It’s ‘going to become a legendary festival someday,’ mayor says of this biking celebration

The first Northwest Tune-Up Festival showcased Bellingham’s mountain biking and the mayor hopes it will continue.

The event hosted several thousand people over the three-day event Friday-Sunday, July 8-10, according to a news release from the organizers.

Arin Phillips, a visitor from Nashville, said it was a really unique festival.

Mayor Seth Fleetwood attended the festival on Saturday and said it was a great festival he hopes will continue.

“I thought it was a great first year and I know so many people who had a great time,” Fleetwood said in an email interview. “I think this is going to become a legendary festival someday. There are just too many things going for it. It was sort of a perfect first festival. There is an opportunity now to review and reflect and identify all the ways we can learn from it and make it even better.”

The festival was held by Bellingham-based Tune-Up Events LLC near Waypoint Park on the waterfront. The company is run by Brandon Watts and Eric Brown. Brown is also executive director of the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and Watts runs Freehub Media.

The festival featured live music, beer tasting from over 20 local breweries and cideries and bike shows. While the festival included music and beer tasting, mountain biking was the feature attraction.

Bike demos and expos were showcased throughout the event with bike competitions open for riders of all ages. Events included bike tours of the city, bike races, scavenger hunts and trail rides. The event also featured over 50 exhibitors where attendees could see the latest gear, clothing, bikes and accessories from bike and outdoor brands, according to the press release.

The biggest bike trail event went along Galbraith trail that provides access to the Cedar Dust Jump and Skills Park. Festival partners helped provide an array of bikes for attendees to use including traditional mountain bikes and electric bikes.

Along with the bike events, live music played across the festival from two stages. Local bands from all over the Pacific Northwest entertained residents between bike expos and beer tasting. Headliners included The Dip, Allah Las, Wolf Parade, Cut Chemist with Chali 2na and PJ Morton.

“My favorite part was finding new music and bands,” visitor Phillips said.

Although there were many events for attendees, there were a few logistical complications during the first year of the festival.

John Phillips, another visitor from Nashville, said the festival was a bit sparse on people but he enjoyed it overall.

“On the first day, they had spaced the event out for tons and tons of people,” John Phillips said. “They reorganized for the second day and moved some barriers around.”

Some Bellingham residents were unhappy with the blockades around the waterfront neighborhood, but Mayor Fleetwood said the city is going to work to reduce those problems.

“We host many events that draw people to our area and to our neighborhoods, to recreate, celebrate, enjoy our beautiful surroundings, and support our local economy,” Fleetwood said. “We hope to use the year ahead to examine how to reduce disruption to others, but meanwhile the benefits and joys of the event in my mind outweighed temporary inconveniences.”