What to Do in Washington in August

The banks of the Skykomish River come alive with creativity during Index’s annual art festival. Wander booths of local artist wares, dance to live music until you drop, and take in spoken word performances under stunning Cascade peaks. Need an art break? The Town Walls hold countless routes for experienced rock climbers and nearby Heybrook Lookout boasts views from the top of a two-mile trail. 

Bremerton’s waterfront transforms into a two-day foodie haven where all tasting bites—from Southern comfort dishes to Thai street food—are $8 or less, and attendees become judges in crowning the best of the boardwalk. Need to let the main attraction settle? A live entertainment schedule boasts outfits like rock cover band Granny Panties and dreamy, neo soul Queen of Hearts. 

Just a ferry ride away from downtown Seattle, laid back Vashon Island hosts an annual film fest of independent cinema. The curated lineup holds a handful of award-winners, from documentary The Life We Leave (winner of this year’s SIFF Golden Space Needle Award for Best Documentary) to narrative Jazz Infernal (crowned with Sundance 2026 International Fiction Short Film Jury Award). 

Make like Van Gogh and haul a canvas outside for outdoor painting all across Whidbey Island; this annual event gathers artists to recreate the island’s many vistas. The stretch of en masse painting days culminates in a gala, awards, and auction of the week’s work.

Your age-old music festival gets an upgrade with a floating concert on Hood Canal. Boaters buy an official festival flag to join the party, while those of us without yachts or kayaks can opt for land-bound sets at Robin Hood Village Resort. A Saturday night dinner features femme musicians and artists alongside small bites and sips.

Tumwater’s hoppy roots from bygone Olympia Brewery manifest in a modern-day beer fest with over 40 breweries’ pours, stein-holding competitions, and local food trucks. A human-size beer pong game will make everyone feel like a college kid, but the event itself is 21 and over only. 

Long Beach‘s quintessential boardwalk almost always affords a view of kites flying above the Pacific, but a weeklong event boasts informal workshops, live music, a beer garden, and the most elaborate kites to grace the sky all year. International kite-flying teams perform synchronized routines and compete in kite fighting, precision flying, and craftsmanship, but anyone can get in on the action thanks to beachside kite vendors.

This state fair can be hard to distinguish from the one down south, but Monroe’s has been a Snohomish County fall staple for decades and has dialed in the right combination of carnival rides and unique forms of entertainment (chainsaw carving, anyone?). Monster truck shows hold down opening weekend while musical artists Lee Brice, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and Amy Grant pack weekday grandstands.