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| Island Ferry |
JanuarySeattle International Boat Show (206-634-0911); http://www.seattleboatshow.com Located in the Stadium Exhibition Center this is one of the biggest national shows with more that 1,500 boats of every style and size on display. Mid-January.
FebruaryChinatown/International District Lunar New Year Celebration (206-382-1197) http://www.cidbia.org Located in the International District the date changes each year according to the lunar calendar. A multicultural celebration featuring unique Asian-inspired arts & crafts, local businesses, and community organizations.
Northwest Flower and Garden Show (800-229-6311) http://www.gardenshow.com Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Six acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 300 exhibits all strictly related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners. Early to mid-February 2-20-08/2-24-08
MarchIrish week Festival http://www.irishclub.org Seattle Center Seattle and Ireland have a lot in common, which is perhaps why Seattle and Galway are Sister Cities. Seattle's Irish community has always celebrated St. Patrick's day, and at this two-day festival enjoy music, dancing, art, crafts and all things pertaining to Irish Culture. Mid-March.
AprilSkagit Valley Tulip Festival (877-875-2448) http://www.tulipfestival.org La Connor, WA. A rainbow of color in blooming tulip fields 60 miles north of Seattle with food plane rides and entertainment as well as bunches of flower to take home with you. April 1-30th 2007
Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival (206-684-7200) http://www.seattlecenter.com Seattle Center. Traditional Japanese spring festival includes dance and music, colorful costumes, martial arts, tea ceremonies and entertaining educational activities. Kids have fun in Center House with toys, games, kite making and kimono dress-up. Immerse yourselves in Japanese culture at this authentic celebration of centuries-old traditions. Mid- to late April.
MayOpening Day of Boating Season (206-325-1000) Lake Union and Lake Washington. A Parade of everything from kayaks to yachts celebrating the first official day of boating season. First Saturday in May.
Seattle Maritime Festival (206-728-3000) http://www.portseattle.org/portland/events/default.htm The Celebration begins on the Bell Street Pier (Pier 66) and centers around the annual tugboat races in the Port of Seattle. Early May.
Seattle International Film Festival (206-324-9997) "http://www.seattlefilm.com Check the website for tickets, information and schedule. New foreign and independent films are screened over a several week period. Show case of culture and art of the moving image through filmmaking and film going experiences of exceptional merit and diversity that inform, educate and entertain. Mid-May to mid-June
Northwest Folklife Festival (206-684-7300) http://www.nwfolklife.org The largest folk festival in the country it is the annual free climactic celebration of year-round ethnic, folk, and traditional arts activities produced by Northwest Folklife. Artists from the Pacific Northwest along with special guests from throughout the world create an ethnic extravaganza embracing music and dance performances, visual arts and folklore exhibits, hands-on ethnic children's activities, symposia, dance and music workshops, crafts, food, imported goods, demonstrations of traditional arts, and more!
Pike Place Market Festival (206-587-0351) A celebration of the market, with lots of free entertainment. Memorial Day weekend.
Seattle International Children's Festival (206-684-7346) www.seattleinternational.org Located in the Seattle Center this is a festival that celebrates world cultures through performing arts and features a special performance created just for toddlers, Somali rap for teens, circus arts that adults will love, and something for all ages in-between. Mid- to late May.
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| Seattle Night Sky |
JuneFremont Fair (206-633-4409) wwwfremontfair.com A celebration of the summer solstice and the best of our community: art, spirit, sharing, celebration and working together to help each other. During Fair weekend, people from all walks of life come together to shop, eat, drink, perform, smile, dance, run, converse, debate, groove and parade. Third weekend in June.
JulyFourth of Jul-Ivar's Fireworks (206-587-6500) http://www.ivars.net Myrtle Edwards Park, Fireworks over Elliott Bay. July 4th
Washington Mutual Family Fourth at Lake Union (206-281-7788) Lake Union Seattle's other main Fourth of July fireworks display. July 4th
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival (206-382-2628) http://www.cwb.org Center for Wooden Boats on Lake Union. Featured are wooden boats, both old and new from all over the Northwest. Races, demonstrations, food and entertainment. July 4th Weekend
Bite of Seattle (206-232-2982) wwwbiteofseattle.com The Bite is held at Seattle Center and features over 100 food booths, 4 beer gardens, 7 outdoor entertainment stages with local and national entertainment, the http://www.biteofseattle.com/ent/kids/default.aspx Family Fun Zone, http://www.biteofseattle.com/ent/comedy/default.aspx Comedy Club, http://www.biteofseattle.com/ent/piano/default.aspx Vines of Washington, http://www.biteofseattle.com/home/featured/default.aspx "bitecooks" The Bite Cooks!, and many delicious charitable fundraisers.
SeaFair (206-728-0123) http://www.seafair.com The biggest Seattle event of the year is a month-long, region-wide barbecue, that brings an entire community together in celebration. For 56 years SEAFAIR has been about community events, parades, Miss SEAFAIR, the Navy and Coast Guard, amateur athletics, airplanes and of course, boat racing. There are more than 5,000 SEAFAIR volunteers, hundreds of thousand of spectators who come out for the parades and hydroplane races, thousands more that participate in the half marathon, torchlight run and triathlon and the youth who participate in the Miss SEAFAIR Scholarship. Events take place allover Seattle early July to early August.
AugustChief Seattle Days (360-598-3311) at Suquamish tribal headquarters. Celebration of Northwest Native American culture across Puget Sound and the namesake of Seattle Chief Sealth. Third weekend in August
SeptemberBumbershoot, the Seattle Arts Festival (206-281-8111) http://www.bumbershoot.org At the Seattle Center and other venues, this is one of Seattle's largest festivals and pays tribute to Seattle's famous music scene. Arts and crafts are on display and surrounded by tasty food booth but center stage and several other stages are filled with all types of new music to try out. Labor Day weekend.
Seattle Fringe Festival (206-342-9172) www.seattlefringe.org Various venues. Avant-garde, experimental and otherwise uncategorizable theater performances from a variety of companies. Late September
OctoberSalmon Days Festival (425-392-0061) Located in Issaquah, just 15 miles east of Seattle, this festival celebrates the yearly return of the spawning salmon with small town charm. First full weekend in October.
Elliott's Oyster New Year (206-623-4340) Elliott's Oyster House, Seattle. Summer months are not the best time for oysters but as fall arrives along with cooler weather so does the bounty of oysters. Oyster lovers are invited to slurp down more than two dozen different types at Elliott's on Pier 56. Late October or early November.
NovemberSeattle Marathon (206-729-3660) www.seattlemarathon.org
Hard to believe that a city famous for being built on so many hills would have a turn out for a marathon but every year more people show up with their running shoes on. First Sunday after Thanksgiving.
DecemberAT&T New Year's at the Needle (206-443-2100) People gather around the icon of Seattle to usher in the new year with fireworks and friends. The Space Needle is surrounded and when midnight strikes it lights up. Picture Times Square, Seattle style.
December 31st.
