Let’s dive into some, cause it would be impossible to list all, of the Halloween activities going on Friday night.

For families in Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation is putting on free events across town, including the CID Spooktactular treats event from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Hing Hay Park, the Tot Halloween Carnival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Queen Anne Community Center, the Carfield Creepy Carnival for Kids from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center, and Halloween Night at the Ridge: Tricks, Treats and Tunes at the Delridge Community Center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Teens can also check out the free Halloween Carnival at the Garfield Teen Life Center at 7.

Not enough free family fun for you? Well how about Waterfront Park Frights and Delights where you can trick or treat along the waterfront and enjoy performances and all the costumes. That party runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. There’s also the Haunted Boo-Levard at Kent Station from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., where there will be more trick or treating, carnival games and prizes, and lots more. There will also be kid-friendly scares, treats, and themed booths at the Trunk or Treat on the Lawn of the Stone House Cafe from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Halloween activities in Seattle include movies, parties, festivals, and more!

In Fremont, it is a big day for the Fremont Troll as it is Trolloween. There will be live music and the theatrical pageant to kick off the event, leading to the Haunt of Fremont, which is a costumed procession through Fremont. The fun starts rain or shine at 7 PM.

Beetlejuice and the sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice are being shown for free at Freeway Park on Friday, starting at 7 p.m. Remember to bring your own blankets, chairs, and maybe even umbrellas to enjoy the movies.

For those 21 and up looking for a more adult celebration, there are PLENTY of Halloween parties at bars and clubs across the region. Search for your favorite place, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a party.

On Saturday and Sunday at Town Hall Seattle, you will find the Seattle Catrinas Festival. This is a celebration of the Day of the Dead that features music, folklore, art, food, and culture. There will also be an altar where you can place flowers, pictures, and mementoes of loved ones who have passed. There will be activities for the kids as well. The Seattle Catrinas Festival is Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For all the fans of cats out there, you’ll want to check out the Sea-Meow Convention at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall this weekend. This has everything a cat lover could ask for, including merch, a kitten alley where you can cuddle with kittens, panels, workshops, presentations, and plenty more. You can even bring your cat … if they can follow the rules. Sea-Meow is Saturday and Sunday.

If you wanted to get that toy you always wanted growing up but weren’t able to, you might want to head to the Washington State Fair Events Center this weekend for the Washington State Toy Show. There will be over 250 vendors showing off toys, comics, collectibles, and more. You’ll need a ticket to get in, but kids 12 and under are free.

How are you celebrating Halloween? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

There are plenty of Seattle Halloween celebrations to choose from.

Seattle Halloween celebrations: Thriller, zombies, Barktoberfest, and more

The Seattle Thrillers are back for their 19th annual Thrill the World Seattle event. This event is where dancers across the world perform the zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This is going down at the Queen Anne Community Center on Saturday, with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. The dance begins precisely at 3 p.m. In addition to the dancing, there will be a costume contest and more performances as well.

That’s not the only zombie-themed event this weekend. You can turn yourself into a zombie or get zombified by the pros at the Issaquah Zombie Walk. As you walk through downtown Issaquah with your fellow zombies, keep your eyes open for the flash mobs of dancing undead. There will also be carnival games and more, making for a perfect day of Halloween fun. The Issaquah Zombie Walk is Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In Ballard, for those 21 and up, you can enjoy fall-inspired food and drinks, for people and pets, during Barktoberfest. Not only will there be food to enjoy, dress your pets in their best costumes for a chance to win prizes. Barktoberfest is at the Dog Yard Bar.

There’s also the Monster Dash in West Seattle, which is a themed 5K run/walk with costumes encouraged, and Saturday in Maple Leaf at Maple Leaf Reservoir Park, you can enjoy the Halloween parade and pet costume contest at 3 p.m.

If there’s one thing we know for sure about Seattleites, they love their coffee, and if you fall into that category, it’s a big weekend for you. At Magnuson Park Hangar 30, there will be specialty roasters, unique beans, live entertainment, food trucks, and of course, endless coffee. It’s time for the Seattle Coffee Festival, and you can bring your favorite mug to fill. They do recommend kids stay at home due to the amount of hot liquids at the event, but kids are still allowed. You’ll need a ticket to get in for this festival, which is Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

We might have rain in the forecast this weekend, but that shouldn’t keep you from checking out the new waterfront in downtown Seattle if you haven’t yet. HarborFest is at Pier 66, and there will be ocean-inspired arts and crafts, educational events for you and the kids, live music, and ocean-friendly seafood to eat. HarborFest is today from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And while we all wish we were watching baseball today, there’s still plenty of sports action this weekend, including the UW Huskies taking on Illinois Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium and the Kraken taking on the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night at Climate Pledge.

More western Washington events

In Tacoma, the 5th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be over 70 vendors, live music, food, and fun for the kids. There will also be a procession at 12:15 p.m. and the Honoring Ancestors ceremony at 4 p.m. Look for the festival on 6th Avenue in Tacoma.

In Everett, high school marching bands from across the state will be competing at the Puget Sound Festival of Bands. There will be four divisions with 18 bands participating this year, plus there will be on-site concessions and a bake sale. This is going on at Everett Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

How are you enjoying the home stretch of Halloween? Let me know at paulH@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

That’s not the only big thing happening this weekend, so let’s dive in.

Friday night in Pioneer Square, you can go hands-on with the world of glassblowing during the Pilchuck Glass School Block Party. This is part of a weekend of glassblowing celebrations throughout Seattle called “Refract”. Here at the block party, you can hang out and connect with fellow fans of glassblowing, learn about the Pilchuck Glass School and the glassblowing community, and, of course, enjoy plenty of live demonstrations. If you want to learn more about the block party or get more details about Refract, check out refractseattle.org.

Seattle weekend events: Gearing up for Halloween

Just in time for Halloween, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo returns to the Seattle Convention Center, and it brings a little bit of everything. This will be a perfect place to find the right pieces for your Halloween decorations or your preserved specimen collection. Vendors will have antiques, taxidermy, old medical devices, funeral collectibles … the list goes on. If you want to take the family, kids 12 and under are free.

If you are a collector of books and love the world of literature, you might want to check out the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair at the Seattle Center this weekend. You can find antique books, maps, posters, and just about anything in the world of print. There will also be specialists and presentations to help you find what you are looking for and teach you about the history and culture in front of you. You will need a ticket for the event, but your ticket will be good for both days of the event.

At the Roadhouse in SeaTac this weekend, you can enjoy music from around the world during Music Around the World. The group iBuildBridges has a mission to promote unity, diversity, and inclusion through music, and to accomplish this mission, they put on shows like this, which are free and open to all ages. The music starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday at The Roadhouse.

The Festival of Lights, known as Diwali, heads to the Seattle Center on Saturday. See the vibrant colors, clothing, and tradition of the festival while enjoying Indian food, dances, martial arts, and plenty more. According to the event’s website, Diwali is celebrated with families and friends, wearing new clothes, enjoying feasts and sweet treats, sharing gifts, and setting off firecrackers. This event is free to attend.

Also at the Seattle Center on Sunday, the Northwest Record Show returns for its fall edition. Over 50 tables will be loaded up with vinyl records, CDs, and all sorts of other music collectibles. As always, the Northwest Record Show also serves as a food drive for Northwest Harvest. You can get a dollar off your ticket with a donation.

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The 27th annual Maple Valley Model Train Show returns this weekend at the Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale. There will be top-tier displays of model trains in creative operating layouts! You can bring your own trains to run on the tracks, too. There will also be other train-related artifacts to learn about, and the event is described as a very relaxed atmosphere where you can wander and enjoy at your own pace.

Are you going to be watching the M’s during your fall fun? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

The Halloween fun continues as Spooky Season is well underway. In Tacoma, Freighthouse Square has turned into Frighthouse Square once again, with the event website hyping up new rooms, new frights, and a redesigned queue area. Plan ahead and get your tickets before you go.

Hop aboard the Halloween Train at the Snoqualmie Depot in Snoqualmie Valley to soak up the fall colors during the 2-hour round-trip ride. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a stopover at the Railway History Campus, which will have seasonal activities. Costumes are encouraged, no matter your age, and you will want to buy a ticket ahead of time.

At the Seattle Chinese Garden, you can take a journey through the Forest of Shadows, where illusions will trick your senses as hidden creatures follow you each and every step. Do you dare take the trail?

We most likely have had our last 70-degree day, and the amount of daylight is less and less, so make sure you get your fix of outside fun during a free day at Washington State Parks. Friday is World Mental Health Day, and if you need a break from the madness, get out and enjoy a state park, no Discovery Pass needed. Maybe a hike will help calm the nerves before the first pitch. Make sure to plan ahead for parking and weather.

At the Rainier Beach Community Club this weekend, it is the 9th Cascadia Poetry Festival. Here, poets can share their work and learn from other poets during panels, workshops, and performances. According to the event’s website, the festival is about “exploring poetry and its connection to environmental, political, historical, and sociological pursuits within the Cascadia Bioregion.”

Green Lake will be hosting the Seattle Water Lantern Festival this weekend. With your ticket, you will get a lantern kit that you and the family can decorate or write a message on before sending it out on the water. There will also be a scavenger hunt, food trucks, vendors, and more, giving you plenty to do during this night of reflection.

At the Seattle Center, TurkFest will be taking over for two days of food, dancing, music, and Turkish culture. This is the 25th anniversary of the event that features live music, the food court, and Turkish Coffee and Tea Corner (including a fresh bakery), and a children’s corner. This event is free to attend.

Seattle’s weekend lineup for sports

If you are a sports fan this weekend, it is a busy one. There’s a pretty big baseball game going down tonight as the Mariners and Tigers face off in Game 5 of the ALDS.

The University of Washington Huskies take on Rutgers Friday at 6 p.m.

The Seattle Kraken are back in action, taking on the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at 7 p.m.

And on the pitch this weekend, the Seattle Reign take on Bay FC tonight at 7:30 p.m., and the Sounders take on Real Salt Lake tomorrow at 6:30.

Don’t forget, tons of local farms are doing pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, and more fall fun, so make sure to search for the closest one for you and the family to enjoy.

What Halloween plans do you have cooking? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Get ready for a packed list of fall activities to try.

Fall activities: Oktoberfest, morgues, haunted forests

Oktoberfest begins in Leavenworth this weekend and runs for the next three weekends. While you might know the area for the holidays, you won’t want to miss this party that features all your favorite Oktoberfest activities with the perfect backdrop of the Bavarian-themed town.

Oktoberfest Northwest will be in Puyallup this weekend, celebrating 20 years of the event, including the signature dachshund races on Sunday. Oktoberfest Northwest is taking place at the Washington State Fairgrounds

Lots of month-long Halloween celebrations begin this weekend. Some examples include The Haunted Woods at Maris Farms in Buckley, the Haunted Forest of Maple Valley at Royal Arch Park, Stalker Farms at Stocker Farms in Snohomish, the Georgetown Morgue, Booville and Fright Fest at Wild Waves, and plenty more.

If you have a furry friend with a great costume, there is a Halloween Pet Parade at Volunteer Park on Sunday. There will be prizes, live music, food trucks, and more, so dress your pet in their best costume.

Salmon are the stars at the 2025 Issaquah Salmon Days. This is a celebration of all things salmon as they work their way back to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. You can watch the salmon, check out the street fair and parade, have the kids check out the field of fun, and plenty more. The event is free to attend.

Celebrate the harvest at Piper’s Orchard in Carkeek Park this weekend. According to their website, Piper’s Orchard is the oldest Orchard in the Seattle area, and this event will include singing and dancing, fresh cider, community celebrations, and of course, apples, lots and lots of apples. The festival is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Festivals to try

CroatiaFest heads to the Seattle Center this weekend for a day full of fun at the Armory Food and Event Hall. Just like the other Festál events, this is all about learning about the culture and people of Croatia through music, dance, and food. There will also be displays highlighting the story of the Croatian American Immigration experience. This free event is Sunday.

There are two events being put on for the kids this weekend. The Fife Harvest Festival has everything your kids need for a day full of fun, including bouncy houses, carnival games, face painting, a petting zoo, and a kids’ tractor maze. There will also be live music and food, plus a beer garden for the parents out there. Vendors will be out as well, and while supplies last, there will be free corn on the cob. The Fife Harvest Festival is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s Children’s Day in Lacey, and they are bringing the world of video games to life with this year’s theme. According to the event’s website, there will be an obstacle course, a dance dome, a wrecking ball, and a jousting ring. Not to mention other free activities and even a kids’ market where youngsters will be showing off their entrepreneurial spirit. Children’s Day is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Huntamer Park.

A packed sports weekend

And of course, downtown Seattle is going to be a sports fan’s dream this weekend with playoff baseball for the Mariners, the Seahawks taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

The Sounders have a home match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Do you have a favorite haunted house or haunted attraction in the region? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

It is National Public Lands Day on Saturday, and that means you can get into Washington State and National Parks for free. Good weather weekends are going to be few and far between here soon, as the season continues to change. Don’t miss out on checking out a new trail or part of our wonderful state. Be prepared for crowds.

Seattle events this weekend: Festivals, art, and more!

There are two festivals going on at the Seattle Center this weekend. The Festa Italiana will be bringing the Italian food, wine, dancing, music, and plenty more. In addition to learning about the culture of Italy, you can also check out the grape stomp, pizza toss, and on Saturday, a special Italian Car Show. This event is free to attend.

Also in the Seattle Center is the Northwest Tea Festival. You’ll need a ticket to get in, but once you are there, you’ll learn about everything tea, including the cultural and historical significance of tea from across the world, the unique tastes and varieties of tea, and plenty more.

If you want to take a walk this weekend but don’t feel up for a trip to the trails, check out the Sculpture Walk at the Kubota Garden. Not only can you enjoy the spacious garden, but there will be a few dozen stone sculptures along the way. The fall colors are also starting, so this will be a perfect afternoon date. If you see a sculpture you really like? Take it home with you, as there will be sculptures for sale as well.

In the Chinatown-International District on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., it is going to be packed with food, vendors, art, and more for the C-ID Night Market. There will also be performances like a lion dance, martial arts, and others. The event is free to attend, and this will be a perfect stop on your way to the ballpark… if you were lucky enough to get tickets, that is.

In the Central District, it is time for Walk the Block. This festival is put on by the Wa Na Wari, and this event is a day full of music, art, and more, highlighting Black artists, with this year’s focus on film and the theme of gratitude. There will be different displays throughout the neighborhood, on porches, in the streets, and at storefronts, encouraging folks to look differently at how we use our public spaces and how art impacts and influences our communities. As you go through the festival, there is a great chance you will see and learn something new. Walk the Block is Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and you can get tickets and more details right here.

There is a free showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark Friday night at Freeway Park. You are asked to bring a blanket and a flashlight, plus bonus points for wearing a fedora and a leather jacket. No snakes or booby traps at this screening to worry about either.

Cheer on your favorite sports teams

Tickets to see the Mariners take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the final regular season home series are sold out, but the UW Huskies are taking on the #1 football team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

The Sounders take on the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday at 7:30 at Lumen Field, and the Seattle Reign will take on the North Carolina Courage Sunday at 5.

Are you ready for fall? What’s your favorite thing to do in the fall? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

Big weekend at Seattle Center

The Seattle Center will be hosting multiple events this weekend. The sneakerheads will want to go to the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall on Saturday for Seattle Got Sole, the biggest sneaker convention of the year in Seattle. You can buy, trade, and discover all sorts of shoes and footwear, with more than 200 vendors in attendance. Plus, there will be giveaways, contests, and lots more.

Also happening at the Seattle Center this Saturday is the Seattle Iranian Festival, held at the Seattle Center Armory. This free event runs from 12 to 5 p.m., offering a vibrant celebration of Iranian culture through food, dance, music, and more.

Refugee and Immigrants Festival

The Morrill Meadows Park in Kent is hosting the Refugee and Immigrants Festival on Saturday. According to the event description, this event “honors and celebrates the cultural diversity, resilience, and contributions of refugee and immigrant communities.” There will be 10 different performances, including music and dancing from different regions of the world, for you to enjoy.

A Seattle tradition since 1960 returns this weekend as the St. Demetrios Greek Festival is back! It’s a weekend full of Greek food, music, dancing, and so much more.

The event’s website mentions Greek wine tasting, tours of the church, and shopping as well. If you are heading to the event, they encourage you to take public transit, including a free shuttle from the University of Washington (UW) Link Light Rail Station. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be expanded parking and shuttles at Seattle Prep High School.

Lanterns, apples, and Oktoberfest: Fall is in the air

Fall celebrations are in full swing, including Luminata at Green Lake Park this Saturday. You can bring your own lantern or purchase one at the park, with proceeds going to the Fremont Arts Council, and enjoy a magical parade of lights around the lake, along with other dazzling visual displays. The lantern shop opens at 5:30 p.m., and the parade begins at 7:30 p.m. with no ticket required.

Fall City is putting on the Fall City Apple Festival on Sunday. This is happening at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center and will have all your apple-themed favorites, including fresh-pressed cider, tasty treats like pies, jellies, and desserts, alongside horse rides, live music, vendors, and more! Do you think you make the best apple pie around? Why not enter it into the Apple Pie contest? This event is free and family-friendly.

Raise a stein at Fremont Oktoberfest

Fremont’s Oktoberfest returns Friday through Sunday. Tonight’s fun includes a stein-hoisting contest, a brat-eating contest, and plenty of live music! There will be seasonal brews to enjoy as well as plenty of food and games. This event is for those 21 years old and older.

On Saturday, Bainbridge Island hosts the Bainbridge Record Show, where you can expand your vinyl collection with over 25 tables of records from every genre to explore. Not only will there be records to check out, but CDs, tapes, and memorabilia as well.

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

In Georgetown, you can see the future of media at the New Media Festival. Here, creators will be showing off their work using videos, audio, video games, and more across 30 technology-driven installations. There will also be live music performances and plenty more running through the weekend. Get more details and register for a time at their website.

Several Latin festivals among this weekend’s Seattle area events

If you want to learn some new dance moves, there will be plenty of dancing, food trucks, and a beer garden at the Northwest Salsa and Bachata Social Dance Friday night on Pier 66. This is a free event, and not only will there be lessons for beginners, but a Jack and Jill dance competition and lots of DJs. The dancing starts at 6 p.m.

There are other Latin celebrations going on this weekend. The Seattle Fiestas Patrias is at the Seattle Center this weekend with mariachi music, authentic food, dancing, vendors, and games. This event, which runs Saturday and Sunday, commemorates the independence of Latin American countries.

There will be more dancing, food, and celebration in Tacoma as well during the Festival Herencia Latina. One of the highlights of the event is the mercadito, which will highlight artists and vendors and their work. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tacoma Armory.

More festivals, arts, street fairs

There are a couple of events celebrating our aquatic friends this weekend. The Fishermen’s Fall Festival is Saturday in Interbay. This festival is packed with fun for you and the family with wooden boat building, painting, and a bouncy house. Plus, there are the survival suit races, live music, and Ship Canal Tours. Not to mention plenty of seafood to try. The event is a big fundraiser for the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial, which helps fishermen and their families with essential services and honors those lost at sea. The festival starts at Fisherman’s Terminal Saturday at 11 a.m.

In Issaquah, the Salmon on Sunset Celebration will show you firsthand the journey of the salmon as the adult salmon will be traveling to the Issaquah hatchery. In addition to watching and learning about the fish, there will be family arts and crafts, hourly rubber duck races, salmon shed painting, and lots more. The event is free and open to everyone, and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

With it being the second Friday of the month, the Belltown Art Walk has returned. There will be displays and art located throughout the neighborhood for you to enjoy as you bounce around the shops, bars, or restaurants.

It’s the last Beacon Arts Street Fair of the season this weekend at the Centilia Cultural Center. There will be lots of local food and art, as well as a garden share, family activities, and you can celebrate Pinoy Day inside the Centilia Cultural Center. This is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Busy sports weekend in Seattle

Another busy weekend when it comes to sports as the Mariners finish up their second-to-last homestand of the regular season against the Los Angeles Angels. There are promos running throughout the weekend, so don’t miss out there.

On the pitch this weekend, the Sounders are taking on the LA Galaxy at 5:30 on Saturday night, and it’s youth soccer night at the Seattle Reign match at Lumen Field on Sunday evening as they take on Racing Louisville FC.

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

The Friends of Waterfront Park and the City of Seattle are putting on a Grand Opening Celebration of Waterfront Park this weekend. The latest improvement to the waterfront is here, and not only can folks enjoy the new 20-acre park, but live music, parades, games and activities for all ages, pop-up performances, art, and so much more. The party is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

MOPOP is saying goodbye to its Nirvana Exhibit this weekend after 14 years. It closes on Sunday, September 7, but there will be a closing celebration on Saturday with t-shirt printing, button-making, and other activities, plus film screenings, confessional video, and more. This runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

There are still plenty of festivals going on throughout the weekend. You can learn about cultures from around the world and see traditional performances, and enjoy traditional foods at the Northwest Ukrainian International Festival in Bellevue on Saturday at the Bellevue Downtown Park, the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival at the Seattle Center on Sunday, and the Thai Festival at North Seattle College on Saturday.

There will be a pirate landing, fireworks, and more at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, which runs through the weekend at Lighthouse Park. The weather will still be great for getting out on the water, and you can see a whole fleet of ships and learn about what it takes to build a boat at the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. Not only can you see hundreds of ships, but enjoy hands-on activities and more for you and the kids near the Northwest Maritime Center.

Seattle-area events for kids this weekend

BrickCon 2025 is in Bellevue this weekend, and according to the event’s website, there will be over 400 fan builders, over 1,000 models of LEGOs, plus absolutely amazing creations on display. You can even find hard-to-find LEGOs from vendors and pick up some tips and tricks from builders. BrickCon 2025 is at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Saturday and Sunday.

If you kids who love big vehicles, you will want to head to the free Touch-a-Truck event at the Sprinker Recreation Center. Here, kids can check out a fleet of vehicles, including a fire truck, school bus, dump trucks, and plenty more. They will be able to explore the vehicles and even get into the driver’s seat, where the horns will be waiting to be honked until noon, that is. Touch-A-Truck runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

It’s also a loaded sports weekend with the return of the NFL and regular-season action for the Seattle Seahawks. It’s an early-season divisional matchup for the Hawks as they take on the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field Sunday afternoon. It’s another home game for the UW Huskies as they take on U.C. Davis Saturday night at Husky Stadium. The Storm are in town Friday night, taking on the New York Liberty at Climate Pledge.

How are you spending your first weekend of September? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

You’ll find me enjoying all the video game fun at PAX West this weekend. The annual video game convention has taken over downtown and will run through the weekend with panels, guest speakers, and, of course, plenty of video games. In the spirit of the fun, there are a lot of opportunities to see video game music live, including the music of the very popular Stardew Valley at Benaroya Hall. If you have a video game fan in the family, this is the weekend for them.

The Washington State Fair has returned, and that means you can visit Puyallup and enjoy all the other fair fun, including rides, games, and, of course, all the fair food. There’s also all the live music and the rodeos, exhibits to see and learn about animals, and so much more. Don’t miss out on their 125-year celebration as the Fair runs for the next 20 days.

According to Events12.com, you will have plenty of chances to enjoy and walk through fields of sunflowers at numerous local farms, including Schilter Family Farm in Nisqually, the Rutledge Family Farm in Olympia, Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm in Snohomish, and plenty more. We are pretty lucky how many big fields of flowers we have in our state, so don’t miss out on enjoying the beauty and other activities the farms offer as part of the experience.

Everyone has had or walked by a blackberry bush this summer. It’s impossible not to see the little berries taking over someone’s yard or side street. In Bremerton, it’s all about fruit as it is time for the Bremerton Blackberry Festival. This three-day event celebrates all things blackberry, including the waterfront bash that will be serving up all your favorites like pies, donuts, and jams, plus all the other vendors showing off their berry-themed merch and other handmade items. There will also be crafts for the kids. The Blackberry Festival runs through the weekend right by the ferry terminal. 

More events in the Seattle area

Bumbershoot will be taking over the Seattle Center this weekend. Tickets are still available for the multi-day music festival. If I were there, I’d be pretty pumped to see Weezer or Car Seat Headrest, but the schedule is absolutely loaded with music, and the weather should be perfect to be outside enjoying the music.

Down in Tacoma, there will be over 1,000 vintage cars and more on display at the LeMay Annual Car Show. Take a trip down memory lane and see the innovation of automobiles during each generation while soaking up the sun, vendors, and food trucks. There will also be lots of vintage memorabilia to check out as well. The show is open to the public and free to attend, and runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The University of Washington Huskies are back in action on the football field as they open the season against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday at 8 p.m. under the lights.

We got a huge soccer weekend with the Sounders taking on Messi and Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday at Lumen Field at 5 p.m. The Seattle Reign is also in town with a home match tonight at 7 p.m. against the San Diego Wave FC. 

How are you celebrating Labor Day weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

There are more than a few fun festivals around the state this weekend, some closer to Seattle than others.

Weekend events across Seattle

The Festál program continues at the Seattle Center this weekend. This weekend’s programming for the Festival Sundiata presents the Black Arts Fest.

“The festival focuses on intergenerational activities and promotion of traditional and contemporary African American heritage, showcasing local entertainment, photography, food merchants, historical exhibits, and more,” according to the event’s website. The Black Arts Fest will be at the Seattle Center on Saturday and Sunday.

You can also find the Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Fest at Des Moines Beach Park on Saturday, and the South Sound Block Party is at the Port of Olympia Friday and Saturday, loaded with plenty of live music.

Parades, music, and more

Snoqualmie Days is this Saturday, which will have train rides, model trains, live music, a kids’ area, plenty of vendors, and a parade! The festival will take place on Railroad Avenue next to the Northwest Railway Museum. There’s also the Washington State Garlic Festival, which, of course, has all the garlicy treats you can eat, plus chainsaw carving, live music, and fun for the kids. That’s happening in Centralia at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds throughout the weekend.

The Evergreen State Fair is underway in Monroe, with one of its big attractions: The Monster Truck show! The Fair runs until September 1st at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

If you are up for a long drive this weekend, the Washington State International Kite Festival has returned. Kite fliers from across the world, including some of the best in the world of kite flying, are in Long Beach right now showing off kites big and small. The Kite Festival is free to attend.

If you are over 21 and want to help support the Ballard Food Bank, Ballard Bites and Brews is Sunday, and it is a great way to give back, while enjoying the vibes of Ballard. Your ticket provides access to live music, eight drink tickets, and bites from local restaurants. For those who are skipping the spirits, there will be specialty mocktails and alcohol-free beer available. In addition to the food, there will be games and photo opportunities, plus information about the Ballard Food Bank and how to get involved and help the local community.

Seattle sports back in town

It’s also a big weekend for sports. The Seattle Mariners are back in town and need Mariners fans to pack T-Mobile Park to help get the team back on track after a tough road trip. The M’s take on the Oakland Athletics this weekend as they look to gain ground in the race for the American League West. There’s also a drone show tonight as part of Margaritaville Night! The Tacoma Rainers are also in town, taking on the Oklahoma City Comets throughout the weekend. The Seattle Sounders have a home match against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday. The match starts at 6 p.m. at Lumen Field.

Here’s an event sent to me by a listener:

You can get sauced while staying completely sober in Mountlake Terrace this weekend. It’s the Get Sauced Festival and it’s all about celebrating the Mount Lake Terrace community and the wonderful world of hot sauce! There will be vendors with a variety of hot sauces to try, homemade goods for sale, local food to enjoy, and family-friendly activities. This free event is going down at the Town Center Lots at West Plaza Marketplace on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How are you enjoying the rest of your summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

Seattle weekend activities: Ink, festivals, art

Looking for some new ink for your calf or maybe want to add to your sleeve that takes up your forearm, you can see some of the best tattoo artists this weekend at the Seattle Tattoo Expo. There will be tattoo competitions, live music, and, of course, plenty of opportunities to get something done for yourself. You’ll want to make sure you book an appointment with a participating artist and get your tickets before you head to the Seattle Center.

The Seattle Design Festival has returned, and things are getting started with the block party on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Union Park. There will be interactive installations, lots of hands-on activities, performances, and plenty more. Plus, there will be the large-scale interactive installations designed to be climbed on and enjoyed by people of all ages, sizes, and abilities. The only thing you will need to register or buy a ticket for is the closing party and mixers. However, if you just want to head to the block party and see the work, all you gotta do is show up, free of charge.

UFO festival

If you look up in the sky this weekend and see something strange … it’s probably just visitors from the stars checking out the UFO Festival in Burien on Saturday. There will be plenty of fun for the kids as well as an alien costume contest, live music, and plenty of fun. This is going down at Town Square Park Saturday.

In Shoreline, it’s time to celebrate Shoreline at, well, Celebrate Shoreline. Saturday, at Cromwell Park, there will be multiple stages of live music, theater, and activities for the kids, pony rides, and a beer garden for the adults. No need to worry about a ticket as this event is free.

Fresh local food

At Willowmoor Farm in Marymoor Park in Redmond, you can learn about the world of food and what it takes to live a more sustainable life. It’s time for CHOMP. This event highlights local farms, chefs, and restaurants that get their ingredients from local sources and resources for more sustainable options. There will also be a farmers market, zucchini races, live music, and of course plenty of food. This is going down on Saturday.

Free movies

There are lots of ways to enjoy a free movie with the family this weekend. “Say Anything” will be showing at the Mural Amphitheater at the Seattle Center Friday night. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is being shown in Freeway Park also Friday night.

The last Motors and Movies event of the summer at LeMay-America’s Car Museum is Friday night, and they are bringing the show inside the museum to avoid the rain. The movie being shown is “A Minecraft Movie.” Finally, for the Friday night show times, “Despicable Me 4” is being shown at Bradley Lake Park.

Saturday at Stewart Heights Park in Tacoma, Summer Bash continues with a day full of fun, starting with fitness activities, vendors, and a DJ, plus painting in the park, and gaming truck, face painting, and food. It all comes to a close at dusk with a showing of “A Minecraft Movie.” All these movie events are free to attend and good for the family … if they are ready for some PG-13 films.

How are you winding down your summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

It’s a block party weekend with parties happening in South Lake Union and a brand new one in Edmonds.

Seattle area block parties

At the South Lake Union Block Party Friday, which is at the South Lake Union Discovery Center, you’ll find a community fair, beer and cocktails, lawn games, live music, and the street scramble. What is a street scramble, you ask? It’s described as an urban adventure where you and your team will try to find as many checkpoints before the clock runs out. Worried about over-competitive teams? Don’t worry, the event website says the fun is in the exploring, so go at your own speed. The South Lake Union Block party is free to attend.

It’s the inaugural Edmonds Block Party, but they are putting on a weekend full of music that will get you moving and grooving, whether you are a classic rock fan or you love modern pop music. Not only will there be plenty of live music, games, food, and more, but there’s also a Cornhole tournament. Those 21+ and up will need to buy a ticket on Friday or Saturday, but Saturday is free admission for those under 21. More details right here.

We will have a free day at Washington State Parks on Saturday, a perfect chance to get out and enjoy the great outdoors before locking into the back-to-school prep and madness. What’s the reason? Well, it’s Smokey the Bear’s Birthday. So why not celebrate by enjoying some nature and doing everything you can to prevent wildfires.

You can get elemental this weekend at the Puyallup Gem and Mineral Show at the Tacoma Sportsman Club. There will be all sorts of crystals and minerals to learn about and buy. This runs through the weekend.

Also in Pierce County, it is time for the Pierce County Fair at Frontier Park in Graham. They will have bull riding, bumper boats, rock climbing, and of course a giant slide, plus all sorts of games, food, and local agriculture to enjoy. You can get tickets here

There are a few different festivals celebrating different cultures from around the world this weekend.

Weekend festivals in western Washington

In Tacoma, it is the IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market and Northwest Native festival. This festival has live music, a fashion show, vendors, food, and plenty of art to check out as the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Museum of Glass are all part of the event and are offering free admission.

Tibet Fest is at the Seattle Center Saturday and Sunday as part of the Festál series. The event’s website said the event “bestows messages of love, compassion and kindness through a fusion of ancient and new Tibetan arts and culture to engage, entertain and educate.” Tibet Fest is free to attend.

There’s also the Cambodian Cultural Celebration at Saltwater State Park on Saturday. There will be traditional dances, martial arts, games, and of course food and live music. Remember, no need for a Discovery Pass.

For the cat lovers out there, you’ll want to head to Siff Cinema Uptown for Cat Video Fest. Sure, you could just endlessly scroll on YouTube for cat videos, but this is a compilation of the latest and greatest cat videos, whether it be animations, music videos, or just classic cat being goofy videos. It runs about 75 minutes, and when you attend, you can help cats as the festival supports the Pixie Project.

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

The big event this weekend is, of course, the Seafair Weekend Festivals. The Blue Angels have been practicing for the air show, the hydroplanes are getting ready to rip through the water, plus live music, lots of tasty treats to eat, and if you are looking to save on tickets, Friday is Free Friday. All the fun is going down at Genesee Park and runs through the weekend. Get tickets and details right here.

If you are one of the many 12s who are excited about Training Camp being back, hang out with your fellow fans and play some football-themed games and more at the Seahawks Football Fest! There will also be bounce houses and more fun for you and the family. This is going down Saturday at Lumen Field.

In Lake City, it is time for the Lake City Summer Festival and Parade. There will be live music and not one, not two, but three parades. There will also be craft vendors, food trucks, a car show, and more fun for the family. There will also be live music near the Lake City Library, and the Festival is free to attend.

Also in the world of summer festivals, Magnolia Summerfest is here. Three days of live music, food, drinks, vendors, parades … the list just keeps going. You can even start your Saturday and Sunday with some exercise. All the action is going down at the Magnolia Playfield. Get the whole schedule and more details right here.

In Bellevue, you can check out the Bellevue International Festival, which is a celebration of cultures from around the world, with performances, food, and activities from around the world. Best of all, it is free and family-friendly. The festival is Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Park.

While we want to focus on the fun stuff and not say the words kids dread, “back-to-school,” but at the Washington State Fair Expo Hall in Puyallup, you can save some money at the Back-To-School Sale with Just Between Friends. According to the event page, there will be savings on clothes, shoes, toys, books, and plenty more, all for 50-90% off retail prices. The event is free to attend, but you can buy tickets for early shopping. The sale runs through the weekend.

Learn about the world of professional kite flying while also flying your own during the Kite Festival in University Place. This festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there will be kite demonstrations, inflatables, food trucks, vendors, and plenty more family fun. Plus, 250 kites will be given away each day, or you can buy a kite kit to make your own.

We’ve got lots of sports action going on this weekend, as the new-look Seattle Mariners are in town and look to gain ground in the playoff race with a big weekend series against the Texas Rangers. The Seattle Storm are in action tonight at Climate Pledge against the Los Angeles Sparks and Sunday against the Indiana Fever. Sorry, no Caitlin Clark as she is still recovering from injury. On the pitch this weekend, Seattle Reign FC takes on Angel City FC Friday at 7:30 p.m., and the Seattle Sounders play Club Santos Laguna on Sunday as part of the Leagues Cup.

How are you making the most of what is left of your summer? Let me know, paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

Seattle’s summer weekend events:

The Seattle SeaFair continues to ramp up and one of the hallmark events is this Saturday, the Torchlight Parade! According to the event’s website, the parade has returned to its roots with a nighttime start and a new parade route.

The new route goes along the Seattle Waterfront, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a pre-parade run while spectators can start lining up at 6 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.

Pier 58 reopens

Also, along the waterfront, Pier 58 is reopening, and there is a celebration today from 4 to 8 p.m. The pier adds around 50,000 square feet of park space with a family-friendly focus, including the new marine-themed playground and an elevated lawn space.

The opening celebration is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to dance, play, and come dressed in marine-themed attire. Local mascots will also be in attendance.

Local artists featured in Bellevue Arts Festival

The Bellevue Arts Festival weekend is here. Highlighting upwards of 350 artists using more than 20 different artistic mediums, including traditional painting, jewelry, and printmaking, but also newer forms like 3D mixed media. There will also be plenty of food vendors, family-friendly activities, live music, and special programming at the Bellevue Art Museum!

Grab a bite to eat in Seattle

If you want to see all the great food that Seattle has to offer, the Seattle Center is where you will want to be. Bite of Seattle is here, and I bet you can smell the food already! More than 300 food and retail vendors will take over the center, serving up tasty dishes from around the world.

While you enjoy your food, you can watch three days of live music. There will be beer and wine gardens, cider tasting, and they’ll have everything you can think of when it comes to the world of food. The Bite of Seattle event is free to attend, but vendors will be charging for their food.

Sunset film showings at Cal Anderson

There are a couple of free movies this weekend. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is being shown at Cal Anderson Park tonight as part of the Center City Cinema program. Ratatouille is being shown at the Mural Amphitheater, and for both movies, you are encouraged to bring your own chairs and blankets. The films will start once the sun begins to set.

The Northwest Film Forum is also hosting the Children’s Film Festival Seattle throughout the weekend. Day passes and weekend passes are available.

Renton’s annual River Days

Over in Renton, enjoy a weekend on the river for Renton River Days. There will be a drone show, a concert, a parade, and tons of summer fun for you and the family. There will also be an all-ages chalk art competition and a Rubber Ducky Derby on Sunday!

Free admission options

If you are looking for free fun to do with the family this weekend that involves getting outside, there will be a beach shore stroll along Olympic Sculpture Park today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the lowest tide at approximately 11:52 a.m. Naturalists will be there to answer questions and show you how much is happening along our shores.

Also, this weekend is a bicycle weekend here in Seattle. A portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motor vehicles from 10 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday, giving you a perfect route for a weekend ride along the water.

How are you enjoying the summer? Remember to plan ahead for traffic and to let me know about the cool stuff going on in your neighborhood by emailing me at paulh@kiroradio.com.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

Once inside, we got to see the incredible glasswork and other pieces of art collected in specific rooms designed by Chihuly. I didn’t really think about glassblowing much until seeing the show “Blown Away” on Netflix. Through that show, you are shown firsthand just how difficult, demanding, and rewarding the world of glass blowing can be, and how hours of work can be shattered with one wrong move or one bad break.

During the hottest day of the summer, glassblowers were hard at work showing off their skills for those who gathered in the hot shop. That’s when I got to talk to Mimi Carter, Chihuly Studio’s vice president of marketing and sales.

Looking at Dale Chihuly’s glassblowing journey

“Dale [Chihuly] grew up in Tacoma and then went to school at University of Washington, but he also went to school at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD),” Carter explained. “He taught at RISD for 11 years, as well as in Maine, but when he came back, he wanted to essentially create an opportunity here in Seattle.”

And create opportunities he has. Through his work and the work of his team, Chihuly has become a common name in the world of art, especially here in Washington.

“He co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School after he had taught in New England because he really felt that we needed something like that here,” Carter shared. “It’s now become an international art center there in Stanwood, Washington. You can now see his art at the Museum of Glass, Union Station, and the Tacoma Museum of Art. You can obviously see it at Chihuly Garden and Glass. It’s not only been a contemporary art form that really began here, but it’s just continued to increase, I think, because of his mentorship and influence.”

Through his mentorship and creative vision, he has helped glassblowing thrive here by creating and using resources for artists.

“Dale was fortunate enough to have a Fulbright Fellowship, and with that fellowship, he wrote 100 letters to 100 different factories around the world, and the only one that said yes was the Venini factory, but that gave him the opportunity to go study with these masters in Murano, Italy,” Carter said. “It’s those types of experiences that are transformative, that artists really need in order to propel their career forward.”

Local glassblowing programs

I think, by having schools, by having programs, and it can start with Hilltop Artists, that’s local here, and it starts with 12-year-olds, and we’ve been working with them for now 30 years. It can start at Path with Art. It can be at the Artist Trust. All those organizations are organizations that Dale and Leslie fund through their foundation, actually, but they see a value to that, and they see that that type of influence, that type of investment, is what continues to snowball the interest and influence in glass blowing today,” she continued.

It’s amazing to see the transformation of the glass from tubes or shards into priceless pieces of art. What starts as something so simple and fragile can be manipulated into large-scale sculptures guaranteed to catch your eye. Each piece of a Chihuly sculpture is handcrafted and engineered specifically to match Dale’s creative vision.

Carter had a simple explanation as to why Chihuly and other glassworks stand out.

“It inspires joy, and joy is the oxygen for doing hard things,” she said. “It doesn’t take a master’s degree in art history. It doesn’t take a background. If you simply see the artwork and its color and its translucence, it’s awe-inspiring. And I think you feel that physically when you see the artwork.”

Maybe you are an artist looking to get into the world of glass or take your work to the next level. Carter said the community is here to help.

“I think there are programs around the Pacific Northwest. Some are community-based, some are school-based. Some are opportunities that are pay-to-play,” she explained. “I think researching what you need at this juncture, whether it’s university or community-based, is the first step, and then really talking to people, because I don’t know that it’s going to happen just by researching on the Internet or AI even.

“It’s a community that does help each other and mentor each other,” Carter continued. “You look at Donna Davies at Pilchuck Glass School, or Debbie Lenk at Museum of Glass, those are leaders in the community who always want to help other young artists learn more about exploring new ideas. The community is really invested in Seattle, invested in the artists in Seattle. And we want to see it grow and flourish the way Dale started to do this, in the early 70s. He wants it to continue.”

Where to see Chihuly’s work

And if this is somehow your first time hearing about Chihuly?

“Here locally, you can obviously see a lot of work at Chihuly Garden and Glass here in Seattle, but also in Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky,” Carter shared. “We’ll have an exhibition opening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. We also have a piece in Montreal that’s being reconfigured that’s going to be beautiful at that museum. Get in touch with us. I’m happy to talk to anybody about where they can see Chihuly.”

You can find more information on Chihuly’s website.

Read more of Paul Holden’s stories here.

The Summer festival season is in full swing and this weekend you can enjoy a feast from the sea at the Ballard Seafood Festival, which features live music, tons of tasty seafood including the specialty salmon BBQ, plus the vendors, plenty of fun for the kids especially Festi-Bowl, which is an all-ages, all-abilities skateboard event on Saturday. The Ballard Seafood Fest runs through the weekend.

Seattle weekend events include Book Fairs, performances, festivals, and more

Over in West Seattle, it is time for West Seattle Summer Fest! Enjoy everything West Seattle has to offer while doing all your festival favorites like enjoying live music, shopping, eating local, hanging out with the kids at the Kids Zone, and plenty more. You also might have heard of the Seattle Saunter earlier this year; the Super Saunters are back with a West Seattle version on Saturday. The walk will start at the West Seattle Water Taxi at 9 a.m.

At the Seattle Center on Saturday, the Polish Festival Seattle will be from noon to 7 p.m. Things get started with a parade, then there will be tons of Polish music, traditional dances, cooking demonstrations, and plenty of ways to learn about Polish culture.

Fantagraphics is putting on the Hot Off the Press Book Fair on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be a variety of comics, zines, and music from over 50 regional and national artists. Plus, there will be live music, celebrating 40 years of Fallout Records. There will also be refreshments!

In Downton Edmonds, the sounds of live music and more will be performed from the front steps of homes, in yards, and at business fronts during PorchFest! If you are someone who loves all types of music, this event provides everything from rock to electronic, folk to funk, opera to ambient, and plenty more. See the whole map and more at porchfestedmonds.com

Enjoy the weather with sunshine and a show during the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival, Saturday and Sunday at Volunteer Park. Throughout the weekend, you will find performances across three areas of the park. Performances range from 40 minutes to 2 hours, so be sure to visit the schedule on the event’s website so you can plan ahead.

There’s a free showing of “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” at Cal Anderson Park tonight at 6:30 p.m. This is part of Center City Cinema 2025, which shows free outdoor movies at parks across the city throughout the summer. The movie is free to attend, and you can bring your chairs and blankets!

The Seattle Storm are also in town this weekend, taking on the Connecticut Sun tonight at 7 p.m. and the Washington Mystics Sunday at 3 p.m.

What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com

There are events across the region to celebrate, including the Seafair 4th of July celebration and Tacoma’s 4th of July Summer Blast.

Gas Works Park and Lake Union Park will be where you want to be for the best views and all the fun for Seafair’s celebration. Both will feature All-American games like sack racing, water balloon tosses, and plenty more. Plus, there will be food and live music to enjoy as you soak up the sun all day long.

The fireworks celebration will take place at roughly 10:20 p.m. Gates open at 3 p.m., and no admission will be allowed after 9 p.m. At Tacoma’s Summer Blast, you will find over 150 vendors, multiple stages with live music, a kids zone, food and drinks, plus a fireworks show to close out the day. The fun gets started at Ruston Way Waterfront at noon.

Fourth of July fireworks in western Washington

There will also be a firework shows in Arlington at Quake Park, Bellevue at the Downtown Park, in Everett at Port Gardner Bay, Federal Way at Celebration Park, plus there are also parades going on in West Seattle, Everette, Edmonds, Arlington, Bothell, and more. Some, like Bothell, West Seattle, and Edmonds, even have a kids’ parade kicking off the events. Events12 has a good list of where and when to find the parades from across the region.

There will also be a naturalization ceremony on Friday at the Seattle Center, where 500 people will become American citizens. This begins at noon

It’s time for Pioneer Square Fest in none other than Pioneer Square. According to the event’s website, Pioneer Square Fest is a two-day celebration of music, art, and local culture. You will be able to dance the weekend away with over 20 live bands across five event stages on Saturday while enjoying the market of over 80 street vendors. There will also be food and drink specials at local businesses and all sorts of art to enjoy. In order to check out the music and some of the experiences of the festival, you’ll need to buy a wristband, but the market is open to the general public, no ticket required.

It’s also a busy sports weekend with the Mariners at home all weekend, taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates, with promos going on throughout the series. Plus, the Sounders are taking on the Columbus Crew on Sunday at 2 PM.

How are you celebrating Independence Day and the rest of your summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

There are Pride celebrations across the region, including some of the main events of the month. PrideFest is on Capitol Hill on Saturday and in the Seattle Center on Sunday. According to Seattle Pride Guide, Saturday will feature five blocks of street festivals plus a makers village and more in Cal Anderson Park. Sunday will feature three stages, over 100 artists, and lots more throughout the Seattle Center. PrideFest runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free for all ages to attend.

Sunday is the Pride Parade throughout downtown Seattle, so you can expect big crowds in the city. There will be a pre-parade party at Westlake Park, and the parade will officially start at 11 a.m. at Fourth and Pike and end at Denny Way. For more details, visit the parade’s website.

There are a lot more Pride events throughout the weekend, and you can find more information about those right here.

Seattle summer activities include movies, Pride, street fairs, and more

Don’t be alarmed when you see pirates taking over Alki Beach this weekend, as it is time for the Seafair Pirates Landing. Look for the pirates to land around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, but Seafair’s website stated there will be festivities before. Once they have made landfall, the crew will entertain the kids and share their treasures.

“Barbie” the movie will be playing at Benaroya Hall Friday and Saturday, and if you haven’t seen the Seattle Symphony perform a score to a movie, this would be a great one to check out. Seeing the films with live music adds a whole extra layer of fun to the experience, and you can enjoy a photo booth and other pre-show fun as well. You can get tickets on the Seattle Symphony’s website.

A couple of fun free street fairs are also this weekend. Urban Craft Uprising is hosting Gobble Up, which will feature 80 local food and beverage vendors at Lake Union Park, Saturday is the Greenwood Car Show, where not only will you find blocks of classic cars, hot rods and more, there will also be car themed activities for the kids and of course live food and music. Doesn’t get much more summer than a car show. Both of these events are free to attend.

Also, for those motorheads out there, Friday is the first Motors and Movies event of the summer at the LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma. There will be a concession stand and a 40-foot outdoor movie screen. Gates will open for parking at 6:30 p.m., and the 2007 version of Transformers will be shown at sunset. Parking will be first-come come first-served serve and you are welcome to bring lawn chairs and yard games.

If you want to celebrate the 4th of July a little early, Freedom Fest is going on at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Saturday at 1 p.m. There will be carnival rides, a car show, carnival games and entertainers, food trucks, and plenty more. There will also be live music and a fireworks show to close out the day. Registering online ahead of time will help you avoid delays, but you can show up day of and still get in.

It’s also time for the Bremerton Bridge Blast on Saturday. There you will find the boardwalk festival on the Bremerton Boardwalk from noon to 10:15 p.m., or if you are looking to kick back and relax a bit more, there will be food trucks and plenty of green space to set up your chairs and picnic blankets at Evergreen Rotary Park. You’ll be able to catch the fireworks show at 10:15 p.m. from both locations. This event is free to attend.

The summer is in full swing, and I want to know the cool things that you have planned. Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

It’s a convention for fans of just about anything in pop culture, or at least that’s how they describe the Washington State Summer Con, which is taking over the Washington State Fair and Events Center in Puyallup this weekend.

Meet the people behind some of your favorite franchises, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Super Mario, TMNT, X-Men, and so many more. Not to mention hundreds of vendors selling collectibles, an arcade to enjoy, and panels to learn something new about your favorite movies and shows. You’ll want to see the full guest list and get tickets on the event’s website.

Multiple summer fairs

Fair season continues this weekend with the Fremont Solstice Parade and Fremont Fair on Saturday and Sunday, which will host tons of vendors selling crafts, clothing, and other specialty goods. Plus, there will be plenty of food and live music all going down in Fremont on Saturday and Sunday!

If you’re a fan of crafts, the Renegade Craft Fair is also taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Magnuson Park Hangar 30, showcasing more than 180 artists of all kinds.

You can also celebrate Juneteenth at the Black Night Market on Pier 62 tonight from 3:30-9:30 p.m. According to the event’s website, the market will feature a “diverse lineup of BIPOC vendors, performers, and food trucks.” All these events are free to attend.

Pride events continue this weekend

Pride events are continuing this weekend, including Georgetown Pride, which takes place this Saturday. The event features a street fair at Bloom Bistro from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a neighborhood parade at Oxbow Park from 3-4 p.m., and participation from numerous other businesses throughout Georgetown. There are events for all ages, but some are age restricted, so check out the event listing before checking it out.

Dockyard Roller Derby is putting on their “Pride and Power Jams” event at Pierce College on Saturday. There will be two bouts, plus art vendors, food trucks, a raffle, plus a beer garden for those of age.

Food walks

Saturday is the first of three Summer Food Walks in the Chinatown International District from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the walk, participating businesses will offer $6 special bites of food as well as other discounts. There’s an information booth at Hing Hay Park that will have a menu to map your route, but for more information, head to their website.

Nature activities

For the nature lovers out there, you will want to head to Camp Long in West Seattle for Mountain Fest! According to Seattle Parks, this free activity for all ages features rock climbing, bouldering, rappelling, nature walks, a scavenger hunt, and a high ropes course. The forecast does call for light rain, so be prepared!

Sporting events this weekend

For the sports fans, the Seattle Storm takes on the 2024 WNBA champion New York Liberty at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday at 4 p.m.

The FIFA Club World Cup continues through the weekend with a few matches to see. The Sounders will finish the group stage against PSG on Monday at Lumen Field.

And lastly, here’s an event sent to me by a listener.

June is Dravet Syndrome Awareness Month, and to shed light on this rare form of epilepsy, Camp Small Steps will be offering a safe, inclusive, and accessible camp-themed event for families on Saturday in Tacoma. There will be arts and crafts, a communal dinner, and a bonfire celebration. This event will take place at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown from 5-9 p.m.

How are you kicking off the summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.