The Portal, with the ‘raddest beer garden in the PNW,’ reopens May 3; what’s new this year?
One of Bellingham’s most popular waterfront summer spots, The Portal Container Village, is opening for its summer season Friday, May 3, and has new features this year.
The Portal is known for a beloved beer garden, Kulshan Brewing Co.’s Trackside, that was named “The Raddest Beer Garden in the Pacific Northwest,” by Forbes magazine, according to a news release from the brewery.
Along with Trackside, The Portal also is full of food trucks, a bike pump track, Portal Putt mini golf, Sun-E-Land Bikes rentals, restaurants and an ice cream shop. The Portal also has added a second shipping container storefront that welcomes rotating artists, entrepreneurs and businesses this year.
What else is new at The Portal?
Back in June 2023, The Portal announced it would be adding two new shipping containers to its village: Bin 13 Wine Bar and Zeek’s Pizza.
Bin 13 Wine Bar will not open May 3, but plans to open as soon as possible with exciting offerings, according to owner Ryan Aarstol.
“We will have great wines, wine cocktails, ciders/squeeze and some beers. We will have service at the container, with seating around the container, within our fenced area. We are in the permitting process for the deck above the container which we think will be very popular for folks,” Aarstol wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Bin 13 Wine Bar updates will be posted on the business’ Facebook page.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, Zeek’s Pizza, Our Kitchen, The Selkie Scoop Ice Cream and Rain or Shine Riviera Club will have their own shipping container restaurants, along with five food trucks at The Portal. Whether you’re craving fish and chips, tacos, sandwiches or pizza, The Portal will have something for everyone.
The Portal announced its food truck lineup back in March:
▪ New Public Creative Vegan Food Truck
Kulshan Brewing is also bringing new events to its Trackside beer garden this season, starting with a season-opening celebration Friday. The event includes live music from “Mackinaw Cruiser” at 6 p.m., followed by a live DJ from 8 to 10 p.m. The event is open for all ages and is dog friendly.
Kulshan Brewing is also hosting its “Beer Prom” at Trackside this year, a ticketed event and fundraiser for Lydia Place, a nonprofit striving to end family homelessness. The 21-and-over event will take place June 1 and includes beer collaborations, a live big band, live DJ, costume context, food trucks and photo booth. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased online in advance.
The Portal also announced a new Pike Place-inspired market is in the works, hoping to be open year-round starting spring 2025.
The many businesses at The Portal have differing operating hours. Kulshan Brewing Trackside will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday until Memorial Day, May 27. After May 27, Kulshan will be open daily.
The Portal Container Village is at 296 W Laurel St. in Bellingham.
