ABOUT NOISY WATERS

World-renowned muralists gather in Bellingham, WA for a weekend of mural painting, demos, music, parties, workshops and inspiration.  In 2025, we anticipate more than  8,000 attendees to join the festival for a friendly art competition, in which muralists will have three days to paint 8’x’8’ portable walls on public display for the community to enjoy. Attendees will vote for their favorites and the top three winners will receive cash contracts to paint large murals in Bellingham. In addition, Noisy Waters hosts the Indigeversal Collective- a collaborative mural installation led and produced by First Nation Artists from across North America. 

Bellingham is nestled in Whatcom County. The word “Whatcom” is derived from the Lhaq'temish word Xwot'qom, which translates to “noisy water.” This festival aims to make noise in Bellingham by hosting a confluence of vibrant muralists and artists.

Noisy Waters Mural Festival is produced by Paper Whale, a Bellingham-based non-profit cultural accelerator dedicated to activating underutilized spaces by uplifting voices through art and culture.  We co-create Noisy Waters on Coast Salish Land, the home of the Lummi and Nooksack people, and this event is dedicated to the first inhabitants of this place.