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Concert Information

Whether you’re a first time symphony-goer or a long-time symphony supporter, we have a few tips to help you enjoy the experience!

Concert FAQs and Health & Safety Guidelines

For general information about our season and concerts please see our Events Page.

When is the Box Office open?

Due to limited box office availability, we encourage our patrons to take advantage of the Mount Baker Theatre website to order tickets.

The Mount Baker Theatre Box Office is open for in-person and phone orders Monday through Friday from 10:00AM – 2:00PM or until showtime on days with ticketed events. The Box Office opens two hours prior to our concerts. For more information, visit the Mount Baker Theatre website or call (360) 734-6080.

Where do the concerts take place?

Most BSO concerts take place in the Mount Baker Theatre, located at 104 North Commercial Street in the center of the  Arts District of Bellingham. For more information about visiting the Mount Baker Theatre, please visit the MBT website at www.mountbakertheatre.com.

Where do I park for a concert?

Street parking is available for free on Sundays and after 6PM on weekdays and Saturdays. Concert-goers may also park at no cost in the nearby Commercial Street Parking Garage on Sundays and after 6PM on weekdays and Saturdays. The Commercial Street Parking Garage has accessible access with an elevator to floors 2 through 5.

What time does the Theatre open?

For our concerts at the Mount Baker Theatre, doors to the lobby open at 2PM.

What do I wear to a BSO concert?

The Bellingham Symphony Orchestra is your community’s orchestra. We encourage anyone attending our events to wear what they feel comfortable wearing.

How do I learn more about the music?

Most BSO concerts (not including Holiday Magic!) are accompanied by a pre-concert lecture about the program. These lectures are free for ticket-holders, but seating is limited, so be sure to arrive when doors open at 2PM. Lectures begin at 2:15PM.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive reminder emails about upcoming concerts, featuring information about the program, interesting videos, and links to relevant articles.

What if I am running late?

Running late? Ushers will guide you to your seat at a suitable break in the performance. Please note: for pieces without breaks between movements, late seating will not be permitted.

What if there is a weather emergency?

In the case of a weather emergency, all ticketholders will be contacted in advance of the scheduled concert start time with updates regarding the performance and, in the event of a cancellation, information for ticketholders regarding ticket exchange options.

What if I have young children?

Wonderful! You know your children best. We encourage you to use your best judgment in deciding whether or not to bring young children to a performance. Concerts can be a challenging setting for younger children—they can be long, the space is dark, and there isn't room to move around.

Bringing young people to the concert hall is a wonderful way to introduce them to orchestral music and live performance, but we know it can be daunting.

Here are a few quick tips from our staff to help for a smoother experience:

• TIP #1: Kid-friendly Seats
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  Every seat in the Theatre is a kid-friendly seat, and we encourage parents to use their own discretion when choosing where to sit with children. That said, there are some seats in the Theatre that offer a little more flexibility for kids with the wiggles!
  
  Here's what our Administrative Coordinator and Bookkeeper, Akilah Williams, suggests for kid-friendly seating:
  
  "When I bring my kids to shows at the Mount Baker Theatre, I like to book seats on the sides of the balcony. That way, if/when my kids need to get up and move, we can easily and quietly exit down the ramp to the upstairs lobby where there are couches and restrooms. Since there aren't any doors to get in and out of the balcony, it makes for a more stress-free entrance and exit. Plus, you can still hear the music from the wings of the balcony even if your little can't sit for the rest of the concert."
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• TIP #2: Bring the Kids to the Dress Rehearsals!
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  We love to see young people at our concerts, but we also realize that it can be difficult for little bodies to sit still for that long. If you have a little who loves the music but needs to get up and groove along, consider joining our Classical Kids Club and bringing them to our Classical Kids Dress Rehearsals.
  
  Here's what our Interim Marketing & Communications Manager, Karen Bailor, has to say about the Dress Rehearsals:
  
  "My little one is less than 1 year old, so it's a lot to take her to the grocery store with me let alone a long concert! I signed her up for the Classical Kids Club so I could create opportunities for her to engage with live orchestral music without creating more stress for mom. The Rehearsals are very casual, and there are activities for the kids in the lobby. Plus, I don't have to worry about her squealing excitedly or needing to crawl around for a bit. The first Dress Rehearsal we attended was for the BSO's Holiday Magic concert, and I will never forget the way her eyes lit up when the orchestra played Sleigh Ride."

Not sure your kiddos are ready for the full concert experience? Good news! Our Classical Kids Club is a fun option for children under the age of 12, which includes invitations to the more casual dress rehearsals (featuring fun activities) and discounted tickets to the concerts when the kids are ready to attend. To learn more about the Classical Kids Club, please click the link above.

Electronic Devices

This is a live performance, so for the enjoyment of all our patrons, we ask that during the performance you please turn off or silence all cell phones or electronic devices, and refrain from texting. Please also make any necessary adjustments to listening devices, and keep in mind that photographs or recordings of any kind are not permitted.

Scent Advisory

Please be considerate of your fellow concertgoers when preparing for your evening out. The Mount Baker Theatre seats over 1500 people per event, so we ask that you please use fragrances sparingly prior to a performance to prevent breathing concerns among patrons with severe allergies and sensitivities. Thank you for understanding!