SEATTLE HAPPENINGS
Headed to Seattle? The following are some of the not-to-be-missed festivals and events in the Seattle area.
January
Chinese New Year
International
District
(206) 382-1197
Dragons and food. All the color of the Orient. Parade through the streets.
Martin Luther King Celebration
Seattle Center
(206) 684-7200
Major Gospel music groups and speakers that present King's speeches as MLK himself.
March
Seattle Fringe Festival
(206) 322-2018
Fringe theatre and performance in venues all over the city. End of March for about 30
days.
April
All Fools Parade and Basset Bash (1st Sunday )
Woodinville
(425) 481-8300
An offbeat bit
of America that can't be beat. Dressed up bassets and people. One year, a group
was dressed as Wizard of Oz characters. Another entry was a drill team with
shopping carts.
Easter egg hunt at Pike Street Market
(206) 587-0351
Try
to find the decorated eggs hidden in the rambling, old market building.
May
Seattle Maritime Festival
(206) 674-3499
Tugboat
races and entertainment on the water. Chowder cook-off.
Northwest Folklife Festival
(206)
684-7300
Song,
dance and crafts from all over the world. Ethnic, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic,
taiko, calypso. A lively show.
Seattle International Film Fest
(206) 324-9996
Month-long
orgy of films from all venues in several different theaters around town,
sponsored by Cinema Seattle.
June
AT&T Summer Nights at the Pier
Pier 62/63
(206) 281-7788
One
Reel Arts Organization presents famous performing artists around sunset. Enjoy
music, food and scenery all in one package. Tickets www.summernights.org or ticketmaster.com or ticketweb.com
Columbia Summerfest
Columbia Winery
(425) 488-2776
Tidbits
of specialty foods and wine samples. Eat, drink, celebrate summer.
Fire Festival
Pioneer Square
(206) 622-6235
A celebration of the 1889 fire that leveled the area. Parade of antique and
contemporary fire equipment, special musical events, arts and crafts, and a
dedication of the Firefighters Memorial sculpture that stands in Occidental
Park.
July
Summer Festival on the Green at Chateau Ste. Michelle (winery)
Woodinville
(425) 488-1133
Major music events on the lawn July through early September.
Shakespeare in the Park,
Luther Burbank Park, Mercer Island
(206) 236-3545
Friday to Sunday performances. Concerts in the Park other days. Island Days & Street Dance
Bainbridge Island, downtown
Winslow
(206) 842-1982
Several
days of dancing, eating, and revelry. Take the ferry from Pier 52. Pacific
NW Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering
Enumclaw
(206) 522-2541
Twirling kilt-clad dancers and acrobatic games, colorful plaids,
bagpipes. Lots o' Scots in the Northwest, some left over from Hudson's Bay
Company days. Seafair
(206) 728-0123
Top class hydroplane events, a
not-to-be-missed torchlight parade through downtown, usually about the third
week. Locals moor their boats to logs on Lake Washington for entire days of
watching the hydro races while lounging in the sunÛfor it rarely rains in July.
WOMAD USA (World of Music and Dance)
Marymoor Park, Redmond
(206) 281-7788
Three days of music, dance, workshops and more.
August
Music in the Meadow
Vashon Island
(206) 463-2592
Jazz,
bluegrass, Elvis impersonations. Dinners by a local woman revered for her home
cooking. Proceeds support a major scholarship for a graduating student to
travel anywhere in the world.
Lake City Pioneer Days
(206)
363-3287
Most
of events are near Lake city Way NE and NE 125th St., Lake City (NW
side of Lake Washington)
September
Bumbershoot--The Seattle Arts Festival (Labor Day Weekend)
Seattle Center and around town, Labor Day Weekend
(206) 281-7788
2,500 artists, authors, craftspersons, performers of all shapes and sizes gather for
one of the top arts festivals in the entire country.
November
Hmong New Year's Celebration
Seattle Center
(206) 684-7200
Dance and performance by a cultural group somewhat uncommon in other cities.
December
Seattle
Christmas Ships
Lake Union, Lake Washington,
Puget Sound
(206) 623-1445
Christmas
is a big deal in Seattle. Elaborately decorated ships, yachts and tugs on
parade and in private forays onto the waterways. Watch from lakeside or
Sound-side restaurants while you dine. Not to be missed.
AT&T New Year's at the Needle
Seattle Center
(206) 443-2100
Seattle's
towering Space Needle was left from the 1962 World's Fair. Fireworks set off
from the Needle at midnight are enjoyed by hordes of gaping celebrants below.
Other Seattle Center events that same night keep everyone busy.
Particularly local special events scheduled in the Fremont district include:
Fremont Friday Nite Outdoor Movies
In the Adobe Parking Lot at 801
N. 34th Street
Movies
start at dusk in the summer. Other Fremont area outdoor cinemas including the
original Fremont Outdoor Cinema at 600 N. 34th, the West Seattle
Walk-in Theatre, and Gas Works Park show movies on Friday and Saturday nights
for $5 per person.
Solstice Parade, June
Celebrate
the true coming of summer. Wacky and fun. Fremont Fair, June
Concert
at Gas Works Park among other activities. The "20% More" Day, April.
Others advertise sales at "20% Off," the Fremont district advertises products at "20%
more" as a spoof. Of course, it's not
for real.
For more info in Fremont area events call (206) 632-1500
