Destination Guides: Seattle, United States - Events & Entertainment

The Seattle Center hosts more than 1,500 events every year, including summer festivals celebrating the cultures of the Philippines (June), China (June), Brazil (August) and Tibet (August).

January - Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s celebrations

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

February - Mardi Gras

March - Imagination Celebration/Art Festival for Children

Seattle Fringe Festival

April - Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival

May - Yacht season opens (first Sat)

International Children’s Theater Festival

First run performances by groups from around the world.

University Street Fair - Crafts, entertainment.

Northwest Folklife Festival - largest festival in the country.

Pike Place Market Festival - food, music, crafts.

Seattle International Film Festival

June

Fremont Solstice Parade and

Fremont Arts& Crafts Fair- crafts, food

Out to Lunch Summer Downtown concerts

Summer Nights on the Pier Concert Series

July

4th of July fireworks over Lake Union and Elliott Bay

Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival

Caribbean Festival- A Taste of Soul- food, music

Chinatown International District Summer Festival- performances, food, crafts

Bite of Seattle Food Fest

Pacific Northwest Arts and Crafts Fair

Seafair

August Freeway Park Festival

Summer Concerts at Solstice Plaza

Annual Sunset Supper at the Market

Art-Nature-Literature Festival

Annual Rainier Valley Heritage Festival

Annual Tibetfest

September

Bumbershoot- festival of music, visual arts, crafts

Taste Of Washington Farms

The Annual Taste of Washington Farms takes place on Labor Day. This celebration of Washington agriculture combines farmers, educational groups, tastings, chef demonstrations, and kids activities in a fun learning environment.

Location: Pike Place Market

Contact: Phil Megenhardt 682-7453 ext. 240

October

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest of the Austrian-American club, the german-american chamber of commerce, the Swedish Club, the Austrian-American council

Location: 1920 Dexter Avenue N., Swedish Club, Seattle

Contact: Heidi Busek (206) 374-0244

Sponsored by: Gaerman-American chamber of commerce

December

Christmas Ship- brightly lit vessels tour the beaches with vocal groups singing to people on shore

Theater, Music, Dance

Seattle has a number of theatres, dance groups and music. You'll find enough variety within the Pacific Northwest to satisfy any avid performing arts lover.

Seattle Opera

206-389-7676;

Intiman Theatre

206-269-190

Seattle Symphony Orchestra

305 Harrison Street 206 - 443-4747

Tickets, 206 - 443-4740

Pacific Northwest Ballet

4649 Sunnyside Avenue North

206 – 441-2424

Empty Space Theatre

95 South Jackson Street

P.O. Box 1748

206 - 467-6000

Seattle Repertory Theatre

155 Mercer Street

206 - 443-2222

Sports

Key Arena is home in season to Seattle's National Basketball Association team the Super Sonics,

Seattle Mariners play major league baseball at Safeco Field , the 46,500 seat stadium with a retractable roof.

NFL Seahawks play football at Qwest Field.

Seattle Thunderbirds., Seattle’s hockey team play in Seattle Center and Key arenas 206-684-7200

Bicycle rentals and excursions: Terrene Tours 206-325-5569

Golf courses are plentiful as are driving ranges. Seattle Park Dept. has information: 206-684-4075

Hiking and horseback riding: Miles of forest trails are available. Call U.S. Forest Service 206-470-4060

Fishing is available from piers at Green Lake and Lake Washington, in county parks and in lakes and streams. The Washington State Dept. of Wildlife can be reached at 425-775-1311 for license information.

Private companies can arrange deep sea fishing, salmon, salt water fishing and fishing on Elliott Bay. Check the telephone directories.

White water rafting and bald eagle sight seeing tours are available.

Mountain climbing and skiing are possibilities.

Beaches: Swimming and scuba diving are favorite summer sports. There are saltwater beaches at Alki and Golden Gardens, and freshwater beaches on Lake Washington and Green Lake.

Tennis: The City Park Dept. maintains nearly 100 public courts.

Automobile Racing: There are three major raceways in the area. Seattle International Raceway, Evergreen Speedway, and Spanaway Speedway. Racing schedules vary.