Go ahead, play with your food at the annual Chomp! Festival
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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
KEXP BBQ
august 15, 2–9pm | kexp, $45
As much a cookout as it is concert, the annual KEXP bash features live music from Curtis Harding, True Loves, Vagabon, and others—plus home station DJs spinning live. Grab a plate, sit back, and relax to bonafide Pacific Northwest tunes.
There’s plenty to cheers to—and with—at the Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction.
Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction
august 15, 5pm | Chateau Ste. Michelle, $150–5,000
The seminal event of Washington’s summer wine culture, the Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction brings over 100 winemakers to the Chateau Ste. Michelle lawn. Tickets score the chance to mingle with industry greats, sip pours from tasting stations, and play wine-inspired games before bidding on future release wines.
CHOMP!
august 16, 10am–6pm | marymoor park, free
The annual local food fest is equal parts farmers market and party. Food vendors dish everything seasonal from Washington soil, kids compete in a focaccia bake-off, live music provides a soundtrack, and a farmer’s village educates even the smallest eaters. Festival veterans know to never miss the quirky zucchini races.Chocolate and Cider Pairing Class
august 22, 5:30pm | yonder cider, $55.20
Fruit and chocolate are longtime pairs, but cider? Perhaps the bubbly, sweet duo is the next trend. Learn—and taste—under the tutelage of playful, colorful chocolatiers ChocolateSpiel at Ballard’s Yonder Cider taproom.
Visual Arts
Tala Madani: Be flat
through august 17, various | the henry, free
Painter and animator Tala Madani weaves satire and a dream-like quality through her works. In addition to a handful of large paintings in the University District museum, Maranda’s installation includes small wooden structures; step inside to view animations in tiny bare-bones theaters.
Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei
through september 7, various | seattle art museum, $29.99
Forty years of culture-shifting, regime-challenging work comes to Seattle. The new exhibition—with parts spread across two SAM campuses—showcases Ai Weiwei’s impactful career; Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays boast docent-led tours for an in-depth exploration of his themes and impact.Hugh Hayden: American Vernacular
through september 28, various | frye art museum, free
The sleek, always-free art museum houses sculptor and multimedia artist Hugh Hayden’s first solo museum spot on the West Coast. Filling the galleries are curiously reworked items from everyday American life, like the cherry bark encased Louboutins and a life-sized church nave.
Nina Katchadourian specializes in lost stories, like an accent elimination installation.
Nina Katchadourian: Origin Stories
through october 26, various | national nordic museum, $5–20
Fresh art drops at the National Nordic Museum, courtesy of multidisciplinary artist Nina Katchadourian. Her works range from photographs, to video, to an immersive installation surrounding a real-life shipwreck disaster. On June 22, Katchadourian will join a survivor of the shipwreck, Douglas Robertson, in conversation at the gallery.
First Look: Spirit House and Charlene Liu
august 14, 6–8pm | henry art gallery, free
Drinks, music, and friendly ping pong competitions celebrate the opening of two fresh art experiences at the University District museum: Charlene Liu’s food-inspired mural and a collection of works from 33 Asian American and Asian diasporic artists.
Live Music
Fremont Fridays’ live music lineup is the cure to post-Capitol Hill Block Party blues.
Fremont Fridays
through september 5, 5pm–close | various, free
Everything simply must be outside in the summer, and neighborhood music festivals are no exception. Over a dozen music acts spread across five Fremont venues bring weekend-starting tunes opposite a vendor village hawking local wares. The evening ends with a silent disco at LTD Bar and Grill’s outdoor patio.ZooTunes
through september 3, various | woodland park zoo, various
Woodland Park Zoo’s animals clock out and globally-touring artists clock in for the summer concert series. Up next, alternative indie outfit Devo brings new wave tracks to the stage. To soak up the summer sun with more outdoor concerts, check out our full guide.
Hozier
august 14, 7:30pm | t-mobile park, $124.40–180.60
Hozier’s Unreal Unearth tour promises many moments that feel like a Hozier yell, plus the “Northern Attitude” moment that sparked an online trend itself. The Irish singer-songwriter brings songs from the tour’s eponymous album in addition to popular staples.Jack Van Cleaf
august 19, 7pm | barboza, $26.41
Viral “Rattlesnake” singer Jack Van Cleaf opened for Noah Kahan’s sold-out Stick Season Tour; now, he tours himself after the release of his sophomore album. With tracks spanning introspective folk to electrified indie, he’s just getting started.Performance
Shakespeare in the Park continues, a Seattle summer tradition.
Shakespeare in the Park
through august 16, various | various, free
Long a Seattle summer tradition, Shakespeare plays return to over 20 area parks for free performances. Four productions spread across dozens of dates, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Much Ado About Nothing, promise fun-forward, simplified versions of the classic tales. BYO blanket.
Dolly and the Golden Tassel
through september 14, 6:30 and 9:30pm | can can seattle, $56–116
Pike Place Market’s burlesque dinner theater puts on a summer show full of big hair, big ballads, and big rhinestone energy. While the jukebox-dance musical is mostly adults-only, two matinee shows August 3 and 10 open the doors for all ages to sing along.
What the Funk?!
august 21–23, 7:30pm | the triple door, $10–50
The much-anticipated all-BIPOC burlesque festival returns to the Triple Door’s dinner theater for another year. Helmed by captivating performer Mx. Pucks A’Plenty, each night features over 30 performers from the PNW and beyond.
FILM
Movies at the Mural: Say Anything
august 15, 9pm | mural amphitheatre, free
Seattle forms the setting for high school love in the next screening at Volunteer park. Tote a blanket and snacks to the lawn, and relish in a Seattle summer tradition as romcom Say Anything screens.
Retro Nights: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I and II
august 20 and 27, 7pm | majestic bay theatre, $13
Ballard’s independent theatre highlights throwbacks this summer, screening nostalgia-filled faves chosen by audiences. Next up are both installments of the Forks-inspired The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.
SAM Films: Sing Street
august 23, 2–4pm | seattle art museum, free with rsvp
The Seattle Art Museum knows art is more than what’s on the walls; their summer film series showcases stories of talented, creative youth—the tortured poet and angsty musician types. In August, coming-of-age musical Sing Street screens, full of 1980s Dublin lore, soul searching, and garage band drama.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Solid Ground Day of Service
august 22, 9am–12pm | various, free
Local non-profit organization Solid Ground hosts a community service morning. Volunteers get to work with one of three projects: tending to garden beds in a South Park giving garden, beautifying Magnuson Park around the Sand Point Housing campus, or cleaning Solid Ground’s fleet of accessible busses.Festival Sundiata: Black Arts Festival
august 23 and 24, various | seattle center, free
Part of the Seattle Center Festál series, the 45th iteration of the annual Festival Sundiata celebrates wide-reaching art with live music, spoken word, drill team exhibitions, and a visual art exhibition.
Little Saigon celebrates big at the annual block party.
Celebrate Little Saigon
august 16, 11am–4pm | various, free
Seattle’s Historic Little Saigon neighborhood hosts a summer block party complete with a pho eating contest, local live music, drag bingo, kids’ cream puff eating contest, and DJs spinning vinyl from the Asian diaspora. Energy stays high thanks to a parking lot teeming with food vendors to fuel the party.
READINGS AND LECTUREs
Writers With Drinks
august 14, 7:30pm | town hall seattle, $10–35
Touted as a spoken word variety show of sorts, the format starts with a handful of writers and promises short readings from each, crafting an evening woven together in unexpected ways. In August, six authors of queer science fiction and fantasy take a break from Worldcon to join the stage with their reality-bending work.Science and a Movie: Cosmic Dawn
august 16, 11:30am | pacific science center, free with rsvp
PacSci screens NASA documentary Cosmic Dawn, following the James Webb Space Telescope’s attempts to understand our universe’s first light. After the doc, NASA Solar System Ambassador Keith Krumm answers audience questions and lets visitors peer through a solar telescope.
Chuck Tingle: Lucky Day
august 20, 7:30pm | third place books lake forest park, $7.29–33.54
Mysterious pseudonymous author Chuck Tingle pays a visit to Third Place Books in support of absurd supernatural new release Lucky Day. Time will tell if the author shows face, literally, or opts for a creative disguise to keep the intrigue alive.On sale now
The extra ingredient? Giving back and supporting culinary education in Seattle at Farestart. Yum.
Guest Chef Night Series
through november 20, 5–9pm | FareStart Restaurant, $55
FareStart culinary education nonprofit taps local legends for bi-monthly chef dinners that reliably sell out weeks in advance. This summer, the star-studded lineup includes the likes of Chef Bill Jeong of Paju, the siblings behind Ramie and Ba Sa Trinh and Thai Nguyen, and Kricket Club’s Preeti Agarwal.Supper Fan Club
september 22, 6–8:30pm | mopop, $130
Superfans are called to supper at MOPOP’s newest dinner series, each meal themed to a different fandom. Next up: a Middle-earth meal with large doses of hobbit hospitality; expect a feast fit for Frodo with swords, songs, and long roads of adventure.
