Seattle and Tacoma Events and Festivals
Folk music, hydroplanes, film, tulips and a giant state fair around Puget Sound.
Seattle Center, the old World's Fair grounds, is the stage for many of the region's largest festivals, from Northwest Folklife in late May to Bumbershoot on Labor Day weekend. Summer adds neighborhood events like the Fremont Solstice parade and the Capitol Hill Block Party, and Seafair runs for weeks with parades and races on Lake Washington.
Around Tacoma, spring brings the Daffodil Festival parade through four Pierce County towns, and in September the Washington State Fair in Puyallup draws visitors from across the state. Dates change every year, so check with organizers before you plan a trip around an event.
Annual Festivals and Events
A month of tulip fields in bloom about an hour north of Seattle, with farm display gardens and events in nearby towns.
A grand floral parade that travels through Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting on the same day.
Rowing races and a parade of decorated boats through the Montlake Cut between Lake Washington and Lake Union.
One of the largest film festivals in the country, with hundreds of features and shorts over several weeks.
A huge festival of folk music, dance and crafts from many cultures, free to attend with a suggested donation.
A neighborhood street fair and a famously eccentric parade with costumed performers and painted cyclists.
A large parade through downtown and a festival at Seattle Center.
A multi-day music festival on the streets of Capitol Hill, featuring local and touring acts.
Seattle's summer celebration, with the Torchlight Parade, hydroplane races on Lake Washington and an air show.
A long-running music and arts festival that closes Seattle's summer.
The state's biggest fair, near Tacoma, with rides, concerts, livestock and fair food.
A full and half marathon through downtown and along Lake Washington.
Dates move from year to year — confirm on the organizer’s site before you plan around an event.
Official Event Calendars
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Get free trip quotes »Seattle-Tacoma Events — FAQ
What is Seafair?
Seattle's summer festival, which runs for several weeks and includes neighborhood parades, the Torchlight Parade downtown, and hydroplane races and an air show on Lake Washington, usually in early August.
Are Seattle festivals free?
Some are. Northwest Folklife asks for a suggested donation, and the parades, including Seafair's and the Pride Parade, are free to watch. Bumbershoot, the Capitol Hill Block Party and the film festival are ticketed.