Festivals, Events, and Celebrations

Look here for resources on festivals, events, and celebrations in the Seattle-area and the Northwest.

Culture & Arts Festivals - Community Festivals - Ethnic Festivals - Food Festivals - Maritime & Boating Festivals - Kite Festivals - Children's Festivals - Music Festivals - Film & Video Festivals - Misc. Festivals - State, County & Other Fairs - Rodeos

Culture & Arts Festivals

• Bumbershoot: The Seattle Arts Festival. At the Seattle Center, Labor Day weekend.
• Northwest Folklife Festival. At Seattle Center, Memorial Day weekend.
• Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair. At Bellevue Square and Bellevue Art Museum, last full weekend in July.
• Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival. Held in downtown Gig Harbor, July 16-17, 2005.
• Anacortes Arts Festival. In downtown Anacortes, August 5-7, 2005.
• Trout Lake Festival of the Arts. Juried show features more than 35 artists of the Columbia Gorge. At The Farm B&B in Trout Lake, July 16-17, 2005.
• Westport Art Festival. Juried show of fine arts and crafts, held in Westport, August 20-21, 2005.

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Community Festivals

• Seafair. Seattle's summer community festival, held July 11-August 7, 2005.
• Bremerton Blackberry Festival. Held on the Bremerton Boardwalk, on the first weekend of September.
• Celebrate Woodinville. Also includes the Basset Bash. Next held April 1, 2006.
• Issaquah Salmon Days Festival. October 1-2, 2005.
• Kent Cornucopia Days. Carnival, bluegrass music festival, exhibits, skateboard and inline skate tournaments, soccer tournament, dragon boat races, bike race, fun run, scholarship pageant, parade, and more. Held July 14-17, 2005.
• Aquafest. Held at Lake Stevens, July 29-31, 2005.
• Maritime Gig Festival. Held at Gig Harbor, first Saturday in June.
• Olympia Harbor Days. Arts & crafts booths, food fair, music, kids' activities. Swantown Regatta (human-powered boat races) and Tugboat Races. Held at Percival Landing in Olympia, September 2-4, 2005.
• McCleary Bear Festival. Summer community festival in McCleary, west of Shelton, for the last 45 years. Features a bear stew lunch. Held July 8-10, 2005.
• Redmond Derby Days. Kid's parade, grand parade, live music, Derby Day Criterium, fireworks, and more. Held July 9, 2005. The Derby Days Carnival, including games and rides, runs July 7-10 outside the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.
• Mercer Island Summer Festival. Music, a parade, food fair, boat cruises, classic car show, teen battle of the bands, and spectacular fireworks show. July 8-10, 2005.
• Chinatown/International District Summer Festival. Authentic international food, arts & crafts, community booths, and cultural entertainment. July 9-10, 2005.
• Kla Ha Ya Days Festival in downtown Snohomish. Arts, crafts, antique shops, live music, fireworks, silly contests and balloon glow. Also, a parade, golf tournament, car show, and the largest frog jumping contest around. July 14-17, 2005.
• West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival. Kids fun fair, kids fishing derby, concert in the park, bowling tournament, kiddies parade, grand parade, and Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Coronation. July 23, 2005.
• Renton River Days. July 19-24, 2005.
• Port Townsend's Victorian Festival. Victorian costumes and attire are encouraged, although not required. March 16-19, 2006.

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Ethnic Festivals & Celebrations

• Bon Odori. Seattle's Japanese community celebration, held at the Seattle Buddhist Temple, July 16-17, 2005. First held in 1932.
• Festival Sundiata. Seattle's African-American cultural celebration. Held at the Seattle Center, February 19-20, 2005.
• Juneteenth. African-American celebration of the end of slavery in the United States on June 19th, 1865. Started in Texas and has been more commonly celebrated in the South. Juneteenth will be celebrated at Pratt Park, 1800 S. Main St., June 17-19, 2005.
• Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival. Held at the Seattle Center, April 22-24, 2005.
• Seattle Fiestas Patrias. Celebration of Mexican independence, held at the Seattle Center, September 17-18, 2005.
• The Italian Festival. The largest Italian-American event in the northwest, featuring music, dance, and theater performances, food, plus a bocce tournament, grape stomping contest, children's puppet show, and film festival. Held at the Seattle Center, September 23-25, 2005.
• Dia de Muertos. Latin-American celebration paying tribute to ancesters, held at the Seattle Center, October 29, 2005.
• Seattle Tibet-Fest. Northwest Tibetans will gather to celebrate and display Tibetan culture, art, handicrafts, music, and traditional food for the general public. Held at the Seattle Center, August 27-28, 2005.
• Festál Cultural Festivals. Info on other ethnic cultural festivals and events held at the Seattle Center, including Tet Festival (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Irish Week, Celebrating Cambodia, Pagdiriwang Philipine Festival, Bastille Day, BrasilFest, TibetFest, and more.
• Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering. Enjoy Scottish dancing, piping, drumming and athletic competitions and events. Held at the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw, July 30-31, 2005.
• Viking Fest. A celebration of Norway's Constitution Day of May 17th. Held in Poulsbo, May 20-22, 2005.
• Chief Seattle Days. Annual pow-wow, celebrating the life of the chief for whom Seattle is named with canoe races, art exhibits, and a salmon bake, among other events. Held at the Suquamish Indian Reservation on the Kitsap Peninsula, third weekend in July.
• Lummi Stommish Watercarnival. Annual pow-wow and canoe races, held at the Lummi Indian Reservation. June 17-19, 2005.
• Makah Days. Canoe races, bone games, salmon bake, traditional dancing, and more. Held at the Makah Indian Reservation, Neah Bay, August 26-28, 2005.

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Food Festivals

• The Bite of Seattle. A Seattle mid-summer tradition for the last 23 years, held at the Seattle Center, on the third weekend in July.
• Ballard SeafoodFest. Assuming it is held July 23-24, 2005 (site still only lists the 2004 dates).
• The Taste of Tacoma. Held at Point Defiance Park, on the fourth weekend in July 2004.
• A Taste of Edmonds. August 12-14, 2005.
• Pig War Picnic. Held at Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, at the San Juan Historical Museum, after the 4th of July parade.
• Bremerton Blackberry Festival. Held on the Bremerton Boardwalk, on the first weekend of September.
• Strawberry Festival. Held on Vashon Island, July 8-11, 2005.
• OysterFest. West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival, held at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton, October 1-2, 2005.
• Zucchini Jubilee. A celebration of the prodigiously prolific and prolifically prodigious veggie. Held in Oakville, Grays Harbor County, first Saturday in September after Labor Day.
• Seafood Festival & Crafts Show. A family feast with fresh fish, oysters and more. Held at Westport, September 3, 2005.
• Cranberry Harvest Festival. Cranberry food & drink, bog tours, Cranberry Cook-Off, Bite of the Beach, Firefly Parade, and more. In Grayland, October 8-9, 2005.
• Wild Mushroom Festival. Participating restaurants, inns, and bed and breakfast establishments offer daily wild mushroom specials. Wild mushroom workshops, field excursions and prix-fixe dinners. At Long Beach, Seaview, Ilwaco, and other locations, October 15-November 15, 2005.
• Northwest Garlic Festival. Held at Ocean Park's Sheldon Park, on the Long Beach peninsula, June 18-19, 2005.
• Willapa Bay Seafood Festival. Music, fresh seafood, beer garden, oyster shucking contests. Held at the Port of the Peninsula Mooring Basin, on the Long Beach Peninsula, April 30, 2005.

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Maritime & Boating Festivals

• Seattle Maritime Festival. Held at the Bell Street Pier and other location on the Waterfront, at the beginning of May.
• Commencement Bay Maritime Festival. Held at Dock Street, Thea Foss Waterway, and the Port of Tacoma, September 17-18, 2005.
• Maritime Gig Festival. Held at Gig Harbor, first Saturday in June.
• Olympia Harbor Days. Arts & crafts booths, food fair, music, kids' activities. Swantown Regatta (human-powered boat races) and Tugboat Races. Held at Percival Landing in Olympia, September 2-4, 2005.
• Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. Held at the Center for Wooden Boats, south Lake Union, July 2-4, 2005.
• Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. The premier annual celebration of wooden boat enthusiasts in North America. Held September 8-10, 2006.

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Kite Festivals

• Washington State International Kite Festival. Held on the Long Beach peninsula, in the southwest corner of the state, August 15-21, 2005. Voted the "Best Kite Festival in the World" by the Kite Trade Association International.
• Windriders Kite Festival. Held on Grayland Beach, July 8-10, 2005.

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Children's Festivals

• Whirligig!. Springtime "carnival of fun" for kids, held at the Seattle Center. Supersize rides, free entertainment, roaming clowns, stilt walkers, jugglers, face painters and balloon artists. March 24-April 17, 2005.
• Seattle International Childen's Festival. Celebration of world cultures through the performing arts -- contemporary world music, theater, dance, circus, puppetry, storytelling, and more. Held at the Seattle Center, May 9-14, 2005.

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Music Festivals

• Seattle Music Fest. A three-day showcase of emerging Northwest bands and select national acts. Held at Alki Beach, Seattle, August 12-14, 2005. Free.
• Pike Market Buskers' Festival. A "busker" is a street performer and the Pike Place Market has a long tradition of being friendly to street performers. September 18, 2005.
• Arts in Nature Festival. Jazz, folk, classical, and other music; dance and theatre; visual arts; and kids' activities. Held by the Nature Consortium at Camp Long in Seattle, August 27-28, 2004.
• Summer Water Music Festival. Fusion of early and contemporary music on land and water. Held in La Conner, July 15-17, 2005.
• Bellingham Music Festival. Classical, chamber, jazz, and ethnic music. Held at various venues, August 6-21, 2005.

Jazz Festivals

• Earshot Jazz Festival. Takes place October 17 - November 7, 2005.
• Jazz Port Townsend by Centrum. Summer jazz festival featuring internationally acclaimed jazz artists. July 28-31, 2005.
• The Tacoma Jazz Music Festival. Festival was cancelled for 2005, but is promised to be back for 2006. Dates not set yet.
• Ballard Jazz Festival. Held late November.
• Vancouver International Jazz Festival. In Vancouver B.C., June 24-July 3, 2005.

Blues Festivals

• Port Townsend Blues & Heritage Festival by Centrum. August 5-6, 2005.
• Ritzville Blues Festival. Held second Saturday in July, in downtown Ritzville (between Moses Lake and Spokane).
• Sky High Blues Festival. Rock Creek, British Columbia. July 30-31, 2005.

Folk & Bluegrass Festivals

• Northwest Folklife Festival. At Seattle Center, Memorial Day weekend.
• Olalla Bluegrass Festival. Held in Olalla (on the Kitsap Peninsula, north of Gig Harbor, south of Port Orchard), August 21, 2004.
• Mission Folk Music Festival. Held at Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission, British Columbia, July 23-25, 2004.
• Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Festival. Held at Fort Flagler State Park on the Olympic Peninsula, September 21-26, 2004.

Classical Music Festivals

• Seattle Chamber Music Festival.
• Northwest Mahler Festival.
• Olympic Music Festival. Near Quilcene, Saturdays and Sundays, June 9-September 12, 2004.
• Methow Music Festival. Professional performances of, but not limited to, classical music in the barns and meadows of the Methow Valley, July 30-August 7, 2004.

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Film and Video Festivals

• Seattle International Film Festival.
• Port Townsend Film Festival.
• Olympia Film Festival.
• Seattle Jewish Film Festival.
• Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
• Poetry Readings in Seattle and around the Pacific Northwest by PoetsWest.
• Vancouver International Film Festival.
• Naked Freedom Film Festival, presented by the Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC) and 911 Media Arts Center. Debuts May 15-16, 2004. Three unique shows at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and 911 Media Arts Center, exploring themes of body acceptance, body art, public lands advocacy, exploitation, taboo, recreation, and emerging body-positive cultures.

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Misc. Festivals & Events

• Hempfest. Seattle's festival in celebraton of the many benefits and uses of hemp, held August 21-22 at Myrtle Edwards Park at the Seattle Waterfront. Billed as "the foremost cannabis policy reform event in the world."
• The Daffodil Festival. Held April 9-6, 2005. The Grand Floral Street Parade, to be held on April 16, 2005, travels through the cities of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, all in one day.
• Seattle Pride: The Northwest’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride March and Festival. Held June 26-27, 2004.
• Pike Market Buskers' Festival. A "busker" is a street performer and the Pike Place Market has a long tradition of being friendly to street performers. September 19, 2004.
• Moisture Festival. "Comedy/Variete" festival held in the Fremont District, in Chumleigh's Medium Big Top Circus Tent (at the Parking Lot where outdoor movies are shown), April 21-25, 2004. 2004 festival featured Reverend Chumleigh, Baby Gramps, Artis the Spoonman, and more.
• Basset Bash & Brigade. Part of the Celebrate Woodinville celebration, held March 27, 2004. See the Celebrate Woodinville page for event details. Look here for some neat Basset Bash photos.
• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Held April 1-30, 2004.
• Woodfest. Wood crafters, woodturners, chainsaw carvings, traditional carvers, high school woodshop exhibits & competitions, antique tools, and more. Held in Sedro-Woolley, April 3-4, 2004.
• Loggers Jubilee. The grandaddy of all logging shows. Held in Morton, the second weekend in August.
• Victorian Festival. Held in Port Townsend, March 18-21, 2004.
• Sequim Lavendar Festival. Held in Sequim, July 16-18, 2004.
• Rainier Mountain Festival. Held at Rainier BaseCamp, Ashford, third weekend in September.
• Polar Bare Dip by the Body Freedom Collaborative. Annual mid-winter dip au-naturale. Held this year (January 17, 2004) at Carkeek Park, the year before at Luther Burbank Park. Next year's dip is scheduled for January 15, 2005, at a yet-to-be-disclosed Seattle-area beach.

  Coming event: "As Bare as You Dare" Beach Rally at Discovery Park, Seattle - Sept. 4, 2004, part of the Body Freedom Collaborative's Seattle Free Beach Campaign.

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State, County & Other Fairs

State Fairs

• Puyallup Fair. The Western Washington State Fair, held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds September 10-26, 2004.
• Puyallup Spring Fair. Held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds April 14-17, 2005.
• Evergreen State Fair. Held at Monroe, Snohomish County, August 26-September 6, 2004.
• Northwest Washington Fair. Held at Lynden, Whatcom County, August 16-21, 2004.
• Central Washington State Fair. Held in Yakima, September 24-October 3, 2004.

County Fairs

• King County Fair. Held in Enumclaw, July 21-25, 2004.
• San Juan County Fair. Held on San Juan Island, August 18-21, 2004.
• Kitsap County Fair & Stampede. Held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, August 25-29, 2004.
• Pierce County Fair. Held in Graham, Pierce County, August 12-15, 2004.
• Thurston County Fair. Held in Lacey, August 4-8, 2004.
• Skagit County Fair. Held in Mt. Vernon, August 11-14, 2004.
• Grays Harbor County Fair. Held at Elma, August 11-15, 2004.
• Kittitas County Fair. Held at Ellensburg, September 2-6, 2004.

Other Fairs

• Fremont Fair. Held in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, June 18-19, 2005.
• University District Street Fair. Held May 15-16, 2004.
• Key Peninsula Community Fair. Located on the historic Key Peninsula, 10 miles SE of Purdy, Pierce County, August 20-21, 2004.
• Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire. In Gig Harbor, August 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22, 2004.
• Camlann Medieval Faire. At Camlann Medieval Village, near Carnation, Weekends, July 24-August 29, 2004.
• Driftwood Show and Artisan Fair. Held at Grayland, Grays Harbor County, March 20-21, 2004.
• Washington State Science and Engineering Fair. To be Held at Olympic College in Bremerton, April 1-2, 2005.

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Rodeos

• Puyallup Rodeo. September 10-12, 2004.
• Omak Stampede. August 12-14, 2004.
• Ellensburg Rodeo. Started in 1923, one of the top rodeo events in the nation, held in conjunction with the Kittitas County Fair, on Labor Day Weekend, September 3-6, 2004.
• Roy Pioneer Rodeo. Held in Roy, Washington, June 5-6, 2004.

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