Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events And Festivals
Seattle is a place that likes to celebrate and party, and it seems the people here will use virtually any excuse to do so. Festivals and special events are held throughout the year, and just about every culture is celebrated. The city is not afraid of sexuality or its bawdy side, either—there are festivals that celebrate burlesque (Moisture Festival) and the erotic (Erotic Arts Festival). Some festivals include plenty of nakedness as well, such as the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade that is full of painted, nude participants. If that’s not enough for you, you can head to Snoqualmie, where Nudestock is held every August. This one-day nudist festival is not listed here, as it’s outside Seattle, but if you want to learn more about it, go to www.fraternitysnoqualmie.com/nudestock.html.
Of course, all the major holidays are celebrated, and plenty of festivals center on food, music, or movies—favorite festival themes anywhere. This being Puget Sound, several festivals are focused or take place on the water. The small neighborhood and cultural festivals are great ways to get a real sense of place in Seattle, and to get to know its inhabitants better. If you are here between June and August, you can’t miss Seafair, the annual summer celebration that features dozens of events all over town.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
2. Seattle Boat Show
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 634-0911
Description: Seattle’s premier show for boating is held from the end of Jan through early Feb each year. Highlights include appearances by famous sailors, explorers, adventurers, and other boaters, as well as contests, more than 400 exhibitors of various types of boats and services, and the world’s largest toy boat collection on display. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for ages 11–17 (10 and under are free). A five-day pass can be purchased for $24, and all online orders include a day of free parking and one-year magazine subscription.
3. Seattle Chamber Music Society Winter Festival
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 283-8808
Description: The Seattle Chamber Music Society has presented its Winter Festival for more than 30 years. The festival consists of four main concerts, three preconcert recitals, a family concert, and a preview lecture. Ticket prices range from $8 for the family concert to $45, and three- and four-concert packages from $115.
4. Mardi Gras
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Mardi Gras is definitely celebrated in Seattle. The main event is held on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday in early Feb. Pioneer Square gets rowdy with a party that spills from the bars and restaurants into the streets. A Spam-Carving Contest adds a quirky touch, and there are also mambo contests and carnival-style events. Seattleites still remember the 2001 celebration, however, when things got out of hand and turned into a riot. Chaos consumed Pioneer Square and one man was mortally wounded before police dispelled the crowds.
5. Northwest Flower & Garden Show
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (253) 756-2121
Address: 800 Convention Place (Central)
Description: This annual floral funfest is six acres of inspiring gardens, many thousands of flowers and plants, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 350 garden-related exhibits. Internationally known speakers who have presented at the show include Suzy Bales, Rich Darke, John Greenlee, and Valerie Easton. Other attractions include the Sproutopia children’s area, the handiwork of high school horticulture students in the Funky Junk display, floral display competitions, and a container-garden exhibition. Held on a Wed through Sun in early Feb; admission is $20 at the door and $16 in advance, with discounts for youth, groups, and half-day tickets. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
6. Tet Festival—Vietnamese Lunar New Year
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 706-2658
Description: Vietnamese culture and traditions come together at this festival, to reflect on the past and celebrate the renewal of life. This annual Lunar New Year celebration welcomes the return of spring and chases out evil winter spirits with a traditional roaring lion dance and firecrackers. Wear your gold and red, the royal colors of Vietnam, and come eat Pho noodle soup, spring rolls, rice cakes, and shrimp pancakes while you enjoy the celebration and performances. The festival features mixes of professional performers and talented local artists. Attendees will also have a chance to explore and immerse in Vietnam’s culture through workshops, visual art exhibits, and hands-on children’s activities. Free.
7. Best Of The Northwest
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 525-5926
Description: The Best of the Northwest art shows happen several times a year, with the first in Mar. This juried show will feature more than 110 regional artists spanning every medium—great garden art, fine paintings, beautiful artist-designed clothing and jewelry, glass, wood, metal, ceramic, and more. Spend the day enjoying the art, music, and tasty food! Free event; plenty of free parking.
8. Emerald City Comicon
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 694-5000
Description: The premier comic book and pop culture convention in the Pacific Northwest features a wide array of activities and programming including industry guests, various discussion panels, celebrity signings and photo opportunities, prize drawings, and costume contests. It features a large exhibit hall with comics retailers from across the Northwest, bringing a large stock of modern and vintage comics, as well as statues, action figures, models, and other items of interest to comic collectors.
9. Irish Festival
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 427-3027
Description: Held around St. Patrick’s Day, this is a weekend of nonstop Irish music, dancing, children’s activities, Irish genealogy and Irish language workshops, cultural exhibits, short films, and many booths selling Irish and Celtic products. Events for children include the Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest and the Most Irish-Looking Face Contest, and other activities in the children’s activities center. Wear green, white, and orange to get in the spirit, and munch on traditional Irish stew and delicious homemade scones with jam and cream. Presented by the Irish Heritage Club. Free.
10. Moisture Festival
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 297-1405
Description: The Moisture Festival is a gathering and celebration of burlesque, comedy, and variety performance, including aerialists, jugglers, bubble acts, can-can girls, and more, to keep the tradition of vaudeville alive. Since 2004 the Moisture Festival has presented this exhilarating form of theater to celebrate spring. Most shows are held at Hale’s Palladium, 4301 Leary Way NW, or the ACT Contemporary Theatre downtown at 7th and Union. Tickets are $5–$25, and several shows at the festival are always performed as benefits, with the performers donating their talents and the proceeds going to nonprofit organizations.
11. St. Patrick’S Day Parade
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 427-3027
Description: This traditional celebration parade for St. Patrick travels north on 4th Avenue, from Jefferson to Seattle Center. The parade is held in conjunction with the Irish Festival, and during the parade and festival the monorail is free between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Bagpipes, bands, schools, and clubs march along Seattle’s downtown streets; you can view a parade route on the Web site. Free.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
14. Langston Hughes African American Film Festival
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 684-4758
Description: This annual event provides provocative films from independent black filmmakers and works about the African American experience. The festival features panel discussions, screenplay readings, matinee screenings for middle and high school youth, and in-depth chats with filmmakers, industry professionals, and local community leaders. The festival began in 2004 as a weekend series and has grown to nine days of film, workshops, filmmaker events, and community celebrations. Films are selected from entries screened by panels, and curated from current and vintage offerings worldwide. Individual screening/event tickets cost from $10 to $20 depending on the event.
15. National Film Festival For Talented Youth
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (206) 905-8400
Description: Over a four-day weekend in late Apr and/or early May, the NFFTY presents the largest and most influential film festivals for young filmmakers, ages 22 and under. Brought to you by the same people who put on the Seattle International Film Festival, NFFTY includes more than 150 film screenings as well as filmmaking panels, concerts by youth bands, and opportunities for young filmmakers to network with industry professionals. Most screenings are held at the SIFF Cinema at 321 Mercer St., or the Experience Music Project theater at 325 5th Ave. Individual film tickets can be purchased for $10 each, tickets to the Opening Night Gala for $50, single-day passes for $20, and three-day festival passes for $50–$75.