Congratulations, you've made it to the weekend! All week long, we've been posting lists of Seattle events to prepare you for this moment (including cheap & easy weekend events, ways to celebrate Friday the 13th, and the best movies to see this weekend), but we realize there's a lot to sort through. To help you out, we've plucked the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, whether you want to freak out about fermented apples at Washington Cider Week, explore gorgeous flower fields at the Snohomish Sunflower Festival, or dance on the waterfront for a good cause at SEAchanger.
Heading to Portland or Tacoma? Check out EverOut to find things to do there and in Seattle, all in one place.
Jump to: Arts & Music Festivals | Cultural Festivals | Fall Events | Food & Drink Events | Major Concerts | Oktoberfests
ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVALS
Bellwether 2019: Taking Root
This year's festival of arts and performance spreads from the Bellevue Arts Museum to various downtown Bellevue venues, including the Meydenbauer Center and City Hall. There'll be an opening bash, pop-up art markets, and other special events, as well as the work of more than 40 artists on display. A big team of darlings of the arts and music scenes (SassyBlack, Anthony White, Michelle de la Vega, Ellen Ito, Janet Galore, Elisheba Johnson, Angelina Villalobos, and Jonathan Zwickel) have acted as curators, with the trio SuttonBeresCuller handling the general direction of the festival. See the full schedule here.
Friday–Sunday
Homecoming Festival
Town Hall, a wonderful organization that hosts inexpensive, accessible talks by eminent scholars, writers, politicians, musicians, scientists, and others, is thrilled to be back in its home after a couple of years of renovation. To celebrate, they'll host a bonanza of lectures by everyone from Marilynne Robinson (Fri) to Ibram X. Kendi (Sat) to June Diane Raphael (Sun).
Friday-Sunday
Huichica Walla Walla
This inaugural all-ages music festival in Walla Walla wine country boasts a stacked lineup of indie-rock and folk artists like Yo La Tengo, Fruit Bats, Destroyer, Waxahatchee, Titus Andronicus, and many others.
Friday–Saturday
Imagine Music & Arts Festival 2019
The mission of this music and arts festival is "to bring a sense of beauty, joy and awe to the world, offered up with a bit of love and kindness." So expect a whole lot of aerialists, trance DJs, and fire dancers set against the natural beauty of Doe Bay.
Friday–Sunday
Issaquah International Film Festival
SIFF will take movies to Issaquah for a weekend. See films like a sweet, funny Swedish drama about fourth grade, Sune vs. Sune; the Indian road-trip drama KD; the culture-clash comedy Go Back to China; the devastating Mexican fantasy/horror Tigers Are Not Afraid; and more. Best of all, screenings are free!
Saturday–Sunday
North Bend Blues Walk 2019
Fourteen North Bend venues will play host to local and visiting blues acts like Big Road Blues, $cratch Daddy, Joe Cook Blues Band, Nick Vigarino, Sheri Roberts Greimes, and many others.Â
Saturday
Washington State Fair
The first days of autumn coincide with the latter portion of the annual Washington State Fair in Puyallup, which brings family-friendly activities like rides and games, carnival food, free music and performances, baby animals, cultural events, produce contests, a rodeo, live concerts, and much more.
Friday–Sunday
Plus, check out our arts & culture critics' picks for this week.
CULTURAL FESTIVALS
SeaJAM Festival
This long-running festival of Jewish arts and music boasts a weekend of signature activities, like the Great Challah Contest and live music from international a cappella stars the Maccabeats. New this year is a visit from Will & Grace's Debra Messing (!) and a brunch with Chef Joel Gamoran.
Friday–Sunday
Seattle Center Fiestas Patrias
From Mexico to Brazil, experience various traditions of Latin American countries represented in Washington State and learn how they gained independence from Spain. There will be lots of live performances, visual arts, food, and a market.
Saturday–Sunday
Washington State Fair Fiestas Patrias
Celebrate Mexican culture and arts with a full day of live performances, including those from Chikos de la Banda, Mexican Folklore Tonantzin, DJ Pipo, Banda Vagos, and others.
Sunday
Vashon Japan Festival
The Mukai Farm & Garden will celebrate their newly replanted gardens with a fruit processing demonstration, Taiko drumming, Butoh and modern dance performances (including a community Bon Odori dance), Japanese-inspired hot dogs, and more.
Saturday
Plus, check out our complete festival calendar.
FALL EVENTS
Schack-toberfest
Immortalize your fall spirit by choosing from over 900 glass pumpkins and gourds, handcrafted in the Schack glassblowing studio, to "pick" and purchase.
Friday–Sunday
Snohomish Sunflower Festival
Explore seven acres of sunflowers by foot or by hayride, then stick around for a beer garden and farm-fresh food. Before you go, be sure to cut a bundle of flowers to take home. There will even be a bookable featured photographer for family and individual snaps.
Saturday–Sunday
Washington Cider Week 2019
Freak out about cider at approximately a billion tastings, parties, etc. during a week so special, it lasts 11 days! See the full schedule here.
Friday–Sunday
Witches' Night Out Market
There's nothing more witchy than a Friday the 13th that coincides with a full moon. Embrace your spooky side by shopping from local artisans and mystical merchants, getting psychic readings, and more.
Friday
Plus, check out our list of places to watch football in Seattle and our complete fall calendar.
FOOD & DRINK EVENTS
Chinatown-ID Night Market
Traditionally, night markets are a place to stroll, shop, and nosh on tasty street-food snacks. This annual festival, which draws upwards of 25,000 people each year, takes place beneath the historic Chinatown gate in the International District, and features a slew of Asian street food alongside handmade local goods, fresh cut flowers, and more, plus entertainment that includes live bands and breakdancing groups.
Saturday
Georgetown Beer Festival 2019
Georgetown, one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, has built-in beer history: It’s where Rainier Beer first got its start in 1884 and was once the sixth largest brewery in the world. The inaugural edition of this new festival hosted in the historic district will celebrate the remarkably high volume of brewers in the South End, including Counterbalance Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Flying Lion Brewing, Future Primitive Brewing, Georgetown Brewing, Ghostfish Brewing, Jellyfish Brewing, Lowercase Brewing, Machine House Brewery, Perihelion Brewery, Seapine Brewing, and Tin Dog Brewing. JULIANNE BELL
Saturday
Grilled Cheese Grand Prix 2019
I don’t care if you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or lactose-intolerant: Put down your diet, grab your Lactaid, and get thyself to the Grilled Cheese Grand Prix, which may be the only event this year worth the trip to South Lake Union. There you can try the Bourbon Street Bob Melt, an andouille sausage and Granny Smith combo melted between slabs of sourdough and smothered with Beecher’s and Darigold queso. Or perhaps you’re looking for something a little more Canadian. In that case, go for the Poutine Grilled Cheese, which is layered with garlic butter, slow-cooked roast beef, melted cheddar, manchego, and cheese curds, and—the coup de grace—stuffed with french fries and served with a cup of house gravy. Don’t think about tomorrow; just eat. KATIE HERZOG
Saturday
Mezcal Week
Revel in the smoky agave-based spirit with a week-long celebration with talks, tastings, cocktail specials, pairings, and more.
Friday–Sunday
Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival 2019
Fromage fanciers, rejoice: At this festival celebrating “the terroir of Washington” and benefiting the Washington State Cheesemakers Association, more than 20 artisan and farmstead cheesemakers from all over the state will gather to share their creamy wares. The lineup features a coterie of choice cheesemongers and covetable creameries, like Beecher’s, Twin Sisters, Mt. Townsend, and more, as well as accompaniments from artisans like preserves producer Girl Meets Dirt, plus local beer and wine. Admission includes three beverage tastes and all the cheese your dairy-loving heart desires. JULIANNE BELL
Saturday
Plus, check out our weekend food news roundup.
MAJOR CONCERTS
Avril Lavigne, Jagwar Twin
Fun fact: The music video for Avril Lavigne's 2007 hit "Girlfriend" was the first to reach 100 million views on YouTube. Dig up your old favorite Hot Topic tee and catch the Candian plaid-loving pop princess in Seattle in support of her most recent album, Head Above Water.
Saturday
Ciara, Sir Mix-A-Lot
Okay, I’m doing it, I’m claiming Ciara as one of our very own. And by “our,” I mean Seattle. Of course, the singer-dancer rightfully reps her hometown Atlanta, but since getting involved with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Ciara spends a lot of time here as well. She even has a stake in the ownership of the Sounders, for fuck’s sake. While she’s never quite matched her 2004–2006 run of hits (“1,2 Step,” “Goodies,” and “Like a Boy”—my GOD), Ciara has proven that she’s here to stay after 15 years in the public eye. She’ll be joined by another Seattle legend, Sir Mix-A-Lot, for this date at the fair. JASMYNE KEIMIG
Friday
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Eighties smooth groove legends and eternal purveyors of the light-rock-less-talk genre, Daryl Hall and John Oates (of Hall & Oates, natch) will perform a set together.
Saturday
The Original Misfits
Original Misfits singer Glenn Danzig and original bassist Jerry Only are not done rockin'. The '70s-bred horror-punk progenitors will churn out the hits on this tour stop after opening sets from the Distillers, the Damned, and Cro-Mags.
Saturday
Post Malone, Swae Lee, Tyla Yaweh
Post Malone makes hip-hop for people who love pop music and hate hip-hop. He'll be joined by Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd and Tyla Yaweh on this stop for his Runaway Tour.
Saturday
SEAchanger: Best Coast, the Courtneys
Best Coast and the Courtneys have teamed up to drown everyone in fuzz, feminine longing, and a cloud of weed smoke the size of California. But for a good cause: SEAchanger is a waterfront concert (a partnership between KEXP and Mary’s Place) that raises awareness and money for the hundreds of unsheltered families in King County. Come to show your support for people in our community that need it; stay for the Courtneys’ (Vancouver, BC) 1990s-inspired power pop and Best Coast’s (Los Angeles, duh) stoner, surfer grime. JASMYNE KEIMIG
Saturday
Plus, check out our list of the best music shows in Seattle this week.
OKTOBERFESTS
East Ballard Oktoberfest
A traditional Oompah band will lead you to various Ballard bars offering Oktoberfest food and drink specials and activities.
Saturday
The Great Wallingford Wurst Festival
This family-focused Oktoberfest-style festival, back for the 36th year, will be host to bouncy castles and biergartens alike, with food, games, a sweet shop, and live music to boot.
Friday–Saturday
Green Lake Oktoberfest
Green Lake is starting its own Oktoberfest tradition with two days of Washington craft beer and cider, German-style eats, Weiner dog races, and lively music and dancing.Â
Saturday–Sunday
Plus, check out our complete Oktoberfest calendar.
