Soak up the sun: Summer events happening around Seattle

Photo by Benjamin Robyn

Summer’s here and Seattle is so ready . From live music and Memorial Day celebrations to hiking and festivals, summer is when Emerald City comes alive.

Gear up to get outside with this guide featuring 33 summer events — including ideas for the Fourth of July — happening between May and August.

Photo by Christine Mitchell

Fancy festivals

Seattle Cabaret Festival | Saturday, May 4-Saturday, June 1 | Various times | Various locations | $20-$35 | Enjoy a large swath of musical acts, including a cappella, satirical works, blues, opera, and singer/songwriter performances.

Seattle International Film Festival | Thursday, May 9-Monday, May 27 | Various times | Various SIFF theaters + virtual | $16.50-$351.50 | See just one movie out of the 261 films being screened, buy a six-pack, or go all out and join the red carpet.

Northwest Folklife | Friday, May 24-Monday, May 27 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Seattle Center | Free | Seattle’s crunchiest and most beloved events highlights PNW culture with folk art fashion shows, tons of local artisans, musical performances, and lots of good food.

Ballard Seafood Fest | Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 14 | Various times | Market Street + Ballard Avenue | Free | Rock out to local musicians, shop from vendors + artisans, and eat lots of fresh seafood — of course .

Day In Day Out Fest | Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 14 | Various times | Fisher Green Pavilion | $130-$549 | Check out headliners like the locally grown Head and the Heart or nationally loved acts like Bleachers and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Capitol Hill Block Party | Friday, July 19-Sunday, 21 | Various times | Capitol Hill neighborhood | $235-$549 | As arguably Seattle’s biggest music festival, the crew has been able to lock down major artists like Kim Petras and Chappell Roan.

SeaFair | Saturday, June 29-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Various times | Various locations | Prices vary on event | The multi-event, summer-long festival is bringing back classic events like the Boeing Air Show, Hydroplane Races, Torchlight Parade, and the SeaFair Triathlon.

Bumbershoot | Saturday, Aug. 31-Sunday, Sept. 1 | Various times | Seattle Center | $70-$350 | The quirky arts + culture festival is back with its cat circus, fashion shows, live music, kissing booth, and other weird-o pop-ups unique to our city’s general personality.

Photo by Nate Gowdy

All about the Pride

Seattle Pride in the Park | Saturday, June 1 | 12-7 p.m. | Volunteer Park | Free | Kick off Pride Month with live musical performances, a beer garden, Queer vendors, nonprofit booths, dancers, and food trucks galore.

Seattle PrideFest | Saturday, June 29-Sunday, June 30 | Various times | Free | This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Seattle Pride celebration, so get ready for a lot of extra fun.

Seattle Pride Parade | Sunday, June 30 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Downtown Seattle to Seattle Center | Free | This parade is the fourth largest in the US, attracting more than 400,000 each year.

Queer/Pride Festival | Friday, June 28-Sunday, June 30 | Various times | Capitol Hill neighborhood | $69-$299 | This music-focused event features a lot of famous LGBTQ+ favorites like Tegan and Sara + Santigold.

Juneteenth

Northwest African American Museum’s Juneteenth Festival | Sunday, June 16 | Times TBA | Price TBA | Details are still being worked out for this year’s event, but last year included documentary screenings, book readings, youth sports clinics, live music, skating rinks, and more.

Songs of Black Folk 2024 | Sunday, June 16 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $40-$100 | Hear renditions of the songs carried over to North America from Africa and the form these songs evolved into.

Photo via Seattle City Archives

Fourth of July celebrations

SeaFair Summer Fourth | Thursday, July 4 | 3 p.m.-11 p.m. | Gas Works Park | Free | The big fireworks show over Lake Union is coming back with a bang.

Theater and live arts performances

Massive Monkees Day | Sunday, May 26 | 6 p.m. | The Neptune Theater | $25 | Seattle dedicated April 26 as Massive Monkees Day back in 2004 — come celebrate with the world-famous break-dancing crew and watch a showcase of their work.

“Girl from the North Country” | Tuesday, June 25-Sunday, June 30 | Various times | The Paramount Theatre | $40-$125 | Several of music legend Bob Dylan’s songs have been strung together to tell the story of a group of travelers in a 1934 Minnesota guesthouse.

“Spring Awakening” | Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 30 | Various times | Fifth Avenue Theater | $39-$129 | This eight-time Tony Award-winning production depicts the struggles, pressure, and drama of young adult life.

“Clue” | Wednesday, July 9-Sunday, July 21 | Various times | Fifth Avenue Theater | $49-$159 | Who’s the murderer — Mrs. Peacock in the study with a knife or Colonel Mustard in the library with a wrench?

“Peter Pan” | Wednesday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Aug. 25 | Various times | Paramount Theatre | Prices TBA | The world in which pirates exist, magic is real, and kisses are thimbles comes to life in this live musical production.

Podcasts, comedians, and lectures

Ben Schwartz & Friends | Sunday, May 5 | 8 p.m. | Paramount Theatre | $45-$125 | Don’t be suspicious — just enjoy this comedian whose face you’ve seen in TV hits like “Parks and Rec,” “House of Lies,” and “This is Where I Leave You.”

“Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me!” | Thursday, May 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Paramount Theatre | $128-$488 | The hit radio show from NPR is bringing a rotating list of celebrities, comedians, and listeners on stage as it travels the US for live tapings.

“Last Podcast on the Left” | Saturday, June 8 | 8 p.m. | Paramount Theatre | $35-$160.50 | There’s no place to escape to... you’ll just have to laugh along with these podcast hosts as they cover topics like murder, hauntings, and crime.

“Old Gods of Appalachia” | Saturday, July 13 | 8 p.m. | Neptune Theatre | $35-$42.50 | The horror fiction podcast set in an alternative Appalachia is rolling through town to creep you out.

Photo via Showbox Presents

Celestial concerts

Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds Tour | Wednesday, May 15 | 8 p.m. | Lumen Field | $64.40-$670 | Mick Jagger is still rocking it — go see the musical legends in person.

Celtic Woman | Wednesday, May 15 | 7 p.m. | Paramount Theatre | $47-$200 | You might find yourself off on a search to find sailors or headed down to the lights of Galway after this incredible performance.

Pearl Jam: Dark Matter World Tour 2024 | Tuesday, May 28 + Thursday, May 30 | 7:30 p.m. | $344.95-$968 | Our home town rock band is headed out on tour after releasing their latest album earlier this year.

Madison Beer | Saturday, June 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Moore Theatre | $39-$250 | The “Make You Mine” singer has had some big hits circulating TikTok.

Idina Menzel | Friday, June 19 | 8 p.m. | Paramount Theatre | $45-$394.50 | You’ll recognize this wicked songstress’s voice from several major productions like “Frozen,” “Enchanted,” and “Rent” — she is the “Queen of Broadway” after all.

Cage the Elephant: Neon Pill Tour | Saturday, June 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena | $54-$550 | Ain’t no rest for the wicked with guitar work like this.

Kenny Chesney with Zac Brown Band: Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour | Saturday, July 13 | 5 p.m. | Lumen Field | $30-$399 | Try to keep your boots on — two country music legends are taking the stage together.

Blondie | Friday, Aug. 23 | 6 p.m. | Remlinger Farms | $59.50 | “Heart of Glass” may have been released 46 years ago (ouch) , but it still hits the same.

Metallica with Pantera and Five Finger Death Punch | Friday, Aug. 30 + Sunday, Sept. 1 | 6 p.m. | Lumen Field | $79-$1,500 | Make sure you have ibuprofen waiting for you at home — your neck is gonna be sore from all the head banging.