Bikes, beats and brews: Bellingham’s unique Northwest Tune-Up Festival returns this weekend

Uniquely is a Bellingham Herald series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in Northwest Washington so special.

The third annual Northwest Tune-Up Festival is back at Bellingham’s waterfront from Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14, with live music, craft beer and biking.

“NWTU [Northwest Tune-Up Festival] is known for music discovery, legendary performances, and most importantly, as a big, ol’ block party in Downtown Bellingham. The festival has evolved year-after-year in response to our community,” Hunter Motto, the festival’s music director, wrote in a news release.

The festival announced its full concert lineup back in April , along with two new concert stages with free music for this year’s festival.

Here is your guide to attending this year’s festival:

Northwest Tune-Up tickets

Tickets are still available for the festival this weekend. This year, the festival also introduced a music-only admission ticket for those who only want to attend the live music portion of the festival.

Tickets are available online in advance and range from $65-$130:

▪ 3-day adult pass: $165

▪ 3-day youth pass (ages 13-17): $60

▪ 3-day children pass (ages 12 and under): $0, but must attend with a ticketed adult.

▪ 1-day adult pass: $80

▪ 1-day youth pass: $35

▪ 1-day children pass: $0 with a ticketed adult.

▪ Music only 1-day pass (all ages): $59

VIP tickets are also available and range from $40-$250 and include access to a VIP-only bar, shaded lounge, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and more.

Parking can also be purchased along with tickets for an additional $20 per day.

For those wishing to spend the night, van and trailer parking is available for $250 for the whole weekend.

Live music lineup

The mainstage music lineup includes:

▪ The Lil Smokies - 6 p.m. Friday

▪ Petty or Not - 7 p.m. Friday

▪ Indigo De Souza - 8 p.m. Friday

▪ Yonder Mountain String Band - 9:25 p.m. Friday

▪ Protoje meets Tippy I - 6 p.m. Saturday

▪ Magic Sword - 7 p.m. Saturday

▪ Emancipator - 8 p.m. Saturday

▪ Lupe Fiasco - 9:25 p.m. Saturday

▪ The Moondoggies - 5 p.m. Sunday

▪ Saxsquatch - 6 p.m. Sunday

▪ Dengue Fever - 7 p.m. Sunday

▪ RJD2 - 9:25 p.m. Sunday

These concerts on the “Rainier Tune Town Stage” are free and do not require an admission ticket:

▪ Serafima & The Shakedowns - 3 p.m. Saturday

▪ Grizzly Troubadour - 4 p.m. Saturday

▪ Analog Brass - 5 p.m. Saturday

▪ Kian Dye - 2 p.m. Sunday

▪ Checker Bloom - 3 p.m. Sunday

▪ Andy Bunn Trio - 4 p.m. Sunday

Biking activities

For the bike enthusiasts coming to the festival, here’s what activities and events you can enjoy throughout the weekend:

▪ Outdoor Research Galbraith Mountain Enduros

▪ Bike demos

▪ Transition Bikes kids clinics

▪ Transition Bikes intro to mountain biking clinics

▪ Transition Bikes intro to skinnies clinics

▪ Shifting Gears x Wild Rye women’s ride

▪ Transition Bikes jumping and cornering clinics

▪ Airbag jump session

▪ Zero gravity bike shows

Featured breweries

The festival will be serving beer from 21 breweries:

▪ Boundary Bay Brewery

▪ Aslan Brewing Co.

▪ Stemma Brewing Co.

▪ Wander Brewing

▪ Stones Throw Brewery

▪ Kulshan Brewing Company

▪ Icicle Brewing Company

▪ Bellingham Cider Company

▪ District Brewing Co.

▪ Otherlands Beer

▪ Lost Giants Cider Company

▪ Structures Brewing

▪ El Suenito Brewing Company

▪ Larrabee Lager Company

▪ Bale Breaker Brewing Company

The NW Tune-Up festival is open for all ages and is at 1145 Granary Ave. in Bellingham.