
Simultaneously, Stones Throw beertenders will be pouring the 2025 Women’s Brew, “crafted with passion and skill by our talented female brewers.” Ten percent of its sales will benefit the Pink Boots Society, an educational nonprofit for women and nonbinary folks in the fermented beverage industry.
If that wasn’t enough, 13 “incredible female-identifying artists” will sell their wares during a maker’s market from 1–5 p.m., with a portion of proceeds benefiting Shifting Gears. The D’vas will provide live music from 5–8 p.m. Make sure to stick around for the 8 p.m. announcement of Shifting Gears’ Wild Person of the Year, which honors a female-presenting individual “making waves in the outdoor community.”
Other upcoming events for International Women’s Day include a screening of the upcoming film “Lilly” at the Pickford (5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6), presented in partnership with Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival. Additionally, the Western Washington University panel “Generations of Feminist Ecologies in Land Stewardship and Restoration” (4–7 p.m., March 6) explores the roles of Indigenous women in land stewardship.
Patricia Clarkson in “Lilly,” an upcoming feature film screening at the Pickford Film Center on March 6 for International Women’s Day. (Photo courtesy of Pickford Film Center)
For the outdoors-inclined, Shifting Gears offers female-focused programming not just on March 8 but all year long, with disciplines ranging from backpacking to sea kayaking. Wild Whatcom has a monthly “Ladies’ Night Out” for femme-identifying folks to connect in nature. Additionally, the meetup group Bellingham Outdoor Women hosts regular hikes and events.
For LGBTQ+ women, Bellingham Queer Collective offers several regularly-occurring affinity groups, including a Queer Women’s Group and FLINTA* Nights. PFLAG also hosts monthly support meetings for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones.
Those looking to build professional community can look to Whatcom Women in Business, which offers everything from monthly meetings to scholarships. Her Connection Hub is a women’s coworking space that also hosts a regular Breakfast Club.
Finally, Cabaret Atelier and Unique Technique Dance Studio host inclusive adult dance classes for women looking to build confidence and tap into their creative side. SheShed Crossfit is a gym specifically for women ages 50 and over, “designed for those who refuse to give up no matter what life has thrown at them.” Bellingham BJJ offers women and nonbinary-specific jiu-jitsu classes each Wednesday.
The Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is an excellent resource for broadening your feminist horizons. Executive Director Christine Perkins has a wealth of books recommended in accordance with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Readers interested in historical fiction (and strong female characters) might enjoy “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, about field nurses in the Vietnam War; “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi, about a woman’s search for independence in 1950s Jaipur; or “By Any Other Name” by Jodi Picoult, about Shakespeare’s alleged ghostwriter.
On the political front, Perkins also recommends “She Votes: How U.S. Women Won Suffrage, and What Happened Next” by Bridget Quinn; and “The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights” by Dorothy Wickenden.
Other recommended titles include “Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West” by Katie Hickman; “Radium Girls: the Dark Story of America’s Shining Women” by Kate Moore; “The Six: The Extraordinary Story of the Grit and Daring of America’s First Women Astronauts” by Loren Grush; “Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop” by Danyel Smith; and “Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine” by Olivia Campbell. All are available in various formats through WCLS.
You shouldn’t need International Women’s Day as an excuse to seek out female entrepreneurs — but if you weren’t consciously supporting these businesses before, now is a great time to start.
New Mexico Tamale Company Owner Dora Ruiz has been serving up tamales in Whatcom County since 2017. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)
Women-owned brick-and-mortars in Bellingham include WinkWink Boutique, The Spice Hut, Brazen Shop + Studio and Third Planet Boutique. In addition to being woman-owned, eco-friendly refillery Pumped Bellingham has a focus on sustainability. Additionally, MW Soapworks Owner Andrea Lawson helps customers “shop their community values” by spotlighting products from women- and minority-owned businesses.
Other (delicious) ways to support female entrepreneurs include sampling Usanee Klimo’s Thai/Lao fusion at Maikham, or Mulu Belay’s stews and injera (flatbread) at Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine. Dora Ruiz of New Mexico Tamale Company makes exceptional Southwestern food. And if you haven’t picked up pastries or bread from Sophie Williams at Raven Bakery, here’s your sign to change that.
As far as bars and breweries go, consider enjoying a pint at Uisce Irish Pub or Temperate Habits Brewing Co. (Mount Vernon). Craving something sweet? Nancy Stuart at Saltadena makes delicious cream puffs, macarons and more, whereas the cookie sandwiches by Veronica Stendahl of Antler Baking Co. are virtually impossible to resist.
For a more comprehensive list, folks can choose “women-owned” as a filter on Sustainable Connections’ business directory. Washington Women in Trades’ directory is also an excellent resource for folks seeking female contractors, carpenters and other skilled laborers.
Sophie Williams of Raven Bakery forms a loaf in March 2024 in downtown Bellingham. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)
Last but not least, why not use March 8 as an excuse to support local, female-focused charities?
100+ Women of Whatcom is a grassroots fundraising organization that gives directly to local organizations; their next meeting is this April. Their aim is simple: “100+ women each donating $100 will raise $10,000+ to support an identified need or service in our community.” Women Sharing Hope is a volunteer-operated organization that organizes and hosts fundraising events for local charities.
100+ Women of Whatcom members vote on which nonprofit to donate to in 2024, picking between RE Sources, PNW Plateful and Kaylee’s Kamp Foundation. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Alternatively, volunteer with or donate directly to an organization like DVSAS, which aids individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. YWCA Bellingham offers emergency housing for women and is “dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” Finally, Lydia Place empowers women and families by disrupting the cycle of homelessness.
Check individual websites for volunteer requirements and details on how to donate.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at [email protected]; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
