Article
Seattle Summer Events Guide 2013
Outdoor concerts, movies, festivals, feasts, parties, you name it for every day—and night—of summer, from Fourth of July to Labor Day.
Image: Philip Cheaney
JULY
THU JULY 4
It’s on. It’s off. It’s back on! Here’s hoping Seattle’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display over Lake Union never flames out for good. seafair.com
FRI JULY 5
It’s always the season for saisons (and double IPAs and stouts) at the boldly brewed Seattle International Beerfest. seattlebeerfest.com
Image: Anne Dixon
SAT JULY 6
Lock your doors: Zombies and pirates invade Seattle today, from the Red, White, and Dead walk at Seattle Center to the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach. Werewolf apocalypse pending. zombcon.com, seafair.com
SUN JULY 7
It’s ladies’ night at Chateau Ste. Michelle as Pat Benatar and Berlin attempt to take our breath away with their rocking ’80s hits.
ste-michelle.com
Image: Shutterstock/Justasc
MON JULY 8
Former and faux Bostonians come out in droves when the Mariners host the Red Sox. Make sure the home team still has the advantage by cheering on the M’s. seattlemariners.com
TUE JULY 9
Hang out with two adorable new Seattle residents—a pair of Asian small-clawed otters—at Woodland Park Zoo’s new Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit. zoo.org
WED JULY 10
Brown bag it for the return of the free Out to Lunch concerts in parks and plazas around downtown Seattle. downtownseattle.com
THU JULY 11
The competition to crown North and Central America’s best soccer team comes to CenturyLink Field with a CONCACAF Gold Cup Double Header featuring Mexico vs. Canada. goldcup.org
FRI JULY 12
For the new Backyard Bard series, four actors have one hour to perform Twelfth Night. (They also do The Merry Wives of Windsor.) Please tip these poor people. greenstage.org
SAT JULY 13
Madison Valley’s second annual Bastille Bash is a lively street fair populated by stilt walkers, accordion players, burlesque dancers, and a Marie Antoinette impersonator. madisonvalley.org
july 13 – Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee
What it is
A free day of music to celebrate 25 years of Seattle’s Sub Pop Records. The label that introduced the world to Nirvana, Fleet Foxes, and the Postal Service takes over the streets of Georgetown for a free birthday bash with concerts by current label artists Mudhoney, Shabazz Palaces, and many more.
Don’t miss
FatherJohn Misty, who plays the rock star perfectly with wild bravado, cheeky banter, and killer dance moves.
SUN JULY 14
Volunteer Park is packed with comedy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and drama (King Lear) during the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival. greenstage.org
MON JULY 15
The dream of the ’90s is alive at Chateau Ste. Michelle when Counting Crows and The Wallflowers share a stage. ste-michelle.com
TUE JULY 16
Dancing Til Dusk is in full swing—literally—at Westlake Park with free dance lessons followed by a night of jiving to East Coast swing by the Solomon Douglas Quintet. danceforjoy.biz
WED JULY 17
A string quartet floats Dvořák like a light breeze during the free outdoor Seattle Chamber Music Society concert in Volunteer Park. seattlechambermusic.org
THU JULY 18
One of last year’s best concerts was David Byrne and St. Vincent’s horn-infused dance party. Don’t miss the duo’s followup at Chateau Ste. Michelle. ste-michelle.com
FRI JULY 19
Who better to inaugurate Safeco Field as a concert venue than a Beatle? Paul McCartney brings his legendary catalog of hits to the ballpark. ticketmaster.com
SAT JULY 20
Leap over walls of fire, army crawl through mud, and test your mettle on Warrior Dash’s extreme obstacle course. warriordash.com
SUN JULY 21
It’s a jam-packed weekend for food lovers with Bite of Seattle, Kirkland Uncorked, andVashon’s Strawberry Festival. Plan it right and it’s a proper picnic. biteofseattle.com, kirklanduncorked.com, vashonchamber.com/strawfest
MON JULY 22
While Seattle is flush with natural outdoor beauty, a trip to Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park proves the handmade sights aren’t too shabby either. seattleartmuseum.org/visit/osp
TUE JULY 23
Stock up on veggies, berries, and other fresh treats at the weekly Crossroads Bellevue Farmers Market. crossroadsbellevue.com
WED JULY 24
Before Randy Newman was Pixar’s lovable go-to songwriter, he was penning sharply satirical pop albums. Enjoy both sides of Newman when he plays ZooTunes. zoo.org/zootunes
THU JULY 25
Chef Brendan McGill of foodie favorite Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island prepares a Summer Feast on the Farm in Carnation. brownpapertickets.com
Image: Genevieve Pierson
Timber Outdoor Music Festival
July 26 & 27 timbermusicfest.com
What it is
A new rural alternative to Capitol Hill Block Party’s urban music fest. Carnation’s pastoral setting is perfect for two days of camping, community, and some of the Northwest’s top singer-songwriters and indie rock bands, including Portland’s atmospheric-rock duo the Helio Sequence and Seattle’s own dream-pop two-piece Lemolo.
Don’t miss
Kithkin. Being children of the forest is part of the band’s act, so catch their rhythmic wilderness rock in its natural environment.
FRI–SUN JULY 26–28
Pickwick’s soulful hipsters (see here!) and the Flaming Lips’ psychedelic madmen headline this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party. capitolhillblockparty.com
SUN JULY 28
Culture wars: Browse Bellevue Arts Museum’s Arts Fair or take in a Shakespearean double-header—Henry V and The Tempest—at Seattle Center. bellevuearts.org/fair, seattleshakespeare.com
MON JULY 29
It’s make-your-own-fun day: Wander Pike Place Market to hear random concerts of free musicmaking by local buskers. pikeplacemarket.org
TUE JULY 30
A boy, a tiger, and a hyena walk onto a boat. What, heard that one before? Hear it again when Life of Pi screens at the Bellevue Summer Outdoor Movies. bellevue.com
WED JULY 31
Seafair Fleet Week begins today. Now every night is Ladies’ Night. seafair.com
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AUGUSt
THU AUG 1
Road trip, anyone? Pickathon, Oregon’s three-day roots music festival (Aug 2–4), delivers Feist, Sharon Van Etten, and Seattle’s Shabazz Palaces to a farm just outside Portland. pickathon.com
FRI AUG 2
Summer Fridays kick into high gear when KEXP’s Concerts at the Mural return. Start happy hour at Seattle Center with live local music. seattlecenter.com
SAT AUG 3
The Sounders face a tough challenge when they host FC Dallas, the best club in MLS through the early months of the season, at Century-Link Field. soundersfc.com
SUN AUG 4
Feel the need? The need for…well, you know. Close out Seafair with the adrenaline rush of the Boeing Air Show and hydroplane racing. seafair.com
MON AUG 5
Walking tours are fine, but walking and eating tours? Yes please. Nibble your way through Pike Place Market on a Seattle Bites tour. seattlebitesfoodtours.com
Image: Ben J Drummond
TUE AUG 6
Catch a glimpse of future big league talent as the Everett Aquasox host the 2013 Northwest League All-Star Game at Everett Memorial Stadium. milb.com
WED AUG 7
Pack a picnic dinner and head up to Shoreline’s Richmond Beach Library Park where Impossible Bird serenades onlookers with folk-pop love songs accented by virtuosic violin. shorelinearts.net
THUR AUG 8
Squirreled away on Orcas Island is Doe Bay Festival, the most intimate outdoor indie music festival in the Northwest. Share a log around the campfire with your favorite songwriter. doebayfest.com
FRI AUG 9
Burgers on the grill? Check. Beer? Check. Outdoor movie at dusk? Check. South Lake Union Block Party isn’t just for Amazon; it’s for everyone. slublockparty.com
SAT AUG 10
Fill up on food-truck fare at the first Seattle Street Food Festival; see The Avengers defend the planet at Movies at the Mural or Carillon Point’s Outdoor Movie Night. seastreetfoodfest.com, seattlecenter.com, carillon-point.com/about/events
SUN AUG 11
From concerts in the park to concerts in a barn: The Olympic Music Festival draws lovers of Bach and Brahms to a century-old dairy farm on the Olympic Peninsula. olympicmusicfestival.org
MON AUG 12
As prog rock ages, is it still progressive? Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson answers the question. snocasino.com
TUE AUG 13
Boasting six no. 1 hits that double as karaoke classics, Hall and Oates make our dreams come true. Rich girls and man-eaters welcome. marymoorconcerts.com
WED AUG 14
Sensibly dressed soccer moms and dads need to rock out, too. They get their chance when Train brings its adult contemporary chart toppers to White River Amphitheatre. ticketmaster.com
THU AUG 15
On Thursday evenings Olympic Sculpture Park turns into SAM Performs, a big outdoor party with food trucks, local bands, and flowing wine as the sun sets. seattleartmuseum.org
FRI AUG 16
Work on your night moves at the Decibel Festival Dance Party at the International Fountain or enjoy a Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market. seattlecenter.com, pikeplacemarketfoundation.org
SAT AUG 17
Professional women’s soccer has arrived. The newly formed Seattle Reign tries to pluck the Portland Thorns from its side at Starfire Stadium. seattlereignfc.com
SUN AUG 18
It’s actually happened: For the first year ever, Seattle Hempfest is a legal celebration of Mary Jane in all its glory. Victory smells…fragrant. hempfest.org
MON AUG 19
Take in views of Ballard, the Olympics, and beyond during a Bastille Rooftop Dinner. Enjoy family-style meals made with ingredients from the rooftop garden. bastilleseattle.com
TUE AUG 20
Don’t let that summer body slip away. Head to the roof of Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion for free weekly Zumba classes. seattlecenter.com/fitness
WED AUG 21
The new 3D Jurassic Park didn’t do anything for T. rex’s arms, but the Spielberg flick still continues to impress. See it in 2D at Movies at Marymoor. kingcounty.gov
THUR AUG 22
The sweet tones of the Northwest’s high chieftess of country music, Brandi Carlile, soothe the wild beasts at ZooTunes. zoo.org/zootunes
FRI AUG 23
Anyone want to guess why Willie Nelson is in town? Just check the entry for August 18. marymoorconcerts.com
SAT AUG 24
A Seattle summer isn’t complete with a white Russian (the drink, not Putin) at the Big Lebowski Fest at Fremont Outdoor Movies. fremontoutdoormovies.com
SUN AUG 25
Chill option: The Beach Boys bring good vibrations to Snoqualmie Casino. Tense option: Major League Soccer’s fiercest rivals clash as the Sounders battle the Portland Timbers. snocasino.com, soundersfc.com
MON AUG 26
Plant the seeds that will blossom into a lifetime of horticulture at Seattle Tilth’s Flower Power, an organic gardening class for parents and preschoolers. seattletilth.org
TUE AUG 27
Stroll around Capitol Hill and find the colorful new building-side street art murals commissioned by Stunning Seattle. stunningseattle.org
WED AUG 28
While it’s the first summer for MOHAI in its South Lake Union home, don’t forget to check out the vintage vessels outside the museum at the Historic Ships Wharf. atlakeunionpark.org
THUR AUG 29
Don your finest white linen suit to waltz, fox-trot, and swing in the twilight at Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s Dancing Til Dusk’s Ball Blanc. danceforjoy.biz
FRI AUG 30
The yearly tradition of Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge gets an extra shot of Seattle flavor, courtesy opening sets by The Head and the Heart. ticketmaster.com
SAT–MON AUG 31–SEP 2
Indie kids’ hearts will burst at Bumbershoot when Death Cab for Cutie plays landmark album Trans-atlanticism in its entirety. Speaking of heart…Ann and Nancy Wilson also headline. bumbershoot.org
Published July 2013
