Strings and Things: a look back ahead of the third annual festival

The third annual Strings and Things International Music Festival returns July 11 at Lighthouse Marine Park. 

Though it is the third official festival, its roots stretch back to free community concerts, where live music was enjoyed by friends and neighbors.

Strings and Things has evolved every year, and with each iteration has come excitement, new challenges and an ever-growing community of attendees and supporters.

“Each year really was its own roller coaster. For better or worse, putting on an event like this in Point Roberts is like cracking clues in a very complicated scavenger hunt,” organizers Breeda Desmond and Mike Bell wrote in an email to the All Point Bulletin.

They described the first year in 2024 as an experiment. 

“Seeing it all come together, with people dancing and genuinely enjoying themselves, was exhilarating and motivating,” they said. 

The second year, 2025, brought hope, excitement and support from Whatcom County Tourism in the form of a grant. 

Nerves set in, however, “when new U.S. imposed tariffs created tension at the border,” Desmond and Bell said. 

“We were genuinely worried our Canadian neighbors wouldn’t come down, and were tempted to pull the plug,” they said. “But we took the leap, pushed through with perseverance and heavy marketing, and in the end, we were thrilled with how 2025 turned out.”

Before the first two official years, there were three years of free beach shows that just featured Mike Bell’s band, The Whiskeydicks, who still play at Strings and Things every year. 

Friends and neighbors would help dig out a makeshift stage, lay down plywood and they plugged the sound system into a cabin outlet. In 2021 about 100 people showed up to watch, but the audience grew to around 400 in 2023. These shows were held on Maple Beach at the border marker.

It’s that sense of community that’s special, according to the organizers.

“My favorite thing is taking a moment to look around and seeing pure joy on people’s faces — watching them dance, laugh and hang out with their friends and families,” Desmond said. “AI can’t do that!”

Bell agreed.

“I’ve played a lot of music festivals, but there’s something unmatched about the joy I’ve seen at this festival,” Bell said. “I’ve heard the same kind of feedback from other musicians and crew, so I know I’m not the only one who feels this.”

The lineup this year is eclectic, ranging from Celtic to Latin to bluegrass to bhangra and more. Six bands will be featured: Delhi2Dublin, The Whiskeydicks, Locarno, The Living Orchestra, Sweater Weather String Band, and Gabriel Wheaton “The Red Fiddler.” 

New this year is the location.

“Lighthouse Park was always a dream venue. While it’s extremely complicated to host a paid event there — for reasons ranging from permitting to cost to building out the necessary infrastructure — it’s breathtakingly beautiful, it belongs to the community, and it’s already a space people love and enjoy,” the organizers said.

They continued: “Our event is about inclusivity and community, and we’ve been open to any vendors willing to participate. There’s a lot of space at Lighthouse, allowing for more attendees and vendors. Despite the challenges, it really felt like a now‑or‑never opportunity.”

Tickets are available in three admission tiers and price points. 

General admission is $50 per ticket, VIP tickets are $85 and Patron Program tickets are $150.

Children 12 and under are $5. 

VIP tickets are limited and can only be used by patrons who are 21 or older. VIP includes access to the VIP tent, private bar service, proximity to stage and more. 

The Patron Program ticket includes access to a Patron event on July 10 at the Point Roberts Golf and Country Club. Patron ticket holders will enjoy an intimate concert with Gabriel Wheaton “The Red Fiddler,” followed by the Sweater Weather String Band, along with surprise musical guests. 

Find more information and buy tickets at stringsandthingsmusicfestival.com/tickets.