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Top Summer Seattle Festivals

Seattle is known for many things. The location, sitting in the middle of mountains, evergreen forests and water make it a nature lovers paradise. Being home to tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon make it a young and cutting edge metropolis. And the cities love of coffee, craft beer, good food and music make it a haven for foodies. But one of the things we love the most about the Emerald city are the abundance of summer Seattle Festivals.

Although the Pacific Northwest is no longer our full-time home we do return every summer to enjoy all that this beautiful region has to offer. Just take a look at this list and you’ll be bound to agree that Seattle is the place to be in the summer if you’re looking for fabulous gatherings in celebration of food, fun, drink, music and the arts.

Summer Seattle Festivals

June

 

Concerts at the Ballard Locks

May – Sept

FREE concerts on the lawn at the Ballard Locks all summer long. Bring a picnic and enjoy some free music in a beautiful setting.


Washington Brewer’s Festival

Mid June

If your Dad is a beer lover this event makes a great Father’s day gift.  At Washington Brewer’s Festival, you’ll find over 250 beers from breweries all over Washington State along with music and a children’s play area at Marymoor Park in Redmond. The $25 tickets include tastings but there’s also a $5 option for designated drivers.


Seattle International Dance Festival

June

Ten days of celebrating dance and the arts at this festival around the South Lake Union area. Events will be both indoors and outdoors. Tickets start at $20.


Zoo Tunes at The Woodland Park Zoo

June  (continues through the summer)

World-class artists performing at the Woodland Park Zoo (which is a fabulous zoo btw). Tickets start at $24 and you get one free admission for a child 12 or under per adult.


Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon

Late June

Summer and festivals means lots of fun, food and frivolities so it’s good to balance all that out with some exercise. The popular marathon & half marathon at Seattle Center is a great way to do that.


HONK! Fest West

Early June

A FREE 3-day event of roving performances through Seattle by marching bands, drum corps, samba lines, and anything acoustic and mobile.


Fremont Solstice Parade  

June 21

A crazy parade famous for body painted (but otherwise nude) bicyclists along with other wacky costumed participants. It starts at 2:45PM at 3rd Ave. NW and NW 36th St. and ends at Gas Works Park in a wild festival.


Fremont Fair

Mid June

The Fremont Fair offers art and craft booths, local bands, food vendors, a beer garden, funky painted cars, and a Sunday dog parade. FREE entry.


 Seattle Pride Parade and PrideFest

Late June

Pride Parade starts 11 a.m. at 4th & Union and ends at Seattle Center, site of Seattle PrideFest, largest lesbian, gay, transgender event in the Northwest. FREE event.


JULY

Seafair Summer Fourth  

July 4

Starts at noon in Gas Works Park with family activities, entertainment, a beer garden, and food vendors. Fireworks show is at 10:15 p.m. Event is FREE


Chinatown International District Dragon Festival

Mid July

A street fair including Japanese drumming, Chinese martial arts, Filipino and Indian dancing, and Asian cuisine. It takes place in the International District and is a Free event.


Ballard Seafood Festival

Mid July

A celebration of all things seafood and Scandinavian. Aside from chowing down on delicious fresh seafood you can enjoy a lutefisk-eating contest, music, art, a beer garden and of course Vikings!


Bite of Seattle

Late July

Sample food from 50 restaurants from around Seattle plus watch cooking demos, taste some wine or have a cold beer in the beer gardens while enjoying some live entertainment. Friday is least crowded. Free entry at Seattle Center.


Darrington Bluegrass Festival

Late July

Come for the day or stay and camp the whole weekend and enjoy music, food and fun.


Alki Art Fair

Late July

An art fair near beautiful Alki Beach with arts and crafts and music. FREE event.


Tasting Flight

Late July

Wine tasting at the Woodland Park Zoo, an event that sells out every year. Wines from 30 wineries plus live music, food and of course animals. Tickets start at $28 for 10 tastings.


Capitol Hill Block Party

Late July

A three-day music and arts festival that takes over six city blocks in Capitol Hill. Over 100 acts participate in the big party which draws over 30,000 people. Tickets start at $50.


Seafair Torchlight Parade

Late July

A magical night time parade in the heart of downtown Seattle. FREE event.


August

Seafair Air Show & Hydroplane Races

Early August

The annual Seafair closes with hydroplanes races on Lake Washington and the Boeing Air Show above.


Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire

August weekends

Step back in time with medieval knights, jesters, jousting tournaments and of course giant beer steins and massive turkey legs. Takes place at Bonney Lake.


Seattle Street Food Festival

Early August

A festival full of street food vendors, beer gardens, lounges, live music and a night market. Takes place at Canal Street in Fremont. Entrance is FREE.


Evergreen State Fair

Late August – Early Sept

A traditional state fair filled with farm animals, pigs races, fair food, rides and entertainment. Located in Monroe. Opening day is FREE.


Seattle International Beer Festival

Late August

More than 200 beers to sample including rare hard to find beers from 16 countries plus music and entertainment. This Beerfest takes place at the Fisher Pavilion under the needle at Seattle Center. Tickets start at $25.


Bumbershoot

Last weekend in August (Labour Day weekend)

The best way to end summer and a personal favorite for us at Live, Dream, Discover. This three day festival offers an amazing array of world class musicians, comedians and other performers and artists. Takes place at Seattle Center and tickets start at $55.


How many festivals will you make it to this summer? Every year we aim to do at least six, maybe some year we will make it a goal to hit every one! If we have missed listing your favorite drop us a line, we’d be more than happy to take a look at including it in our line up.


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Seattle Summer Festivals


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