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Join us on May 30 on Puget Sound as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride with a night of food, drinks, dancing, a special vow renewal ceremony, and so much more aboard an Argosy Cruises ship.

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Music, Theatre, Museums, Festivals and More

Seattle International Film Festival

Through May 19 Don't miss this year’s celebration of extraordinary independent and international cinema. It's SIFF's golden anniversary at theaters and venues across the Emerald City.

The Lehman Trilogy

Through May 19 The Tony Award®-winning Best Play comes to Seattle's ACT Theatre after a triumphant run on London’s West End and Broadway.

Northwest Folklife Festival

May 24-27 A celebration of the music, arts, and heritage of the Pacific Northwest. With 4,000+ performers on 20+ stages, and 200 food/craft/import vendors, the festival is a PNW tradition since 1972.

Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks

May 25 - Sept 22 See astonishing skyscrapers from North America, Asia and Australia constructed in breathtaking detail by Ryan McNaught, one of only 21 LEGO® Certified Professionals worldwide.

Venus & the Vixens

May 30-June 16 This immersive theatrical experience has it all: food, drink, games, and heart-pumping electro pop disco-rock sounds. It’s a fresh take on the mythological tale of Cupid and Psyche.

Pulling Together: A Brief History of Rowing in Seattle

Through June 2 In celebration of the film The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney, MOHAI is proud to display a selection of rare artifacts and photographs related to the 1936 champion crew.

Calder: In Motion, The Shirley Family Collection

Through August 4 Discover the iconic American artist who revolutionized sculpture. This exhibition presents more than 45 works from the Shirley Family collection for the first time.

MASSIVE: The Power of Pop Culture

Ongoing Explore the impact of global pop culture on our daily lives as you deep-dive into your role as a creator and consumer of modern pop culture.

Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King

Ongoing Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo has a worldwide following for his large, inventive trolls made from recycled materials. Now you can discover six new friends in the PNW!

Sound Check! The Music We Make

Ongoing Celebrate significant contributions of AANHPI artists in music. Produced in partnership with KEXP-FM, the Music of Asian America Research Center, UTOPIA, and Smithsonian NMAH.

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Upcoming Events

An Evening with 1974 A.D.

1974 A.D.’s tour is set to be a momentous reunion and a remarkable journey down the three-decade-long memory …

Barboza hosts a double bill featuring Khloe Rose and Seth Kaminsky.

Project Aurora: Panel Discussion

Learn about the making of Project Aurora from the creators – artist Ginny Ruffner, technologist Ed Fries, and …

Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement

For decades, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities have been fighting for equality, both under the law …

Sunset 24th Anniversary Party Indoors

The Sunset Tavern will celebrate their 24th anniversary with a number of bands performing live on two stages.

Yuja Wang in Recital

Acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang returns to Benaroya Hall for a solo recital following her sold-out 2022 performance.

Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings takes the stage at Tractor Tavern.

Maritime Seattle

Maritime Seattle continues the 50+ year partnership between MOHAI and the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society (PSMHS). Hosted …

Takuya Kuroda

6/4/2024 through 6/5/2024.

Internationally acclaimed trumpeter and composer Takuya Kuroda takes his tour to Seattle for a stop at Dimitriou’s Jazz …

Featured Blog Posts

Happy 50th Birthday, SIFF!

SIFF brings the world to screens across Seattle, featuring hundreds of films from more than 80 countries. Join this Pacific Northwest tradition and celebrate #SIFFTY years of incredible film.

The Best Weekend Activities in Seattle that Embrace Wellness

From cold plunges and saunas to yoga, meditation, foraging walks, and discovering the city's wellness food scene—check out tips on the best ways to spend a relaxing weekend in the Emerald City.

Forage & Feast with Savor the Wild Tours

The PNW is a mecca for fresh seafood. Go on an adventure that takes you right to the source and enjoy an experience for all the senses.

The Iconic Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

Dimitriou's is a premier jazz club in Seattle, bringing in renowned artists and offering a live music experience hard to find anywhere else.

Must-do Adventures if you're going to Emerald City Comic Con

Seattle is a pop culture hub with tons of fun places to explore, from the Museum of Pop Culture to a rubber chicken museum. Check out our list of must-sees in the Emerald City.

Downtown Hotspots to Hit if You're Going to the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival

We've pulled together a list of some of the best hotspots to check out in Seattle to round out your experience in the Emerald City, from peaceful parks to cozy cafes to attractions.

Dick's Drive-In Celebrates 70 Years

Dick's Drive-In Restaurant has been a staple in the Seattle community for 70 years, bringing joy to visitors and locals in the form of tasty burgers, greasy fries, and frosty shakes.

Seattle Museum Month: Calling All History Lovers

This February, come and experience Seattle Museum Month! Discover the wonders of aviation history, take a deep dive into Seattle's innovative roots or hear about the stories of the Alaskan Gold Rush.

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Follow along for even more travel inspiration as we show you the businesses, locations, and opportunities that make the emerald city so special. find us @visitseattle ..

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Things to Do in Seattle

By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach May 16, 2024

Image: Courtesy Nanakul

Jump to Your Genre:

  Food and Drink  /  Visual Arts / Live Music   Performance / Film / Special Events / Readings and Lectures / On Sale Now

Seattleites are spoiled for choice when it comes to spending our leisure time. Just take a look at the sheer variety of options: We have an exceptional array of museums , independent bookstores , restaurants , bars  (and bar trivia ), record stores , nightlife options , local shops , and a rich music landscape .

And the actual landscape? Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, especially if you subscribe to the “no such thing as bad weather, only bad  clothing ” mindset (if you don’t, are you really from Seattle?). From abundant hikes ,  swimming holes , state parks , and campgrounds  just beyond city limits to a voluminous urban trail system , there’s something for the outdoorsperson of every skill and stoke level.   Those with little ones (human or furred ) can rejoice at a bevy of great playgrounds , spray parks , and zoos . 

But if you just want a guide already, we've got plenty for  food , outdoors , shopping , and entertainment . Plus, a shortlist of what to do in Washington this month . Or find below the best things to do in Seattle, updated weekly. 

Food and Drink

Seattle beer week.

may 17-24, various  | various, free

If there's one thing Seattle's nosh scene does right, it's craft beer. The 15-year-old week-long celebration kicks off at Old Stove Brewing, where the official fest beer (Whereas West Coast IPA) is unveiled to the fanfare of live music and old-school superhero costumes. The rest of the week hold gems like a Christmas in May party, yoga at Aslan, and a wing sauce competition.

Image: Courtesy Nathan Zucker

Bacon, Eggs, and Kegs

june 1–2, 11am–3pm  | lumen field, $45–55

Breakfast people rejoice: Lumen Field is your playground. Tickets unlock drinks—including a 30-foot-long DIY Bloody Mary bar—brunch bites, and live music. A giant inflatable skillet affords silly photos and bacon cosplay while on-theme games like egg toss and bacon bingo can turn anyone into a brunch-lover. 

Spill the Tea

through june 30, various | pennyroyal, menu

Belltown's European-style Pennyroyal speakeasy unveils the season's finest in honor of Bridgerton 's season three release. Taking a page from Lady Whistledown's notebook, tea-infused cocktails with monikers like The Duke and I and Diamond of the Season are served alongside a gossip card with spicy conversation starters.

Visual Arts

Sky hopinka: subterranean ceremonies .

through may 26, 11am–5pm | frye art museum, free

Washington-born artist Sky Hopinka explores the ways language shapes our perception of place, alternating between English and Indigenous dialects in four films and a selection of photographs. The Frye exhibition elicits contemplation on personal and political notions of Indigenous homeland.

Alterations

through june 2, various  | photographic center northwest, free

Collage meets film in the Central District gallery: ticket stubs, cigarette wrappers, and torn book pages are just some of the everyday ephemera melded with the photography of six PNW artists in Photographic Center Northwest's current exhibition. 

The Travel Cats by Mari Ichimasu

through june 30, 10am–7pm  | seattle japanese garden, $10

Among the koi ponds, rhododendrons, and tranquil bridges of the Capitol Hill gardens, felines travel alongside visitors. Watercolored paintings bring a dozen of Seattle-based Japanese artist Mari Ichimasu's two-dimensional cats—decked out in cute travel outfits, touristy cameras, and trusty backpacks—to the gardenscape. 

LCD Soundsystem

may 16–19, 8pm  | the paramount theatre, $150–199

The New York indie outfit booked their farewell show in 2011; the four-night run at the Paramount is just a bonus. And with electric, disco-like live shows, it's a blessing.

Girl in Red

may 20–21, 8pm  | paramount theatre, resale

The Oslo-based alternative pop artist opened for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, and she's a musical powerhouse in her own right. Expect intimate songwriting and a powerful stage presence from the queer icon. If this needed to get any gayer, The Beaches will open in a special appearance on the Paramount stage. 

may 25, 8pm  | taper auditorium, $20–90

Three-time Grammy winner Samara Joy might be young, but she brings back old school jazz. Her 2022 album Linger Awhile cemented her under the Verve Records label alongside legendary female jazz voices who came before her: Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald. 

Performance

May 17, 8pm | the great hall, $25–125

Award-winning actor Paul Giamatti and philosophy professor Stephen Asma host a live taping of their one-year-old podcast Chinwag. Things get esoteric and philosophical quickly; their uninhibited chats could cover anything from the interdimensionality of Bigfoot to the simulation we all so clearly live in. 

Image: Angela Sterling/Pacific Northwest Ballet

MAY 31–JUNE 9, VARIOUS | MCCAW HALL, $30–210

Lauded as one of ballet's greatest comedies, the whimsy of a doll maker's workshop and misplaced love has enthralled audiences since its 1870 debut. In the Pacific Northwest Ballet rendition there are spells, life-like toys, potions, and true love—everything a borderline fairytale needs.

Image: Courtesy Robert Wade/Taproot Theatre Company

Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position

through june 15, various  | jewell Mainstage Theatre, $25–62

Drawing on the classic literary character, the Taproot Theatre production weaves a tale of deception, suspense, and deadly mystique inside Greenwood's jewel box of a theater.

may 17–22, 4 and 9:30pm  | Central cinema, $12

An artistic anime dreamscape, 90-minute Paprika blends science fiction with the tale of a heist. Protagonist Dr. Atsuko Chiba creates a device that allows therapists to view the dreams of their patients. When it's stolen, the doctor puts detective skills to work.

Seattle International Film Festival

through may 19, various  | various, $17.50–1,619.99

Seattle, you know the drill. This is the annual event no self-respecting cinephile would miss. Obviously there are the films—all 159 of them—but the folks at SIFF have more up their sleeves: a Hacks screening and conversation with Jean Smart , glitzy opening night soiree at Paramount Theatre, and brunch with June Squibb. 

Grand Illusion 20th Anniversary Series

may 21–30, various | grand illusion cinema, $11

The cozy University District theater is celebrating two decades as a volunteer-run nonprofit cinema, but they're not narcissistic enough to think they're the only ones worth commemorating. Some of their favorite films—1978 zombie flick Dawn of the Dead and 25-year-old Magnolia —screen this month in honor of another trip around the sun.

SPECIAL EVENTS

17th of may.

may 17, 10am–8pm  | national nordic museum, free

It's easy to believe that the Norwegian Constitution Day festivities in Seattle are the world's largest outside of Oslo and Bergen when the day holds a parade, Fjord horse petting zoo, live Nordic music, a food hall, and an in-house genealogist to find out if you're really Nordic.

Sunset Market and Listening Sessions

may 18, 5–10pm  | The Shop by Porter, $10

Hyper creative The Shop By Porter transforms into a house party, marketplace hybrid. Overlooking the Puget Sound, DJs lend hi-fi deep listening, Joshua Dahlquist hand-pokes tattoos, and three vendors hawk vibey wares.

Image: Courtesy Northwest Folklife

Northwest Folklife Festival

may 24–27, various  | seattle center, free

The annual celebration centers local creativity like no other: vocational artisans demo their skills, open-invite contra dances take over the Fisher Pavilion, fashion shows parade styles new and old, and a rotating cast of musicians keep the heartbeat of the festival alive for four straight days. 

READINGS AND LECTUREs

Image: Courtesy Duane Michals/SAM

SAM Talks: Jed Perl

may 17, 6:30–8pm  | seattle art museum, $10

The SAM world has revolved around Alexander Calder's mobiles ever since they unveiled over 45 of his works in November. Art critic, author, and Calder biographer Jed Perl brings context and a career retrospective to the conversation, kicking off the SAM's weekend-long Calder Symposium.

Project Aurora Panel Discussion

may 23, 7pm  | national nordic museum, free

Missed the aurora borealis show last weekend? Ballard artist Ginny Ruffner employed microprocessors and 34,560 individual LED bulbs to mimic the natural phenomenon inside the National Nordic Museum. She'll chat with co-creators technologist Ed Fries and scholar Wanda Gregory about the making of the 20-foot by 10-foot installation.

Kathleen Hanna

may 24, 7pm  | third place books ravenna, $73-164

The feminist icon and frontwoman of punk band Bikini Kill has found her next act as an author. She presents her new release, Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk in conversation with author and co-founder of the reproductive rights campaign #ShoutYourAbortion Lindy West. 

On sale now

Npr music tiny desk contest.

june 9, 7pm  | nectar lounge, $18

The Tiny Desk concerts of YouTube lore bring their nationwide tour to Nectar. Artists for the June show include the yet-to-be-announced winner of NPR's annual contest and select local outfits who have appeared on past Tiny Desk episodes—perhaps Among Authors or Sleater-Kinney. 

Tasting Notes

july 19, 7:30pm | benaroya hall, $20–525

Music is an art form; food is an art form. What happens when best-in-class musicians partner with renowned chefs? It turns into a chamber music party helmed by James Beard Award-Winner Kenji Lopez-Alt and violinist James Ehnes—complete with nosh and entertainment. 

The Chainsmokers: The Party Never Ends

august 10, TBA  | Myrtle edwards park, public onsale may 17

The Grammy-award-winning duo brings English DJ Jonas Blue and producer Daniel Allan to Lower Queen Anne's waterfront Myrtle Edwards Park. Last year's iteration of the live music project broke venue attendance records thanks to deep cuts and chart-topping Chainsmokers hits, engaging visuals, and cutting-edge production collabs. 

Cigarettes After Sex

september 28, 8pm  | climate pledge arena, $44–444

Slow burn pop songs with love right smack dab in the middle? Enter indie trio Cigarettes After Sex, touring in support of their yet-to-be-released third studio album, X . 

november 24, 7pm  | climate pledge arena, $110–1,226

"Dream On" singer Steven Tyler—who is 76 years old—will be back on stage following a fractured larynx to finish out the rock band's farewell tour this fall. Forever dynamic performers, the five piece makes even the largest stadiums feel like a raucous club; pre-injury tour reviews promise the band peaces out with loads of rock style. 

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The Emerald Palate

Seattle food tours & retreats

Seattle Events Calendar

A Seattle events calendar of all the best food, drink, and craft events to get you out and exploring the Seattle area.

Know of an event? Email details to adria (at) emeraldpalate (dot) com.

List of Annual Seattle Events

Here are events that happen around Washington state annually. Note, some events may be canceled or look different this year due to the pandemic. If you meet in person, please where a mask and practice social distancing.

Jump to a month: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Chelan Winterfest

Lake Chelan Winterfest happens over two weekends in mid to late January. The schedule of events includes a wine tasting tent, wine popups in local stores, ice sculpture contests, and events for kids.

Lake Chelan is about 4 hours east of Seattle, so it’s perfect for a weekend getaway. Check out my guide to visiting Lake Chelan in winter to learn more about the event and things to do in the area while you’re there.

Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil does a tour every year so people around the world can see their talented performers leap, tumble, and juggle among dazzling stage backdrops. The Seattle show usually runs from mid January through March in a big tent at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA (about 25 minutes east of Seattle).

I try to go every year they’re in town because I absolutely love the variety of talent they bring each year. For example, I’ll never forget that one year with the trampoline acrobats dressed as monkeys or the woman who did an aerial performance over a huge champagne flute tub. The show is good for all ages and you can see the stage from any seat, so I highly recommend attending!

Seattle Wine & Food Experience

The Seattle Wine & Food Experience is one of my favorite food festivals on this Seattle events calendar. It’s a weekend festival actually comprised of three events: Comfort, Pop! Seafood and Bubbles, and the Grand Tasting.

Comfort is the kickoff event on Thursday. It focuses on the best comfort food in Seattle and drinks from local breweries and cideries.

Pop! is the fancier Friday event. Guests are encouraged to dress up and sample unlimited oysters and seafood dishes from the best fish restaurants in Seattle . This event tends to get quite crowded, so get there exactly on time and jet to the oyster bar.

The Grand Tasting is the last event, with a ton of the best restaurants in Seattle and Washington state serving unlimited food samples. There is also a ton of wine from the best Pacific Northwest wineries . I use it as an excuse to sample must-try Washington wines and not-to-miss Oregon wines .

Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Each year the Northwest Flower & Garden Show brings gardening inspiration through things like landscaping exhibits and demonstrations. You’ll also find a huge showroom of vendors offering garden supplies and consultations. It’s one of the perfect things to do during winter in Seattle when you need a glimmer of hope for warmer days to come!

Red Wine, Cider, & Chocolate Tour

Every year the Olympic Peninsula Wineries organization hosts the Red Wine, Cider, & Chocolate Tour. You can sample wine and cider with chocolate, plus visit the best Washington coast attractions between events. It’s definitely one of the most romantic things to do in Seattle !

Winthrop Balloon Roundup

The Winthrop Balloon Roundup is held the first full weekend of March each year in Twisp, Washington about 4.5 hours east of Seattle. It’s a truly magical bucket list experience watching the magnificent balloons blown up and sailing lazily among the snowy Methow Valley landscape.

I attended a few years ago and went on my first hot air balloon ride. I shared a detail account of what to expect at the Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Festival if you’re curious what it’s like. Winthrop is also home to some of the best cross-country skiing in Washington , so this event is the perfect excuse to visit Winthrop, Washington in winter . Winthrop is also a low-key foodie town, so check out some of the best Winthrop, WA restaurants while you’re there.

Taste Washington

Taste Washington is another annual food event typically spanning multiple days in late March. It’s at the Lumen Field event center in Seattle, so it’s a huge venue with aisles upon aisles of Washington wines and Washington state restaurants.

This year things look a bit different due to the pandemic. It’s a month-long celebration of virtual events and dine & wine specials from Seattle-area restaurants. They’re also offering staycation packages to help you explore Washington’s wine regions.

Moisture Festival

Each March through April the Moisture Festival brings the best cabaret performances to the Pacific Northwest. You’ll find acrobats, signers, aerialists, comedians, and more at this fun variety show.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Millions of people visit Skagit County about 1.5 hours north of Seattle for the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival . You’ll find rows upon rows of colorful tulips and daffodils perfect for photographs. I wrote a details guide on how to visit the Seattle tulip festival and avoid crowds , which I recommend reading if you plan to go. Note, this year they are requiring online reservations to visit.

While you’re there, make sure to check out the other fun things to do in Skagit County . It’s one of my favorite areas in all of Washington state and is where I host a small group food retreat . It has an incredible food scene, so make sure to stop at the best Skagit Valley restaurants while you’re there.

Anacortes Spring Wine Festival

In spring you can head up north to the Anacortes Spring Wine Festival . It’s a great way to sample wine from under-the-radar wineries in the Puget Sound AVA. Plus, Anacortes is right at the mouth of the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island, making it the perfect jumping off point for a day trip to Whidbey Island to explore Whidbey Island wineries and Whidbey Island restaurants .

Washington State Spring Fair

The Washington State Spring Fair is held at the fair grounds in Puyallup, Washington each year. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample fair food, see farm animals, check out local vendors, and experience fair rides. It’s one of the most fun things to do during spring break in Seattle !

Seattle Restaurant Week

Seattle Restaurant Week runs twice a year in spring and fall (usually November). Over a two week period guests can dine at participating restaurants for less Sunday through Thursday. During lunch it’s about $20 and during dinner it’s $35 or $50 for a 3-course meal.

Seattle International Film Festival

The Seattle International Film Festival runs every April or May over the course of a few weeks. At that time you’ll find a ton of independent movies playing at theaters around town. You’ll often find Sundance winners and movies that go on to be huge box office hits.

Craft Beer & Wine Fest

The Craft Beer & Wine Fest is hosted each summer in Vancouver, Washington. You’ll find a bunch of local breweries and wineries all in one spot for a day of tasting from lesser-known producers in southern Washington and Oregon. Vancouver is perfectly situated for a Portland day trip or Columbia River Gorge itinerary , so plan to stay overnight.

Fremont Fair

Each year during the summer solstice is the Fremont Fair . It’s a rite of passage to attend this event thanks to its famous nude bike parade, but you’ll also find a lot of craft vendors, food trucks, and events throughout the weekend. If you love exploring the best Seattle farmers markets , you’ll love this event.

Washington Brewers Festival

Beer lovers will want to attend the Washington Brewers Festival . You’ll find a ton of the best Washington breweries serving samplers, plus food trucks for when you need noshes.

Yakima Uncorked

Yakima Uncorked helps you sample from the area’s best wineries all in one spot. Given there are hundreds of tasting rooms, this is a great event for getting to try a bunch of places boom, boom, boom.

Kirkland Uncorked

Kirkland Uncorked is the perfect excuse for heading to the Eastside of Seattle. Each summer wineries take over local storefronts to offer a sip & shop event for attendees.

Ballard Seafoodfest

Ballard Seafoodfest shuts down the streets in Ballard for a gathering of some of the best seafood restaurants in Seattle serving yummy bites. There are also a ton of makers and entertainment happening throughout the event. It’s one of the quintessential summer activities in Seattle .

Crave! Northwest

Crave! Northwest is an annual event hosted on the other side of Washington state in Spokane. It features multiple days of different themed events to help you sample eastern Washington restaurants and producers. There are so many things to do in Spokane , so if you haven’t been this food festival is the perfect excuse to visit.

Capitol Hill Block Party

The Capitol Hill Block Party is an annual event for music lovers. It rounds up top talent, from local bands to top 40 headliners. They shut down the streets of Capitol Hill and make you feel transported to a music festival.

Seattle Art Fair

The Seattle Art Fair is the place to go if you love contemporary art and want ideas for your home. It’s a huge gallery event featuring Pacific Northwest artists and international talent from around the world. Some of the artists are quite pricey, but you can find a bunch of affordable pieces for your home.

Auction of Washington Wines

The Auction of Washington Wines is typically held each August at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Washington. It’s a wine event geared toward wine collectors and features both a tasting event and live wine auction.

This year things look a bit different with virtual events spread throughout the year.

Bumbershoot

Bumbershoot is one of the biggest music and arts festival on this Seattle events calendar. Over Labor Day Weekend you’ll find a concert series featuring both local and internationally-recognized acts, performances from comedians, craft vendors, food trucks, and a huge art show.

Washington State Fair

As soon as the Washington State Fair hits my Seattle events calendar, I request time off work. One of the best things to do in fall in Seattle is go on a weekday with my nieces so we get get wristbands for unlimited rides without the crowds (wristbands aren’t available on weekends). You can expect to find a ton of rides, fair food, music, and events throughout the month.

Central Washington State Fair

There’s also a Central Washington State Fair in the Yakima Valley. You can expect a similar experience as the fair in Puyallup, with fair food, events, rides, and carnival games.

Prosser Balloon Roundup

If you prefer going on a hot air balloon in warmer weather, the Prosser Balloon Roundup is for you. It’s perfectly situated in wine country so you can sample area wineries while getting incredible photos of hot air balloons floating over vineyards. It’s also a great excuse for hitting the road to see some of the best fall foliage in Seattle and the surrounding areas.

Fremont Oktoberfest

Fremont Oktoberfest is my favorite beer festival on this Seattle events calendar. They close down some of the streets and set up tents for sampling some of the best Seattle breweries . I love the focus on sample tasters instead of having to commit to full-sized cups or steins. Go on Friday evenings for less crowds so you can really enjoy this Halloween fun in Seattle .

Leavenworth Oktoberfest

Leavenworth Oktoberfest is a must-visit event in Washington state. The Bavarian town about 2.5 hours east of Seattle hosts an authentic German beer festival over 3 weekends. you’ll find big tents, beer steins, lots of pretzels and brats, and live music. This can get crowded, but it’s a ton of fun to make new friends after a beer or four. While you’re there, make sure to eat at the best restaurants in Leavenworth .

Savor the San Juans

Each October Visit San Juans tourism board hosts Savor the San Juans , a month-long event with opportunities to tour area farms, sample food from island restaurants, and try wines from small wineries on the islands. I love visiting San Juan Island , one of the best islands near Seattle , so this is the perfect excuse to go!

Gobble Up Northwest is one of my favorite Seattle Christmas markets . It’s hosted by Urban Craft Uprising and brings food vendors together to sell the best Pacific Northwest food gifts just in time for the holidays.

Skagit Wine & Beer Festival

The Skagit Wine & Beer Festival is another excuse for visiting the beautiful Skagit Valley. You’ll be able to sample multiple area producers all in one place.

Urban Craft Uprising

Urban Craft Uprising is my favorite winter holiday craft market on this Seattle events calendar. It features stylish makers selling their wares just in time for holiday gifting. It’s one of my favorite Seattle Christmas activities , so don’t miss it!

PNA Winterfest

The PNA Winterfest is another great annual craft fair for picking up Pacific Northwest gifts . It’s hosted each year by the Phinney Neighborhood Association and curates local vendors with goods perfect for all ages.

St. Nick’s Holiday Wine Tasting

Every year Woodinville Wine hosts the St. Nick’s holiday wine tasting event. It brings a bunch of the best Woodinville wineries together under one roof so you can sample wine and pick up bottles in time for holiday parties. The area wineries also offer events in their tasting room if you can’t make the main event.

More Things to Do in Seattle

Once you’re done adding these Seattle events calendar activities to your personal calendar, check out these other fun ideas for exploring the Seattle area.

• Take a Self-Guided Seattle Food Tour
• Conquer This Seattle for Foodies Bucket List
• Visit the Best Seattle Urban Wineries
• Go on a Scenic Day Trip from Seattle
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Things to Do in Seattle

The best time to visit Seattle to avoid the rain (maybe)

Jun 28, 2023 • 5 min read

August is the best time to unwind on a relaxing stroll on the beach © Inti St Clair / Getty Images

Seattle : a city of hippies and hipsters, technology and nature, craft beer and coffee...and rain. Lots and lots of rain. Or is it?

Yes, Seattle gets more rainy days than most other cities in the United States, but it’s actually drier than, say, New York or Miami.

When to visit depends on what you want to do in Seattle.  If you want to explore the parks and gardens that gave the Emerald City its name or catch incredible views from the Space Needle , you’ll want sunny skies – which come with crowds of tourists.  If you'd rather pay less for accommodation and avoid the crowds in the low season, you'll need to pack an umbrella.

Despite the association with inclement weather, Seattle has something for every type of traveler, whatever time of year you decide to visit. Whether you're looking to explore  iconic architecture  or dive into a thriving  craft beer scene , here's our guide on when to visit Seattle.

April to May and September to October are ideal for exploring museums and farmers' markets 

Spring and fall see lower temperatures than the short summer and fewer crowds while still escaping the heavy rain showers of winter.  Budget travelers can find good deals on accommodation and car rental rates at this time. Even during the shoulder season, the best time to drive through Seattle is between 9am and 4:30pm, and later between 7pm and 6:30am, in order to avoid rush hour. 

April is usually the month where you’ll find the center of the “nice weather” and “cheaper hotel rates” Venn diagram. It’s not always sunny, but there are plenty of stunning days. Enjoy a celebration of the beauty of Japan at the  Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival or raise a glass to the end of winter at the Seattle Scotch and Beer Fest .

May brings big business for waterside attractions. Visit before Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) – this could be your last chance for an affordable hotel rate for a while. Get a taste of the local culture of the Pacific Northwest at the Northwest Folklife Festival but be careful – you may run out of reasons to ever leave the area!

September has one of the highlights of the cultural calendar:  Bumbershoot ,  a multi-day arts festival that began in the 1970s. This is also one of the best times to go whale watching in Seattle. Once Bumbershoot’s over, the tourists go home, and hotel prices deflate. But the weather usually remains sunny and relatively warm until early October, making this the perfect time for spotting whales without the crowds.

There’s always the chance of a prolonged summer early in October, while the start of the shoulder season brings lower prices. The best time to visit Seattle in the fall comes as the clouds roll in and people get out to celebrate Halloween and the Seattle Queer Film Festival .

Average highs are in the 50s and 60s (Fahrenheit) during the spring and fall, so you’ll want to bring a warm layer for the evenings.  Rainfall is characteristically a persistent yet light drizzle rather than a deluge, and more than half of these months are completely dry days. Still, an umbrella is a sensible precaution.

June to August is the perfect time for outdoor parks and festivals 

Although blistering sunny weather is infrequent in Seattle, overcast but not rainy days are not unusual. The record number of consecutive dry days is 55, set in 2017, and your best chance for a clear forecast falls between June and September. 

Summer is on the way in June and when the mercury rises, you can feel the city loosen up and sigh contentedly. It’s also Pride month, and celebrations are abundant in Seattle .

The ever-improving weather in July means bigger crowds and the high season sees peak demand for flights, transport and hotel prices. Expect crowds at famous Seattle sights like Pike Place Market and the Museum of Pop Culture .  The best time to visit the Seattle Space Needle is on clearer days, either early in the morning before the crowds arrive or at sunset, so you can get daytime and nighttime views in one visit. Book ahead for popular events in July such as the 4th of July celebrations at  Seafair .

Salmon bakes, neighborhood street fairs and lazy beach afternoons give August a laid-back feel. But school’s out, so expect ubiquitous cries of excited kids. BrasilFest brings the party atmosphere to town with a huge celebration of all things Brazilian at the Seattle Center.

November to March is the best time to get cozy in a coffee shop and explore the music scene

November can be a dismal month for weather in Seattle but don’t let anyone convince you that this is the worst time to visit. Most sights stay open and, with the low season kicking in, some hotels slash their prices to half the summer rates. Indoor spaces such as theaters and music venues come into their own during the low season; the soggy weather is partly responsible for Seattle’s famously creative music scene and its vibrant coffee shop culture.

Seattle’s surrounding ski resorts open up in December, making the city an ideal urban base for snow-related activities. Hotel prices continue to drop along with the temperatures. The festive season ramps up with Winterfest , the Christmas Ship Parade of Boats and New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Space Needle .

January shuffles in with a hangover and occasional flurries of snow. Plan indoor activities, or bring your skis and head to the nearby mountains. Of all the months in the year,  January historically sees the most discounted prices on plane tickets. Brave souls can start the new year with a splash as part of the Polar Bear Plunge and dive into the new year invigorated if a little chilly. Plunges happen at multiple bodies of water all over the city and are a wonderfully positive start to the new year. Food trucks with hot beverages await you once you run for cover.

The dark, dreary days of February and occasional bouts of genuine cold keep most in figurative hibernation. Scour the internet for hotel deals and book a night at the theater – super low prices mean this a great time to nab a bargain if you don't mind wrapping up. The odd warm day in March can see restaurants opening up their patios, but more often than not, the rain persists. Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations provided a good excuse to shrug off the long, hard winter and turn your face toward the warm light of Spring.

This article was first published Feb 16, 2021 and updated Jun 28, 2023.

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20 Amazing Things To Do In Seattle This April

Don't miss out on these spring festivals, live shows, immersive exhibitions, markets, and more!

Looking for fun things to do in Seattle this April?

We rounded up the best activities and events happening in the Emerald City this month. From flower festivals to exciting sports games, this April is full of outdoorsy things to do in Seattle to celebrate the arrival of spring. We also have indoor night markets, immersive experiences, concerts, and film festivals for those inevitable rainy days.

Best of all, many of these events are cheap or even free ! Some are kid-friendly while others are for ages 21 and up only. We also have a separate guide full of things to do with kids in Seattle !

Here are the top things to do in Seattle this April:

1. Attend Seattle’s world-famous tulip festival

From April 1 through the 30th , Seattleites make the spring pilgrimage to nearby Skagit Valley to see vibrant fields of tulips. Read all about this year’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival before you go.

2. Visit Seattle’s museums for free

Every month, most of Seattle’s museums have a free admissions day for all. Read all about the free museum admission days planned for this April.

3. Go to Harry Potter™: Magic at Play

Don’t miss out on the immersive Harry Potter™: Magic at Play while it’s still in the Seattle area! All ages can enjoy exploring and interacting with the various settings seen in the magical films. Tickets are available here .

4. Experience cherry blossom season in Seattle

Cherry blossom season in Seattle is a magical time. Don’t miss the U District Cherry Blossom Festival starting on March 16 and running through April 1 . Later in the month, you can head to Seattle Center for the free Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival taking place April 12-14 .

Also, here are all the best places to see cherry blossoms in Seattle this month!

5. Attend a Candlelight Concert

We can’t think of a more romantic date night than being serenaded by talented musicians while being bathed in candlelight. Check out the Candlelight Concerts taking place in Seattle this April .

Want to treat someone to a Candlelight Concert but not sure which one they’d like? You can now purchase a Candlelight Gift Card !

6. Eat and shop at the Taco Libre Truck Showdown

Head to Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park on April 6 for taco trucks, a margarita bar, a night market, and captivating wrestling performances by Lucha Libre Volcánica. This is the fifth annual Taco Libre Truck Showdown, which is a 21+ event. Tickets start at $15.

7. Be wowed at by performers at Moisture Festival

Looking to catch a live show in Seattle? Check out Moisture Festival which describes itself as a “high energy comedy/varieté show” accompanied by a live band. It takes place from March 21 through April 14 at Broadway Performance Hall.

8. Watch Seattle Kraken play a home game

This month, you can catch an exciting hockey game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Here are the Seattle Kraken’s upcoming home games in April:

• April 9 vs. Arizona Coyotes
• April 11 vs. San Jose Sharks

9. Or catch a Seattle Mariners home game

It’s baseball season! Head to Seattle’s T-Mobile Park to cheer on the Mariners and eat a Seattle dog during one of many home games this April. Get tickets and see the schedule on the Mariners website .

10. Treat yourself to free ice cream

On April 16 , you can get as many free scoops of ice cream as you’re willing to get in line for at a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop. Read all about the upcoming Free Cone Day !

11. Go to a space-themed dance party at Museum of Flight

Seattle’s Museum of Flight is hosting a space-themed dance party called Yuri’s Night on April 13 . The museum gallery will be “transformed into an intergalactic nightclub” for ages 21 and up to honor Yuri Gagarin, the first person to orbit the Earth.

12. Cheer on the Sounders at a home game

Seattle loves a good soccer match. Join hardcore fans to cheer on the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field this April at the following home games:

• April 6 vs. Montreal
• April 20 vs. Vancouver

13. Have fun at the Washington Spring Fair

Seattleites can make the drive over to Puyallup on the weekends of April 11-14 and April 18-21  to partake in fun, rides, and food at the annual Spring Fair. Read all about the Washington Spring Fair before you go.

14. Browse an arts and craft show

If you love art, handmade crafts, and shopping, don’t miss the annual Best of the Northwest Spring Show this April 13-14 . You can enjoy shopping, eating, and free parking at Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park. Adult admission is $3-$5; children under 13 are free.

15. Experience Taylor Swift’s new album at PacSci

On April 19 , Seattle’s Pacific Science Center will host a special laser light show for Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department . Get tickets on the PacSci website .

16. Celebrate Earth Day with free park admission

On April 22 , state and national parks will be granting free admission in honor of Earth Day 2024. Spend your Saturday celebrating Earth Day in nature (just be prepared for more people and less parking). Here are our favorite state parks in WA if you need inspiration.

17. Eat, drink, and shop at Spring Foodie Fest

Calling all foodies! Head to the Stone House Cafe on April 20 for the 2024 Spring Foodie Fest . From 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. there will be DJs, retail vendors, and food from Seattle’s favorite pop-ups.

18. Attend the Seattle Black Film Festival

The annual Seattle Black Film Festival is taking place during April 25-28 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and Washington Hall in the Central District. Passes are on sale now!

19. Get bubble tea at the annual Seattle Boba Fest

Do you love bubble tea? You can’t miss this annual boba festival in Seattle’s U District on April 27 . Read all about this year’s Seattle Boba Fest before you go.

20. Browse Seattle’s weekend markets

See our guide to the Seattle farmers markets and our weekly roundup of Seattle’s weekend markets !

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TIMED TICKETS

Arrival times are scheduled in 15 minute increments from open to close. If you are more than 5 minutes early or late, see an attendant for the next available time.

We offer discounts for youth (ages 5 – 12) and seniors (age 65+) through online ticketing, self-service ticket kiosks, and in our admissions office. Military, King County resident and tribal rates are only available at the admissions office; must show ID for discount.

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All guests, bags, and parcels are subject to a security screening upon entry.

• No pets (service animals allowed)

COMBO TICKETS

When purchasing a Space Needle + Chihuly Garden and Glass combination ticket, you’ll be prompted to choose a Space Needle arrival time. Visit Chihuly Garden and Glass any time on the same day .

For help contact guest services or call (206) 905-2100

The Seattle skyline is defined by the iconic Space Needle, it's a beautiful thing to behold. Travel & Leisure

Getting Here

The nation’s first full-scale commercial monorail system and a beloved Seattle landmark, the Seattle Center Monorail provides a fun, quick, and convenient link between downtown Seattle and the Space Needle. Connect all the way to the airport & beyond by linking your monorail ride with Sound Transit bus & light rail.

Due to limited parking availability at the Space Needle, we recommend utilizing Seattle Center’s nearby parking facilities , just a short walk from the Space Needle.

Valet & Drop-off

Priority valet parking for Guests visiting The Loupe Lounge available at the base with limited parking available for all other Guests. Turn around loop is open for passenger loading & unloading. $19 per hour for general valet parking.

Indulge in an exclusive cocktail & culinary experience atop the Space Needle! Limited edition menus feature showstopping mixology paired with locally influenced food Towers to bring your night out to new heights.

The Loupe Lounge is a 21+ experience.

Food & Beverage Open during normal building hours throughout the day and night.

Local treats on the upper observation level from artisans including Pinkabella Cupcakes and Whidbey Island Ice Cream, plus an espresso bar, beer & wine.

Atmos Wine Bar

Located on the upper observation level, Atmos Wine Bar offers beer and wine, soft drinks, coffee, and grab-and-go snacks.

Suggested Itineraries

Seattle center date night.

Pregame your event at the Space Needle

Space Needle in 60 Minutes

Seattle   Travel Guide

Best Times To Visit Seattle

The best time to visit Seattle is from September to October. Summer marks the city's high season, meaning room rates rise and availability drops, while cold winter weather can deter even the most avid sightseers. Early fall, however, is a sweet spot for tourism: Summer weather lingers as the crowds disperse, leaving plenty of hotel rooms (and lower rates) up for grabs. Meanwhile, spring offers lower lodging rates as well as warmer temps, but you'll likely encounter some rain and cooler breezes. Just remember to pack the appropriate attire to battle chilly winds and yes, the seemingly ever-present drizzle.

Weather in Seattle

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

Find Flight and Hotel Deals

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Popular Times to Visit Seattle

Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016.

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Welcome to Seattle Southside

It's time to explore, shop, or just relax at the beach - whatever you're into you'll find it all right here.

Plan the perfect trip to Seattle Southside. Discover fun things to do, the best hotels to stay, the great variety of food and drink options, and more. Seattle Southside is a fun and unique destination to visit as well as being a convenient and affordable place from which to explore one of the most unique areas in the Pacific Northwest.

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Experience Springtime in Seattle Southside

Find out why Seattle Southside shines during the spring season and why it's the perfect time to experience the destination's charms.

Things to Do

Looking for fun things to do in Seattle? Some of the best things to do in Seattle are in Seattle Southside!

Food & Drink

Whether you’re in search of a restaurant near you, seafood restaurants, a quaint café, Indian restaurants, family-friendly restaurants, Italian restaurants or fine dining, with over 100 places to choose from you’ll find Seattle Southside ready to serve.

Where to Stay

Go ahead, stay an extra night.

Plan Your Trip

Only 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle and 20 minutes north of Tacoma, Seattle Southside is a happening hub that’s perfectly situated between urban attractions and natural wonders (not to mention near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport).

Use this free digital trail to earn prizes!

Bubble Tea Trail

Discover the Bubble Tea Trail, a collection of 22 different tea shops serving up the sweetest bubble tea in Seattle Southside.

In need of retail therapy? This community features more than five million square feet of shopping, from high-end buys, discount steals, household goods, boutique finds, beauty trends, outdoor gear, and more.

The boating capital of the Pacific Northwest offers six miles of shoreline, public beaches, waterfront parks, fishing piers and top-notch restaurants—all within close proximity to downtown Seattle.

Surrounding the airport, this city is a great place to rest and get a bite to eat. With over 30 hotels, you'll find the perfect accommodations to fit your travel style.

Seattle Southside Events Calendar

Find awesome things to do in SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines, and beyond.

Featured Stories

52 microadventures in 52 weeks.

Seattle Southside is full of incredible sights, activities, eats, and more. With so many places to explore, where do you…

Family Dining in Seattle Southside

We often brag on our incredible international dining scene here in Seattle Southside, but what about when you need to…

Top 10 Beautiful Places in Seattle to Visit This Spring

Washington State is known for beautiful cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips, and rhododendrons (the State flower). And Seattle Southside is no…

8 Really Fun Things To Do On A Rainy Day in Seattle

Did you know that although Seattle is known to be the “Rainy City” we actually receive less rain on average…

11 Family-Friendly Fun Things to Do Indoors in Seattle Southside.

With the change in weather, we’re all going to need some great ideas for indoor activities and things to do…

Best Places to See Mt. Rainier in Seattle Southside

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10 of the Best Trails, Parks & Beaches in Seattle Southside

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6 of the Best Whale Watching Tours in Seattle

Looking for some of the best whale watching tours in Seattle?

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May 18 to Dec 31

Concerts at Climate Pledge Arena

Your guide to concerts coming to Climate Pledge Arena. Check out the line up here. Madonna - February 17 & 18Marc Anthony - February 23rdFall…

Afternoon Tea

We love how everyone has embraced the tradition of afternoon tea at the Merc. We've added a few things to amp up the fancy, you'll…

Concerts at Lumen Field

Big-time shows coming to Lumen Field. Here are upcoming shows to check out in Seattle.Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Tour – May 15Kenny Chesney with Zac…

Blue Poppy Day

The mystical Himalayan blue poppy, Meconopsis, will grace us with its ethereal beauty once again at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. Come celebrate these fabulous…

Northwest Swing Pop-Up Musical Performance

Enjoy a live jazz performance in the Great Gallery! Northwest Swing, part of the Boeing Employees' Concert Band, is an all-volunteer 20-piece big band dedicated…

Pacific Rhythms: A Cultural Odyssey through Movement

Experience pacific northwest spring from #seattlesouthside, experience builder, quick search, location map.

• Entertainment

14 things to do in the Seattle area this Mother’s Day weekend

Welcome to the weekend! Whether you’re looking to celebrate Mother’s Day or just enjoy the next few days, here’s our latest on local things to do.

Mother’s Day

• From tea and flower-arranging to waterfall hikes and road trips, here are 13 Mother’s Day experiences in Seattle and beyond, at any price point.
• Head out on one of these five Seattle-area outings to see May flowers like rhododendrons and peonies (including a few special Mother’s Day events).
• Try one of our recipe writers’ Mother’s Day recs: these lemon blueberry morning rolls and this must-have zucchini frittata .

Eats and drinks

• Our drinks writer’s latest round of Seattle-area bar openings is eclectic: There’s a big new Fremont tasting room, sports bars, spots for dog lovers, a wine-and-bottle and more. Here’s the 411.
• Here are 46 new Seattle restaurants you should know about. Read on, fans of Vietnamese and Indian food, or lovers of bagels, burritos, chicken and more.
• From Seattle to Spokane and the beloved Burke-Gilman to a pair of “Centennial” trails, these six cycling routes have something for everyone.

Movies and TV

• Here’s everything to know about this year’s Seattle International Film Festival , from critic Moira Macdonald’s recs for what to see to a beginner’s guide to navigating the festival.
• A new season of “Naked and Afraid XL,” featuring former Washington resident Kaiela Hobart, premieres on Sunday on Discovery Channel.

Music and theater

• Thunderpussy is celebrating their new album “West” in concert with the Seattle Symphony on Friday.
• Check out Seattle-born rapper Macklemore’s new song about the Israel-Hamas war , “Hind’s Hall.” All proceeds will benefit United Nations relief workers.
• “The Lehman Trilogy” at Seattle’s ACT Contemporary Theatre is a compelling saga of greed. The Tony Award-winning play runs through May 19.
• If you’ve never seen live opera, Seattle Opera’s “Barber of Seville” is the one to try out, with its combination of slapstick comedy and captivating music.
• “Your House Is Not Just a House,” out this month, is the debut children’s book by Idris Goodwin, Seattle Children’s Theatre artistic director.
• The new anthology “The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration” was coedited by Seattle writer and historian Frank Abe and poet and scholar Floyd Cheung.

Most Read Entertainment Stories

• Review: Rolling Stones wield rock 'n’ roll immortality in Seattle VIEW
• Concert lineup for Marymoor Live includes Slash, Air Supply
• Bob Ross' legacy lives on in new 'The Joy of Painting' series
• 6 upcoming book releases to devour this summer
• PNW-set 'Gasoline Rainbow' captures electric final snapshot of youth WATCH

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

President Joe Biden to visit Seattle this weekend

President biden to visit seattle on friday.

This Friday, President Biden will be visiting Seattle.

SEATTLE - President Joe Biden is expected to visit Seattle this weekend , with planned events happening on Friday and Saturday.

According to White House officials, President Joe Biden will participate in two campaign events in the Bay Area on Friday, May 10, before leaving from San Francisco to Seattle.

How long will President Biden be in Seattle?

The President is expected to be in Seattle for at least two days. He will land in Seattle on Friday, May 10, and he will participate in campaign receptions through Saturday, May 11.

The President could also participate in other events organized by the White House.

The exact time and location are not being announced, only given to attendees after they RSVP. White House officials say additional information will be released later.

Seattle's 520 Bridge to close this weekend, plus more traffic woes with Biden's visit

Get ready to pack your patience if you're planning a trip to and from Seattle and the Eastside this weekend.

Drivers might get caught in traffic as the President travels between the events on his schedule. Plan ahead if you are traveling near any of these locations throughout the day.

Will roads be shut down for Biden?

According to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), "The U.S. Secret Service has the authority to provide security, including requiring intermittent closures of freeways and streets. The flow of buses and cars in downtown Seattle and around the region will be affected. While the President’s exact travel route and timing are not published in advance, travelers can still plan ahead by anticipating delays and temporary road closures."

You can stay updated by following our live traffic map and following King County Metro , SDOT Traffic , and WSDOT Traffic .

When was the last time President Biden visited Seattle?

President biden signs earth day executive order in seattle.

President Joe Biden delivered Earth Day remarks at Seward Park, Seattle Friday morning. Biden made his case to tackle the climate crisis, safeguard our nation’s forests, and discuss the impacts of wildfires.

The last time President Biden was in Seattle was Earth Day 2022.

On Friday, April 22, 2022, the President visited Seattle and met with local leaders to sign an executive order intended to help restore national forests devastated by wildfires, drought and blight, using an Earth Day visit to press for more action on the environment.

Biden also visited Green River College in Auburn, Washington to talk about efforts to bring down prescription drug costs for American families.

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President Biden to visit Seattle this week for campaign receptions

by KOMO News Staff

SEATTLE — President Joe Biden is making a return to the Emerald City this week.

According to the White House, Biden will be in Seattle for "campaign receptions" on Friday and Saturday following a brief stint in San Francisco. Biden is scheduled to touch down in the Bay Area around 7:40 p.m. Thursday and will leave for Seattle around 4:10 p.m. Friday.

The White House also confirmed Thursday that Biden is expected to land at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 5:50 p.m. Friday and is scheduled to participate in a campaign event in Seattle at 7 p.m.

The president’s visit to Seattle on Friday and Saturday will also bring delays at SEA and road closures around the Puget Sound region.

According to Alaska Airlines, “Security protocol requires all air traffic at SEA to stop at least 30 minutes before the arrival of the presidential aircraft. All airlines could experience potential delays during this time including Alaska and Horizon flights. Additional flight impacts could also happen when Air Force One departs on Saturday.”

ALSO SEE | Sun-drenched Mother's Day weekend to bring several road closures to western Washington

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) said it expects “significant travel delays and detours” around the Seattle area during Biden’s visit.

The U.S. Secret Service has the authority to intermittently close roads and freeways during Biden’s visit for security purposes. While Biden’s exact travel route and timing are currently unknown, the SDOT said travelers can plan ahead by “anticipating delays and temporary road closures,” including the flow of buses and cars in downtown Seattle and around the region being affected.

The SDOT said residents should consider options to get around the city without driving, like riding transit or biking to avoid traffic delays.

The department also said engineers can adjust traffic signal timing based on the expected closures and may also post messages on dynamic message signs when needed.

King County Metro also publishes service advisories online and sends transit alerts to riders. The SDOT said residents can see if a bus route is affected by closures on King County Metro’s service advisories page .

Biden last visited Seattle in April 2022 during an Earth Day trip to the Pacific Northwest.

2022 Find of the Month Archive

Noisy children, municipal day, in-city living, official city flower, music at the market, rental housing, curfew in ballard, police chief search, irish independence.

A 1947 memo from a Seattle City Light staffer to SCL Superintendent E.R. Hoffman read, in full:

In our last bulletin we had a picture of a back yard playground for the children advocating keeping them off the streets and flood lighting the yard at night.

Yesterday and today we have had two calls on it from some women, I presume old maids, who just gave us the devil for advocating play grounds in your own back yard for your own children. Both calls were switched to Chatfield, one of which is attached. This goes to prove that you will always have criticism regardless of how high your ideals and principles may be.

The referenced phone call was transcribed as follows:

Children are noisy and troublesome and cause a great deal of inconvenience, and people should think of that before they bring them into the world. Of course they don't think of it, but I don't see why the rest of us should suffer for it. They should keep them in the house where they don't bother everyone in the neighborhood with their noise.

The subject line of the memo? "You can't please everyone."

Seattle's first Municipal Day was celebrated on June 21, 1913. It was conceived of as a day to demonstrate the City's services to its citizens, as well as a holiday for City employees. The day began with about 2500 of the 3300 City employees marching in what the Seattle Times said was the longest parade seen in Seattle to that point. The procession included municipal vehicles, horses, and fire equipment, along with exhibits explaining the functions and services of City departments. Policemen's and firemen's bands provided music, and garbage wagons brought up the rear of the parade.

At the end of the parade route, streetcars waited to bring the employees to Woodland Park for a picnic and games. The Lighting Department strung electric wires into the woods from nearby light poles in order to heat coffee and beans. The day was topped off by an evening ball at the Leschi Pavilion that included a reception for former mayors and electric light decorations.

The day was deemed a success, and the following December, City Council passed an ordinance declaring it to be an annual holiday. It was to be celebrated on June 6 to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire, which was seen to have birthed "a civic spirit [which] made possible a New Seattle with higher hopes and ambitions and an assured destiny of civic greatness." The 1914 Municipal Day, the first authorized by the ordinance, would fall on the 25th anniversary of the fire.

When planning for 1914's holiday came around, city officials decided against repeating the parade. A Times article headlined "Municipal Parade Believed Mistake" said that during the 1913 parade, officials "heard frequent expressions of 'there goes our money' and 'that is the procession of tax-eaters.' It had a peculiarly ominous sound to the department heads and they do not want to listen to it again." An upcoming vote on a new city charter was on city officials' minds and they were not enthusiastic about emphasizing the size of the City government.

About 5000 employees and family members attended the 1914 picnic at Woodland Park, including all city officials other than Mayor Gill, who was home with a broken arm. This turned out to be the high point for the holiday. In 1915, there were about 2000 participants. A notice in the Seattle Times about 1916's Municipal Day reported that the City's day laborers were given the day off, but other employees remained at work and "no demonstration of any kind" was planned for the day. The ordinance establishing Municipal Day was repealed in 1917.

As part of an effort to spur downtown residential development in the 1970s, Mayor Wes Uhlman created an In-City Living Task Force in conjunction with the Downtown Seattle Development Association. The group was charged with recommending zoning changes that would encourage development of housing in and near the central business district, as well as proposing other actions the City could take on this front.

The mayor had a vision for what downtown Seattle could look like:

The downtown streets of the city I visualize will teem with people around the clock – shoppers, workers, sightseers, and those who stroll for recreation and enjoyment. This throbbing sidewalk activity will discourage street crime and stimulate downtown business activity, in contrast with current trends. Various forms of retail trade, entertainment, and public facilities will fuse into a compact community with flavor and excitement unique to it – the kind of atmosphere which is impossible to find in the sterile suburban shopping center. People here will walk from where they live to the Public Market, the waterfront park, the Seattle Center, and a whole variety of new downtown attractions. And with this development of a central pedestrian community will come a reduction in automobile traffic and its accompanying problems. Ultimately, I see the downtown area blossoming into a gigantic trafficless mall, expanding from the Seattle Center to Pioneer Square and served by free, silent, non-polluting public transportation.

The 1972 groundbreaking of the 26-story Royal Crest Condominiums at Third and Lenora was seen as the first tangible evidence of the task force’s success in creating downtown housing. (Notes for Mayor Uhlman about the ceremony’s schedule included, after introductions and other remarks, “Mayor get in bulldozer and helps drive over or through something.”) The task force continued at least until 1977 and promoted other ideas including a monorail station in the Denny Regrade, extension northward of the “Magic Carpet” transit free-ride area, and a boulevard along Third Avenue.

In 1946, momentum was building to name the chrysanthemum as Seattle's official city flower. About 30 local flower and garden clubs had banded together to request the designation and the Board of Park Commissioners favored the move. After discussion at a Harbors and Public Grounds Committee meeting on August 13, Councilmember Mildred Powell asked for an ordinance to be prepared.

However, at some point in the process, it was discovered that the dahlia had already been adopted as the city flower in 1913. The issue was referred back to the committee for further study, with Powell wishing to get further input from the public. The Seattle Times ran a weekslong poll to gauge the public's preferences.

At this point the heartfelt lobbying really kicked in. Proponents of the chrysanthemum , the dahlia , and the rose all wrote to City Council and also to the Times, extolling the virtues of their choice, sometimes at great length. The Times printed frequent updates to their polling results, with the mum taking the early lead, later overtaken by the rose.

Meanwhile, the Tacoma & District Chrysanthemum Society reported that one of their recent meetings had featured "a lengthy discussion" about Seattle's potential designation of that flower. They reminded the council that Tacoma had adopted the chrysanthemum in 1934 (as prominently noted on the society's letterhead) and thought it "did not seem practical" for two neighboring cities to have the same official flower. The letter concluded, "We are of the opinion that a more friendly competition between the flower lovers of our two cities would be maintained if Seattle would forgo the adoption of the Chrysanthemum."

The Times poll closed on October 1, and the paper reported that Councilmember Powell asked for the latest figures before bringing the issue to a vote in the committee. In the end, the Council punted, adopting the official slogan " City of Flowers " rather than choosing a specific species. However, the dahlia ordinance was not repealed, so it quietly remained the city flower despite coming in last in the Times poll.

A 1907 petition from Beacon Hill residents reads:

We, your petitioners, property owners, and residents of the 12th ward do respectfully call your attention to the fact that the city of Seattle is maintaining a pest house being used for smallpox's purposes within said ward located on Cedar River pipe line right-away [sic].

We your petitioners do respectfully maintain that said pest house is injurious to property values, and dangerous to health in said ward, and has for all the years last past stopped the growth of said city of Seattle Southward, and will continue so to do if not removed, now therefor we your petitioners do respectfully petition your Honorable body to at the earliest possible moment have said pest house removed from said ward.

Numerous articles in the Seattle Times over time reiterated residents’ objections - mainly economic - to the location in their neighborhood of the city's hospital for contagious diseases. They believed the presence of the pest house was “keeping many persons who would otherwise be anxious to build homes there from doing so.” Residents did not recommend moving the hospital to another location within city limits “where it might soon become just as objectionable,” but suggested the privately owned Blake Island as a possible solution.

Fast forward to November 1914, when a multi-part Seattle Times headline declared:

TORCH APPLIED TO OLD HOSPITAL Between 300 and 400 Residents of Beacon Hill Join Hands and Circle About Structure as It Burns Jefferson Park Now Free of Ancient Shack

The article reiterated how the Beacon Hill Improvement Club had been advocating for years for the pest house to be moved to another location. The new hospital at Firland had finally opened the week before, and the city told the club that “a public burning, in which the people who have been so persistent in their efforts to rid the community of the establishment might have the pleasure of applying the torch” was OK by them. The removal of the pest house cleared the way for the opening of the golf course at Jefferson Park.

This 1925 petition’s first line recently caught our eye:

We the undersigned tenants of the Public Markets request that the Wonderphones be put back in their former locations.

…which of course led us to want to know what a Wonderphone was. It turned out to be a type of microphone (which incidentally was used in KJR’s first foray into radio) but also a type of amplification/loudspeaker , which seems to be what was being referred to in the petition. The Wonderphones had apparently been used to amplify musicians in the market. The text continued:

A recent City Ordinance known as the Hawkers ordinance has been employed in stopping our music.

This likely refers to Ordinance 45452 , which regulated "peddling and hawking" and prohibited the sale of anything but newspapers, magazines, bread, milk, and ice downtown between Denny and Dearborn. It seems that buskers were also covered by the ordinance as they might solicit funds.

The 76 petitioners argued for the return of music to the market:

We find it has hurt our business to such an extent that it will not be long before a good many of us merchants are out of business.

We have never received any complaints, as to its being a nuisance from the public or adjoining merchants.

Each and every one of us enjoyed the music.

The issue of music at the market came to the fore again in the 1970s. Street musicians were outlawed until a 1974 ordinance created a path for licensing and regulating them. A meeting of the Public Safety and Health Committee the next year specifically addressed musicians at Pike Place Market, and not everyone was as enthusiastic about them as the 1925 petitioners had been. One market vendor complained that "somebody mashing guitar, screaming at the top of his voice" hurt his business and asked for more regulations.

Clerk File 75125 from 1919 includes correspondence and data relating to a rental housing crisis in Seattle. The Tenants Protective Association wrote to the mayor urging him to support an ordinance regulating the rental market, citing significant and rapid rent increases and growing numbers of eviction notices. The file includes various notices of raised rents, data relating to increases in specific buildings, and correspondence from renters asking for help (one of which asked for "relief from the Rent Hogs").

A list of Quincy Apartments tenants shows significant rises from summer to November 1st; for example, from $35 to $60 for one tenant, and from $15 to $32.50 for another. Similar lists were included for a number of other buildings, with information compiled by the Tenants Protective Association.

There were also reports of all tenants being given notice to vacate the premises as new lease holders took over, and accounts of ownership changing hands multiple times within a year or two. A widow reported that the ceiling in her bathroom had fallen off six months prior due to a leak upstairs and had never been fixed.

At this time, leases on apartment buildings were apparently bought separately from the property itself, with leaseholders being responsible for maintenance and also for setting and collecting rents. This period saw a great deal of speculation in those leases with constant turnover of ownership. Each time the leases were sold for a higher price, the new owner charged higher rents to cover the cost of their purchase. One lease was reported as being purchased for $5500, with $3000 going to the previous owner and $2500 to the real estate firm that negotiated the deal.

The clerk file also includes financial statements from owners showing their income and expenses, including increases in their costs for coal and fuel oil, taxes, janitor salaries, and so on. Commenting on these accounts, the King County Fair Price Committee noted that "the reports show that in the most instances the present manager is not making a large profit, the high rental is due to the turn over of the lease – some houses have had the leases sold several times within a few months. It is a vicious practice which should be stopped by law."

Many correspondents blamed Japanese lease holders for the high prices. One tenant wrote, "The Japs are taking full advantage of the situation and the dividends will go to Japan...to increase the propaganda in that country for investment in the Pacific Coast States which Japan hopes and undoubtedly will control economically." Another tenant warned that "raising rents to such exorbitant figures is creating an unrest," and that "[i]f this Bolsheviki and I.W.W. tendency is to be stamped out in Seattle and the country at large," speculation must be curbed and rent stabilized.

In a letter dated February 4, 1896, Ballard mayor George G. Startup explained his reasons for vetoing an ordinance recently passed by the Ballard City Council. Referred to as the Curfew Ordinance, the measure made it a misdemeanor for boys and girls under sixteen years old "to be on the streets, alleys, or public grounds of the City of Ballard" after 9 pm during the months of April through August, and after 8 pm the rest of the year. Exceptions were made if they were with a parent or guardian, or had written permission. Children found in violation could be fined up to five dollars or jailed for up to two days. The town marshal was to ring the fire bell each night to signal the start of curfew.

Startup’s list of objections included:

First, it is my opinion that the enaction of this ordinance will greatly injure the hitherto good name of our fair city. I submit that such an ordinance carried out and published to the world will convey the impression that we have in our young people of both sexes a great many incorrigibles and candidates for the reform school and that the authorities are utterly unable to cope with them without practically declaring martial law, which is a blotch on the escutcheon of any community even in the case of an emergency.

Second: I submit that we have less rowdyism here than will be found on an average when you consider the inefficiency of our police department which consists of only two men.

Third: I further submit that no good can come of a measure that authorizes the imprisonment of children under 16 years of age except they be actually guilty of some crime. I consider such a course to be demoralizing in the extreme for instance throw a half dozen boys & girls in to our common jail and imagine the result. They are then fairly launched on the highway to desperation and lawlessness. Such treatment of the young in my opinion tends to break down their manhood and womanhood and leads them on to recked [sic] and desperate lives.

Startup asserted that the majority of their constituents were not in favor of the law. Despite his objections, his veto was overridden by the council.

As Seattle looked for a new Chief of Police in 1946, Mayor William F. Devin recommended Richard Foster for the position in part because of his high scores on the examination. Devin saw the appointment as a move toward professionalizing the police force and creating a merit-based system that would help to eliminate cronyism and other problems in the department.

However, the City Council did not confirm Foster's appointment, with their stated opposition based around the fact that he was not from Seattle. Many citizens agreed with the council, writing letters and signing petitions promoting the view that the job should go to a Seattleite.

One resident, Nellie Casey Pappas, wrote a poem to express her opposition to the appointment:

Seattle! Just remember, You want the world to know About your wonderful scenery, And everything you grow.

But it certainly seems funny; When you want a Chief and pay him taxpayers' money You try and send it to another City,-- And our men [patrolling] streets. Oh! what a pity.

Of course we need a good Chief-- And businesslike too; Surely Seattle has a man To do this work for you.

Kansas City may be our relation, But we have boys from our own plantation; And why not keep our money home, So our dear boys won't have to roam.

So Councilmen--take this one under advice; We know Seattle will be glad-- Let us give our own men all the work we have.

At the bottom of the page after the typed poem, Pappas included this handwritten addendum: "If you can't find a man in Seattle that can do a good job. Let us have a Seattle Woman."

After the Foster appointment failed, Mayor Devin proposed SPD Sergeant George Eastman for the job and he was confirmed. Eastman served as chief until 1952.

In the summer of 1919, City Council discussed a resolution inviting Irish independence leader Eamon de Valera to Seattle. The resolution began:

Whereas, the people of Ireland, having for centuries suffered the long catalogue of wrongs and oppressions set out in the American Declaration of Independence, having, like the American Colonists, petitioned in vain for the redress of these wrongs, and having, like these Colonists, finally and reluctantly come to the conclusion that nothing but final separation from England could secure to them the natural rights of man, and therefore proclaimed Ireland to be a free and independent Republic and organized a government with Eamonn De Valera, a native of the United States, as the President of the Irish Republic...

After escaping from jail in England, where he had been held for his pro-independence activities, de Valera came to America to raise funds and rally support for Irish nationhood. The council's resolution ended with a determination to request that he visit Seattle as part of this tour "to address its people upon the condition of affairs in Ireland."

Apparently the language inviting him as the leader of Ireland was a sticking point, so another version was drafted without that designation. This did not go over well with some members of the council and Seattle's Irish community; the invitation as a private citizen instead of a president was "practically an insult to Mr. de Valera," as one man was quoted saying in the Seattle Times. The disagreement over language ending up causing the resolution to fail.

However, local citizens and groups such as Irish societies and the Central Labor Council continued to urge de Valera to visit, and he eventually did come to Seattle and Tacoma in November 1919. A letter to the editor in the Seattle P-I argued against the event:

Suppose the government of a large English city should invite a rebel and an outlaw to be its guest of honor and address the citizens as the pretended "president of the Republic of Alabama," in behalf of secession? As Americans would we regard this as anything less than an intolerable insult?

Naysayers aside, the P-I reported that de Valera was greeted by cheering crowds and a parade down Second Avenue.

Hoping to use zoning laws to regulate communes that were starting to appear in Seattle, some homeowners in 1971 petitioned the city to change the definition of "family" in the municipal code. A staff memo about the potential amendment noted that "undoubtedly, some of the objection is based on grounds of propriety, morality, deviation from traditional standards of building and grounds maintenance, loud music and noise, nighttime activity, and the like." The memo helpfully included a definition:

The typical commune consists of a loosely organized group of people living together in one dwelling unit and sharing in the costs and labor involved. Members are usually young and of both sexes. Any relationship by blood or marriage among them is only incidental. Membership in the group may change readily and often. The housing is usually rented. Maintenance of the building and grounds is often poor by traditional standards.

A proposed code change limited the number of non-related people in a household to five. At a Planning Commission public hearing, several citizens spoke in favor, hoping that requiring most occupants to be related by blood or marriage would reduce the number of rooming houses and communes. The hearing minutes report one citizen testifying that "the character of single family areas should not be destroyed by people moving in and out and flaunting the rules." A representative from the Central Seattle Community Council spoke in opposition, saying the amendment attacked a lifestyle and reduced individual rights. City department representatives were concerned about enforcement, particularly about having to ask to see marriage certificates.

Planning Director John Spaeth asked staffer Jim Berkey to investigate "some of the rooming and boarding houses that offer that 'new style of living'" and report back. Berkey checked out several houses in the University Park area that were reported by a neighbor to be communes and wrote up his findings . Details he noted from the houses included "moderately loud 'rock' music," windows covered in butcher paper, overgrown plantings, and a motorcycle. At one residence he noted that "a long-haired youth came out of the house and worked on a disabled car parked in the street." As a whole, he noted.

There is very little to distinguish the appearance of the communes from the buildings occupied by traditional families. The chief thing I noticed is that lawns were not recently mowed or weeds pulled. Perhaps concern about keeping up appearances according to "establishment" standards is anathema to typical commune residents. However, I also observed other properties in the area, apparently not communes, which had equally unkempt yards.

In the end, the proposed changes to the definition of "family" were dropped, at least in part because it would have unintended consequences for group homes for disabled children and other small-scale care facilities.

The Seattle Sunday Times of December 11, 1942, ran on its front page an article titled, "Pupils lose school bus because of rowdyism." Roosevelt High School students from Laurelhurst had been behaving badly enough to warrant a warning two weeks prior that they risked losing bus service if their conduct did not improve. The paper reported that boys "have been pelting bus drivers with missiles, on occasion have lighted ‘stink bombs’ made of photographic films which generate poisonous chlorine gas, and their behavior generally is reported to be disgraceful."

Roosevelt’s principal attributed most of the trouble to a "hazing spirit" among sophomores who felt they "must show their authority" to new freshmen. (He said most older boys came home later due to sports and activities so were not on the bus.) With busses urgently needed for transportation of workers in war industries, the principal said the boys should recognize the privilege of having a bus provided for them.

A citizen named Donald Haas (who was also a regional vice president of the National Apartment Owners Association) sent the news clipping to City Council along with a letter decrying the "appalling rowdyism" and declaring it "a shock to the citizens of our fair city." He continued,

However, for such rowdyism amongst juveniles there is always a definite cause and a definite cure. When youth becomes a problem to the community and juvenile delinquency rears its ugly head the cause is always SUB-STANDARD HOUSING! The cure would of course be obvious, nothing less than a SLUM CLEARANCE PROJECT for Laurelhurst.

Haas closed his letter by asking Council to act so that "the slums of Laurelhurst may be cleared away and these poor unfortunates cured so that they will grow into honorable citizens!"

Municipal Archives, City Clerk

Anne Frantilla, City Archivist Address: 600 Fourth Avenue, Third Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104 Mailing Address: PO Box 94728, Seattle, WA, 98124-4728 Phone: (206) 684-8353 Email: [email protected]

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