Western Wednesday - First Night Out! (WInter Edition)
Date: January 7, 2026
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Check in: Crown Plaza Lobby (114 W. Magnolia St., Bellingham)
Bundle up for the winter edition of Western Wednesday: First Night Out. Stroll through downtown Bellingham and enjoy comforting treats, cozy beverages, and Western Wednesday discounts to more than 70 businesses to kick off the first Western Wednesday of the quarter.
- Free WWU Beanie to the first 500 participants, compliments of the Foundation for WWU & Alumni.
- Warm up at a special downtown fire pit just for WWU, brought to you by Fire & Story.
Event Details
5-7 p.m Check in at Bellingham’s Crown Plaza building (114 W. Magnolia St.)
- Receive your free WWU Beanie compliments of the Foundation for WWU and Alumni
- Grab your map of businesses offering discounts and special offers just for WWU students (Bring your ID!)
Stroll through dozens of downtown businesses offering specials all night long just for WWU Vikings.
- Warm up at the Bay Street Fire Pit next to the rocket and meet new friends while listening to live music. (Sponsored by Fire & Story)
What's Western Wednesday
Every Wednesday is Western Wednesday! WWU and the Downtown Bellingham Partnership together encourage students to wear their Viking blue and explore downtown every Wednesday where more than 70 businesses and community partners offer discounts to WWU students, faculty, and staff. Just show your WWU ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
Just yourself, your WWU ID, and your friends. A water bottle might come in handy and comfy shoes wouldn’t hurt either.
This is Bellingham, baby! We play rain or shine.
Public Transit
If your legs aren’t yet conditioned for Bellingham’s hills, consider taking the bus! WTA (Whatcom Transportation Authority) buses depart for WWU from the Downtown Station every 15 minutes until 10:40 p.m. WWU (ridewta.com)
Explore Downtown Bellingham
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AB Crepes (Dining) | 1371 Railroad Ave
15% off all Crepes at WWU + Crepe monster sticker
Allied Arts of Whatcom County (Shopping) | 1213 Cornwall Ave
50% off all purchases of art, school, and office supplies in the Art Supply Thrift Store AND art zine making workshop at 5 p.m. (pay by donation)
Amendment 21 (21+) | 1224 Cornwall Ave
Enjoy Happy Hour specials all night.
Aslan Depot (21+) | 1322 N State St
$10 slice & pint of Aslan beer.
Blue Room (Activities) | 202 E. Holly St #301
FIRST NIGHT OUT AFTER PARTY OPEN JAM: A FREE Open Mic Jam Session. 7 p.m. sign ups begin. 8-11 Open Jam. (All Ages/Bar with ID)
Cheba Hut (Dining) | 306 W Holly St
$1 Hella Shots, holiday and new year arts and crafts, and trivia night from 7-9 with great prizes!
El Capitan's (Dining) | 1201 Cornwall Ave
$5.00 special - Any "Build-your-own" sausage is only $5, tax included. Includes a trip to our World Famous condiment bar.
Fiamma Burger (Dining) | 1309 Railroad Ave
Poutine Mojos for just $4.50 + WWU Weds Discount of a FREE Fiamma Drink with a burger or sandwich purchase!
Fringe Boutique (Shopping) | 201 W Holly St
50% shoes today only + 20% off all merchandise every Western Wednesday.
Horseshoe Cafe (Dining) | 113 E Holly St
$2 coffee (or soda) + $5 Cheesy Fries.
Love From London (Dining) | 1301 Commercial St
20% off each purchase.
Mallard Ice Cream (Dining) | 1323 Railroad Ave
Free mini hot cocoa + 20% off scoops.
Neko Cat Cafe (Activities) | 1130 Cornwall Ave
25% off a cat room visit PLUS any WWU student who books a session with the kitties will receive a FREE beanie from a few select choices.
Ochalicious (Dining) | 128 E. Holly St
10% off any product plus a free topping on any drink.
Ono Kitchen & Bar (21+) | 210 E Chestnut St
Western Wednesday Karaoke for 21+ starting at 10 p.m.
Peak Hydration (Self-Care) | 1216 Bay St.
50% off Wellness Shots.
Pickford Film Center (Activities) | 1318 Bay St
Join us for a special "Marty Supreme" table tennis tournament at our Bay St. location + free popcorn every Wednesday.
Pure Bliss Desserts (Dining) | 1424 Cornwall Ave
20% off individual desserts every Western Wednesday.
Pye Hole (Dining) | 200 E Chestnut St
Free ranch + our regular WWU Wednesday discount of $1 off any slice (limit 2 slices). Use code WWUWEDS at the kiosk to get your WWU discount!
Red Star Taco Bar (21+) | 1327 N State St
Well drink for $4, or a well shot and a beer for $6, plus happy hour food all night - every Wednesday!
Ritual Records (Shopping) | 115 E Magnolia St
10% off your purchase!
Rock & Rye Oyster House (Dining) | 1145 N State St
$14 Fish + Chips, $15 Gourmet Burger + Fries, $9 Poutine, $9 Select Craft Cocktails.
Senor Lopez (Dining) | 1200 Cornwall Ave
20% off your total bill.
Sweet as Waffles (Dining) | 122 E Magnolia St
10% off a waffle, $1 off a shot.
The Racket Bar and Pinball Lounge (21+) | 1220 N State St
$2 off any drink, 15% off food.
Third Planet Boutique (Shopping) | 200 W Holly St
20% off entire purchase!
Whatcom Museum - The Lightcatcher (Activities) | 250 Flora St
Stop by the Lightcatcher building for free admission, extended hours, and crafts for local students. Visit between 5 – 7 pm to see the current exhibition myself inside your story and create clay magnets inspired by Io Palmer's installation, Meander. This event is FREE with your college ID. Don't miss out!
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Special Events
Fire & Story Winter Festival: Warm up at the fire pit next to the downtown rocket, presented by Fire & Story - Bellingham's annual winter festival featuring massive firepits, storytelling, music, entertainment and more. WWU students receive 50% off this week only. Use code WESTERNISFIRE at fireandstory.com.
Buskers: Buskers are performing throughout downtown from 5-7 p.m. for WWU students. Look for the music notes on the map. Want more music? Join the Blue Room All-ages Open Jam starting at 7 p.m.
Map Overview
This map shows the downtown Bellingham area with numbered locations (1-27) indicating participating businesses for First Night Out. The map is oriented with Prospect Street running diagonally from southwest to northeast, and includes major streets such as:
- Cornwall Avenue (running diagonally through the center)
- Railroad Avenue (parallel to Cornwall)
- Holly Street (East and West)
- Magnolia Street
- Commercial Street
- State Street (North)
- Bay Street
- Chestnut Street
Key landmarks shown include the Crown Plaza Building (marked in blue) and WTA Downtown N Station (marked in blue). Two locations are marked with flame icons indicating busker performance locations (numbers 6 and 7). The downtown rocket location is marked with a flame icon near location 27.
Numbered Business Locations
The following businesses are marked on the map with their corresponding numbers:
- AB Crepes (Railroad Avenue area)
- Allied Arts of Whatcom County (E. Holly Street)
- Amendment 21 (E. Holly Street)
- Aslan Depot (Cornwall/Railroad area)
- Blue Room (E. Holly Street)
- Cheba Hut (W. Holly Street - Busker location)
- El Capitan's (Cornwall Avenue - Busker location)
- Fiamma Burger (Railroad Avenue)
- Fringe Boutique (Cornwall Avenue)
- Horseshoe Cafe (Commercial/Cornwall area)
- Love From London (Commercial Street)
- Mallard Ice Cream (Railroad Avenue)
- Neko Cat Cafe (Cornwall Avenue)
- Ochalicious (E. Holly Street)
- Ono Kitchen & Bar (E. Chestnut Street)
- Peak Hydration (Bay Street)
- Pickford Film Center (Bay Street)
- Pure Bliss Desserts (Cornwall Avenue)
- Pye Hole (E. Chestnut Street)
- Red Star Taco Bar (N. State Street)
- Ritual Records (Magnolia Street)
- Rock & Rye Oyster House (E. Chestnut Street)
- Senor Lopez (Railroad Avenue)
- Sweet as Waffles (Magnolia Street)
- The Racket Bar and Pinball Lounge (N. State Street)
- Third Planet Boutique (Cornwall Avenue)
- Whatcom Museum - The Lightcatcher (Flora Street)
For more information: 60+ downtown businesses offer discounts every Western Wednesday for WWU. Scan the QR code or visit downtownbellingham.com/welcome-wwu to view the most up-to-date deals.
