Once again summer has flown by in a blur of beach sand-filled shoes and sticky ice cream covered fingers with Labor Day just around the corner. For those who reside here in the Emerald City, we are often lucky enough to have wonderful weather past the first weekend of September. However, this much celebrated three-day weekend is often thought of as the last chance to indulge in those relaxing, lazy summer days. After all, before you know it the kids will be back in school and holiday decorations will be lining store shelves.
While many of you may be heading out of town, there are a ton of fun, exciting things to do in and around Seattle over the next two weeks. Be sure to take advantage of the last big summer holiday!
National Park Service Birthday – August 25-28
Pack your hiking poles and canteen! This year the National Park Service turns 100 years old and to celebrate they are granting free entrance to all national parks! Get away from the city this weekend and escape to one of the state’s three beautiful national parks.
Catch a ferry or take a road trip and visit the lush, green canopy of the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park to witness one of the country’s finest examples of an untouched temperate rainforest. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the North Cascades National Park offers an immense spread of northwest wilderness and contains Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.
Mount Rainier National Park is another stunning northwest landmark known for its colorful subalpine wildflower meadows and glacier-fed rivers. Hop on our Mt. Rainier tour for transportation to and from the mountain, as well as narration from an experienced outdoor guide and plenty of time to stop and snap fabulous photos.
Belltown Crush Block Party – August 28
This weekend, there’s something big brewing downtown at the Belltown Crush Block Party. At this wine and beer extravaganza, enjoy live music, local food trucks, a pig roast courtesy of Bell & Whete and a grape stomping competition! With a wine glass in hand, head over to Bell Street Park between 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and include 10 tasting tickets to wineries, breweries and cideries from across the state like Icicle Ridge, Eagle Creek, Rocky Pond and Pear Up. At the festival’s main stage, catch acts like Champaign Sunday, The Voice finalist Jason Kertson as well as Two Trees steel drum band at the 2nd block stage.
Kid’s Day at Redmond Saturday Market – September 3
On Labor Day weekend, head to Redmond for action east of the water. Every Saturday, May through October check out the Eastside’s oldest farmers market. Located in the heart of the city, everything you’ll see is made, grown or produced in Washington.
Next Saturday is a special day for “kid vendors” to set up tents and sell their own arts and crafts. Stop through and see what the youngsters have to bring to the table, as well as what the rest of the rotating vendors have to provide.
Bumbershoot – September 2-4
Year after year, one music festival stands out from the rest, and for good reason. Located in the heart of Seattle, Bumbershoot has been a mecca of the audio-inclined for 46 years. Thousands of people across the country flock here to experience this diverse, wonderful festival of the arts. Spread over three full days, Bumbershoot showcases an overwhelming amount of musical talent as well as films, food trucks and silent disco.
The lineup: Friday’s artists include Kygo, Father John Misty and St. Lucia. On Saturday, catch Pretty Lights and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. And on the festival’s final day, see Cashmere Cat, Kamasi Washington and local group, The Flavr Blue, among many, many more. We suggest paying a visit to the Bok A Bok food truck for some fried chicken, then over to the always entertaining Reign Supreme breaking and street dance competition.
Washington State Fair – September 2-25
If you aren’t committing your weekend to Bumbershoot, take a day and pay a visit to the legendary Washington State Fair. You’ll be greeted by the sweet smell of roasting kettle corn and tangy barbeque. And don’t forget to make a stop for our favorite treat: Fisher’s fresh fair scones, smeared with whipped butter and local raspberry jam. Another crowd pleaser is the petting zoo, home to bunnies, goats and other furry critters.
New to the fair this year is the Discover the Dinosaurs walk-through exhibit. Explore a prehistoric world complete with a life-size Triceratops, Stegosaurus and the formidable T-Rex. Of course the fair’s carnival is where we’ll be: choose from go-karts, a bungee ride and countless thrill rides.
From concerts to laid back wine and beer festivals to the great outdoors, we think Seattle’s got you pretty well covered over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to check our Twitter and Facebook feeds for more daily events throughout the city. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!
Clipper Recommends:
- BC neighbors, take advantage of our appreciation fares and come on down to check out these great events and other Seattle things to do.
- Seattle has a fantastic selection farmer’s markets. Although some are year-round many only run through September, so be sure to visit them while you can!