Beats on the Bay: Live Music on Bellingham Bay

By Jessie Greenberg Photography

There is something special about a summer evening in Bellingham, Washington.

Sailboat with colorful pennant flags silhouetted against golden sunset on busy harbor with small boats and crowds.

One of the things I’m quickly falling in love with about Bellingham is how naturally music, community, and the outdoors come together here.

Beats on the Bay might be one of the best examples.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Bellingham Bay, Beats on the Bay transforms an ordinary summer evening into something pretty magical: live music performed from the historic Schooner Zodiac while kayakers, paddleboarders, sailors, and other small boats gather around to listen from the water.

Meanwhile, people line Taylor Dock and the waterfront boardwalk to take in the music, watch the boats drift across the bay, and enjoy one of Bellingham's incredible summer sunsets.

As a photographer, it was exactly the kind of environment I love documenting.

People gather on a wooden pier at golden hour, enjoying waterfront views with sailboats and trees in the background.

Two people relaxing on colorful paddleboards floating on dark calm water near a dock on a sunny day.

Couple sharing a romantic kiss silhouetted against a golden sunset at a marina with sailboats in the background.

Music, Water & Community in Bellingham, WA

Beats on the Bay is presented by the Community Boating Center in collaboration with the Schooner Zodiac.

Rather than putting musicians on a traditional stage, the concert takes place aboard the Zodiac on Bellingham Bay. People can experience the show from their own kayak, paddleboard, rowboat, or sailboat, rent a paddle craft through the Community Boating Center, reserve a place aboard the Zodiac, or listen from Taylor Dock and the boardwalk.

The result is something that feels distinctly Bellingham.

Boats gather across the water. Friends meet along the dock. People stop during their evening walks to listen. The sun begins dropping toward the horizon while live music carries across the bay.

It feels less like simply attending a concert and more like stumbling into a celebration of summer in the Pacific Northwest.

Large yellow waterfront hotel surrounded by trees reflecting golden hour sunlight on calm blue waters.

Couple sharing a romantic moment at sunset by a marina with sailboats in the golden background.

Orange BNSF freight train traveling along a rocky waterfront beside lush trees and a modern apartment building at sunset.

Boats and sailboats fill a calm bay at sunset with mountains in the background and people gathered on the water.

Photographing Beats on the Bay

Events like this are some of my favorite things to photograph because there are so many little stories happening at once.

Of course, there are the musicians and the performance itself—but there are also the moments happening around it.

People laughing together on the dock.

Paddleboarders floating toward the music.

Kayaks clustered around the schooner.

Friends dancing along the waterfront.

The changing light reflecting across Bellingham Bay.

And those tiny, candid interactions that tell you what an evening actually felt like.

Those are often the photographs I love the most.

Rather than simply documenting what an event looked like, I want my images to bring you back into the experience—the movement, connection, energy, and atmosphere surrounding it.

Sailboats silhouetted against a golden sunset sky in a calm marina with mountains in the background.

Two people relaxing in a yellow inflatable kayak on dark blue water, bathed in warm golden sunlight.

2026 Beats on the Bay Concerts:

The 2026 Beats on the Bay series takes place on four Tuesday evenings:

August 11 — Corazones de Cedro

August 18 — Blessing "Bled" Chimanga and Band

August 25 — The Pazific

September 1 — Henry Mansfield

The bands perform from approximately 6:00–7:30 p.m.

If you're experiencing the concert from shore, head toward Taylor Dock and the waterfront boardwalk for the best listening experience. If you'd rather get out on Bellingham Bay, you can bring your own paddle craft or explore rental options through the Community Boating Center.