WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The weekend’s weather forecast for Whatcom County is clear and cold, which means one thing for skiers and snowboarders: bluebird skies.

The Mount Baker Ski area has a base of 96 inches at Heather Meadows and 117 inches at the top of Pan Dome, and with mostly sunny skies forecast on the slopes, the riding should be spectacular.

If you are a first-timer or just need to rent gear, the Mt. Baker Ski Area rents all the gear you need, but you can also rent right here in Bellingham. Backcountry Essentials and Yeager’s Sporting Goods will set you up. You can also swing by the Glacier Ski Shop on your way up the mountain.

Fans of trivia have plenty of options around Bellingham, but there is a very special themed trivia event on Friday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Fountain District. Menace Brewing has teamed up with Bellingham SeaFeast for Ocean Trivia Night.

The event will raise awareness and money for orca conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Menace brewed a special Oyster Stout for the occasion. They describe it as “extremely dark with flavor that boasts chocolate and coffee notes with a smooth, creamy and noticeably briny finish.” Their Oyster Stout is award-winning though, so we will just describe it as “delicious.”

There is a $5 buy-in per team for Ocean Trivia with prizes for the winners.

For all the visual art lovers out there, this weekend is your last chance to check out Color and Line: An Exploration by Three NW Artists, featuring works by Johannes Kunst, David Syre and Renee Noelle Cheesman. If you like your art bright, vibrant and thought-provoking, you do not want to miss it. Much of the work is on sale too, so it is a great chance to support local artists.

The Cordata Gallery is hosting a closing reception for Color and Line on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission to the gallery and reception is free. Go to cordatagallery.com for all the details.

Let’s talk brunch, shall we? This Sunday, Jan. 26 from 8 to 11 a.m. the Hotel Leo is hosting Sunday Jazz Brunch. The menu features items like Norwegian benedict, stuffed French toast and steak and eggs. You can even pair your food with a tasty mimosa or bellini to start the day off right. If you cannot make it down this weekend, fear not. The Hotel Leo hosts Jazz Brunch every Sunday so you can make it a weekly tradition.

Other Sunday brunch options around Whatcom County include Rustlers Front Street Bar and Grill in Lynden and The Score in Ferndale. Both of those fine establishments serve up delicious brunch and breakfast fare along with amazing cocktails, beer and wine.

Our featured live show this week is actually a festival. The 2025 Bellingham Folk Festival kicked off on Thursday, Jan. 22 and runs through Sunday with jam sessions, workshops and concerts. Local and touring acts will grace audiences with everything from Celtic music to American string traditions to bluegrass and beyond. There are over 60 events scheduled at venues across the city.

We could not possibly cover all the musicians and storytellers performing but here is a taste of what you can expect.

The Sweater Weather String Band blends honky-tonk, indie rock and Celtic influences to create a sound that combines the Pacific Northwest bluegrass tradition with folk traditions from around the world. They will perform at 9 p.m. Friday night at The Shakedown along with Lucy London.

Most of the Bellingham Folk Festival shows are free or by donation, but you will need to buy tickets to some of the performances and workshops. For a full schedule of the events, you can download the free festival app or visit their website at thebellinghamfolkfestival.com.

Listen to this week’s Lifestyle Lookout segment below and every Friday on the KGMI Morning News: