Seattle Events Calendar

The Seattle Boat Show Late January
Indoors + Afloat The 10-day event features more than 1,000 recreational watercraft, seminars and the latest innovations in accessories at Qwest Field Event Center, plus 200 world-class boats in their natural habitat on South Lake Union. The West Coast's Largest Boat Show offers a convenient free shuttle service running continuously between the two venues. www.seattleboatshow.com

FEBRUARY
FAT TUESDAY
Held the day before Ash Wednesday (usually in early February) the Pioneer Square district embraces its somewhat rowdy reputation on Mardi Gras, when the area convulses with celebration. Music and revelry in bars and restaurants are the main events, although the annual Spam-Carving Contest lends a special Seattle touch.

NORTHWEST FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
You are invited to join the fun the annual celebration. An entertaining floral funfest for you and your friends. Thousands upon thousands of flowers and plants with all their rich colors, fragrances and textures. Six acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 350 exhibits all strictly related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners. http://www.gardenshow.com

VALENTINE'S DAY
Held on the 14th. There are lots of theories about why St Valentine is associated with romance, but this is the day to celebrate with a loved one — or a prospective loved one. Most bars, restaurants and hotels have special deals around Valentine's day; check the local papers.

MARCH
ST PATRICK'S DAY
On the 17th the patron saint of Ireland is honored by all those who feel the Irish in their blood, and by those who want to feel Irish beer in their blood. Everyone wears green (otherwise you can get pinched). Irish bars, like Kells, serve green beer and even bars that haven't an Irish trinket in sight get swamped. There's a parade from City Hall to Westlake Center along 4th Ave.

APRIL
CHERRY BLOSSOM & JAPANESE
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
206-684-7200
A celebration of Japanese heritage with performances of music, dance and drama; usually held in early April at the Seattle Center.

MAY
CINCO DE MAYO
The 5th is the day the Mexicans wiped out the French Army in 1862. Now it's the day all Americans get to eat lots of Mexican food and drink margaritas. Seattle celebrates with an annual parade and exhibitions of Hispanic artwork.

OPENING DAY OF YACHT SEASON Held the first Saturday in May at various locations on Lakes Washington and Union, this Seattle original starts with a blessing of the fleet; it features scull racing and a boat parade through the canals

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
206-684-7346
Held at Seattle Center in mid-May, this cultural extravaganza includes a wide variety of performances and activities for kids.

NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
206-684-7300; admission free
This festival takes over Seattle Center during Memorial Day weekend. More than 5000 performers and artists from over 100 countries present music, dance, crafts, food and activities.

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
206-464-5830; http://www.seattlefilm.org/index.aspx 
Held in May and June, this festival brings nearly a month's worth of international film premieres to Seattle. Screenings take place at several theaters.

JUNE

FREMONT FAIR
206-633-4409; www.fremontfair.com
Off-kilter Fremont is just the place you'd want to be for a street fair. The fair features live music, entertainment, food and crafts and is held adjacent to the ship canal usually in mid-June.

FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION
Seattle's lesbian- and gay-pride event is usually held the last Sunday in June on Capitol Hill. The parade begins along Broadway and continues to Volunteer Park, where there are speeches, music and a rally.

SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE PIER 206-628-0888
During summer months, outdoor concerts by nationally known music acts are presented by Summer Nights at the Pier. Open-air performances are held on Piers 63-64. Call Ticketmaster for tickets and concert schedule.

JULY
BITE OF SEATTLE
206-232-2982; www.biteofseattle.com
This culinary celebration is held at Seattle Center, usually the second weekend in July. For a single entry fee, guests can sample foods from dozens of Seattle-area chefs and taste local beers and wines. The evening ends with live music.

SEAFAIR
206-728-0123; www.seafair.com
Held for three weeks in late July and August, Seafair is an extravagant civic celebration that began as a hydroplane race on Lake Washington. Old families in Seattle jealously maintain their moorages on Lake Washington in order to have the best possible views of these roaring jet boats. Today, however, all manner of festivities extend across all of Seattle and stretch the event to three weeks. Events include a torchlight parade, an air show, lots of music, a carnival and even the arrival of the naval fleet. Lodging is in short supply in Seattle on Seafair weekends, so plan accordingly. Unless you want to watch the hydroplane races, avoid Seattle on the first weekend in August and don't plan to cross the I-90 or Hwy 520 bridges while the races are in progress (they're closed).

SEPTEMBER
BUMBERSHOOT
206-281-8111; www.bumbershoot.com
Seattle's biggest arts and cultural event takes over Seattle Center on Labor Day weekend. Hundreds of musicians, artists, theater troupes and writers come from all over the country to perform on the festival's two dozen stages. It's hard not to find something you like. There's also a crafts street fair and lots of good food from local vendors.

NORTHWEST AIDS WALK
206-329-6923; www.nwaids.org
This incredibly festive and friendly event, held the second weekend in September, grows every year. The 10km or 5km walk starts and finishes at Seattle Center.

WESTERN WASHINGTON FAIR
Mid-September, Puget Sound remembers its agricultural underpinnings at this fair held in Puyallup, south of Seattle. The fair offers a bewildering array of livestock and agricultural displays, a carnival, a home and garden show and live entertainment.

OCTOBER
SEATTLE LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL
Held in the third week of October, this film festival plays at various theaters around town.

NORTHWEST BOOKFEST
 This annual event, held in the city, draws authors and readers from the Northwest and beyond for panel discussions, readings and a trade show.

FREMONT OKTOBERFEST
Fremont is a unique and funky neighborhood in Seattle offering diverse shopping paired with divine restaurants and coffeehouses. The Fremont Oktoberfest provides the perfect opportunity to discover the Center of the Universe and all it has to offer.
Over 50 Craft vendors will be featured at this year’s Fremont Oktoberfest. You do not need a ticket to see their booth, so stop and do some shopping.

HALLOWEEN
On the 31st, kids and adults dress up in scary costumes. In the safer neighborhoods you're likely to see children out 'trick-or-treating' door-to-door for candy. The gay and lesbian bars are especially wild places on Halloween, and Fremont has its own version of the festival, Trolloween (named after the Fremont Troll). It features a candlelight procession of costumed locals on Halloween night, followed by a public dance.

DECEMBER

WINTERFEST
206-684-7200; www.seattlecenter.com
Seattle Center holds a month-long celebration of holiday traditions from around the globe, starting with Winter Worldfest, a massive concert and dance performance, and continuing with exhibits, dances, concerts and ice skating.

NEW YEAR'S EVE
The place to be on the 31st is Seattle Center, where festivities are focused on the Space Needle. Most people celebrate by dressing up and drinking champagne, or staying home and watching it all on TV. The following day people stay home to nurse their hangovers and watch college football.