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25 Best Things to Do in Seattle in February

woman walking along the waterfront in winter, one of the best things to do in Seattle in winter

Finding the best things to do in Seattle in February was fun because the city begins to come alive this time of year. The days are finally getting longer, with sunset around 5:45 PM, and the weather is still chilly but beginning to pick up with highs of 49°F. It’s like the whole city comes out of hibernation in anticipation of spring.

Valentine’s Day really marks the kick-off when restaurants and local shops start offering specials to encourage couples to wine and dine. Along with this are other activities like film and music festivals, Lunar New Year events, and other wintry activities. So, whether you’re a local or a visitor, consider this your guide to all of the best February activities in Seattle!

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Best Things to Do in Seattle in February

Save this list to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it every year with all the best activities in Seattle in February! For more February events, check out my Seattle events calendar.

Celebrate Black History Month

Federally recognized in 1976, Black History Month celebrates the contributions of Black achievements throughout history. While there are countless ways to recognize Black excellence throughout the year, such as by supporting Black-owned wineries and Black-owned restaurants, February is when the city hosts special events and exhibits. Here are some going on this year:

shrimp and waffle fries from a Black-owned Seattle restaurant

Get ideas at the Seattle Wedding Show

website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | dates: Feb 1-2 | price: $25 pp | best for: wedding planning ideas

Visit the Pacific Northwest’s largest wedding convention to peruse a bunch of local planners, florists, caterers, and more so you can get ideas and make connections for your own special day. If you’re still in search of a dress, there will be a fashion show showing different fits for walking down the aisle.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year

Every February local Asian communities come alive with usually free Lunar New Year’s celebrations. Here are the festivals happening around Seattle to celebrate the Year of the Snake:

This is also a great time to visit Chinese restaurants in Seattle, as many offer Lunar New Year’s specials.

dumplings in a bamboo steamer basket at one of the best restaurants in Edmonds WA

Indulge at a food & drink festival

There’s always a food or drink festival in Seattle, and February is no exception. Here are some not to miss:

Watch the Superbowl

The Superbowl is February 9, so you can expect to see quite a crowd in the local bars and pubs. Here are some events where you can watch the Eagles take on the Chiefs:

person holding cup of beer

Get romantic on Valentine’s Day 

Valentine’s Day is on a Friday this year so you can expect a variety of activities going on around town that would be perfect for a date night. Here are some not to miss:

person holding a heart-shaped pastry from PDX

Restaurants offering Valentine’s Day specials

Many of Seattle’s fine dining restaurants will offer Valentine’s Day tasting menus so you and your partner can have a memorable night out. Here are some restaurants offering special meals on V-Day:

If you want to have a more quiet celebration, check out some of my guides:

Enjoy an orchestra concert by candlelight 

What better way to celebrate V-Day than a candlelight orchestra featuring cover bands of the greats? In February, here’s what’s playing:

pianist surrounded by candles on a stage
Image courtesy of Fever

Attend a cultural festival

In honor of Carnival in Brazil, Nectar Lounge will host the 31st Annual Brazil Festival (Feb 22, $25pp). Expect an evening of dancing and live music by Show Brazil’s Eduardo Mendonca.

See a performance

The cold winter months are the perfect time of year to cozy up in a theater and watch a live performance. Here are the ones I’m excited about in February:

woman floating on balloons on a stage at a Cirque due Soleil show

Rock out a music fest

Music festivals are the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy live music, perhaps of a style you’ve never experienced before. Here are the music festivals in Seattle in February:

Catch a band

Seattle’s music scene doesn’t sleep, even over winter. Here are some live performers making their way through Seattle in February:

Cheer on a team at a game

Sports fans and the like will be pleased to know that a lot of leagues play this time of year. In February, you can catch a game with the Seahawks (pro football), Huskies (college football), Kraken (hockey), Storm (women’s basketball), or the Redhawks (college basketball).

If you’re into roller derby, the Jet City Roller Derby will be at Edmonds College on Feb 1.

Go on a food crawl 

There are so many restaurants in Seattle that you’d never be able to scratch the surface, let alone visit the ones locals don’t want you to know about. My self-guided food tours include a curated list of the best restaurants across Seattle’s foodie neighborhoods. In each tour, I cover tips on what to order and when you should visit, along with honorable mentions so you can adjust the tour as needed.

Self-guided Seattle food tour of the Ballard neighborhood
Ballard Tour
Fremont Seattle Food Tour
FREMONT TOUR
person diving fork into colorful layered cake from a restaurant on The Emerald Palate's self-guided Seattle food tour of the Georgetown neighborhood
Georgetown Tour

If you’re after an in-person tour, these are some to try:

Attend a film festival

There are a surprising number of film festivals going on in February in Seattle. For example:

Get inspired at a winter home & garden show

Those of us with a green thumb don’t have to wait until summer to start planning our gardens or home renovations. The Tacoma Home and Garden Show (Jan 30-Feb 2) will feature innovative products and experts on all things home and gardening.

The Northwest Remodeling Expo (Feb 7-9) will offer free interior design consultation plus exhibits ranging from heating and air conditioning to logging, turfing, and exterior remodeling.

In Seattle, the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival (Feb 19-23) will feature over 20 display gardens, plus a garden marketplace and over 115 sessions on crafting gorgeous gardens.

closeup of flowers at Butchart Gardens

Embark on a wine tasting or brewery crawl

Locals love to take advantage of Seattle’s craft beer and urban wine scene in the winter because there are fewer crowds and plenty of warm spots to cozy up with a glass of your favorite beverage. Plus most breweries offer some sort of heated patio seating and fun, winter-inspired ales to sip on.

Check out my guide to Seattle’s best breweries for where to go, or pick a day to crawl my favorite Ballard breweries.

Better yet, plan a weekend where you can wine tasting at some of Woodinville’s 130+ tasting rooms.

Visit a museum for free or 50% off

Not everyone knows this but there are tons of free museums in Seattle, and when it’s cold outside, visiting a museum can be a great way to spend the day. Most Seattle museums offer free admission on the first Thursday of the month, and many are free daily. Here are the museums that offer free admission on the first Thursday (February 6):

These museums offer free admission every day:

If you want to visit a museum that charges admission, February is Seattle Museum Month. All month long participating museums offer 50% off their typical entry fees.

inside an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, one of the best free museums in Seattle

Have fun at a niche interest festival

If you have a niche interest that only a few dozen people know about, odds are there’s a festival for it in Seattle. Here are some going on in February:

  • Eagle Festival (Jan 31-Feb 1, free, Arlington) – Guided tours, art, and chainsaw carving competition
  • Seattle Boat Show (Jan 31-Feb 8, $20pp, Downtown) – Boat exhibits and boat rides 
  • Seattle Golf Show (Feb 7-8, $17pp, Downtown) – Discount golf gear and equipment testing
  • Fly Fishing Show (Feb 15-16, $20pp, Bellevue) – Casting demos, celebrity speakers, and equipment
  • Model Railroad Train Show (Feb 22-23, $12pp, Monroe) – Family-friendly, all-scales model railroads
  • Sew Expo (Feb 27-Mar 2, $17pp, Puyallup) – Classes for all levels and fabric and machine deals

Seek out snow 

There is no shortage of wintry activities in February. In fact, few people know this, but Seattle is close to some of the best snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Washington.

If you’re short on time, I suggest taking a day trip from Seattle to Snoqualmie’s Summit Nordic Center for intermediate trails or Stevens Pass Nordic Center for trails of all skill levels.

If you can swing a weekend, the Methow Valley Trails consists of the longest network of groomed cross-country trails in North America, and there are plenty of things to do in Winthrop to make a weekend out of it!

Prefer downhill skiing? There are plenty of ski resorts in Washington to catch thrills.

hot hair balloons over a winter landscape

Take a road trip to a hot air balloon festival

website | neighborhood: Winthrop (get directions) | dates: Feb 28-Mar 2 | price: free | best for: hot air balloons 

If you end up going to the Methow Valley for cross-country skiing, consider timing your visit in late February for the hot air balloon festival. You can book a ride or just watch them inflate the balloons and float the Methow Valley. I’ve gone two times and it’s a truly magical experience!

Cozy up at an indoor spa

Seattle has a spa for everyone, whether you’re after a dreamy facial or a thorough massage. Here are some of my favorite Seattle spas:

I also always recommended checking Groupon to find spa deals happening around the city.

Soak in a hot tub boat

website | neighborhood: Lake Union (get directions) | price: ~$400 for 2 hours | best for: relaxing hot tub experience

One of the most unique Seattle water activities, especially in the colder months, is to get out on Lake Union and soak in a hot tub boat. Using joystick navigation, you’ll gently float around Lake Union as you and your friends stay warm. Bluetooth speakers are available by request, along with romantic add-ons like Epsom salts and rose petals.

Prefer saunas over hot tubs? Wild Haus lets you bring up to 6 friends on their stunning boats.

hot tub boat in Seattle
Image courtesy of Hot Tub Boats

Trade gear at a bike swap

website | neighborhood: Queen Anne (get directions) | dates: Feb 8 | price: free | best for: buying & trading bike gear

If you have some old bike gear gathering dust or you’re on the hunt for a new component, check out the bike swap hosted by the Cascade Bicycle Club. There will be new bikes and gear for sale, along with bike aficionados looking to sell or trade gently used gear.

Groove at the Seattle International Dance Festival

website | neighborhood: Capitol Hill (get directions) | dates: Feb 28-Mar 9 | price: ~$27.50 pp | best for: contemporary dance

Celebrate contemporary dance with the SIDF Winter Mini-Fest. Local and traveling performers will showcase curated and exciting dance routines designed to illuminate the universal language of dance.

Feast at the Oregon Truffle Festival

website | neighborhood: throughout Oregon | dates: Feb 8-Mar 1 | price: varies by event | best for: all things truffles

If you’re a fan of truffles, one of the best things to do in Seattle in February isn’t actually in Seattle at all. It’s the Oregon Truffle Festival, which hosts various events throughout the month like the Truffle Dog Competition, a Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball, a mini fungi film festival, and a fresh truffle showcase.

If you visit, it’s the perfect excuse to explore nearby areas in Oregon. Check out my guides for ideas depending on where you’ll be:

person holding a truffle they foraged in spring in Seattle

More winter activities near Seattle

After you check out all the best things to do in February in winter, check out my guides for more wintry fun.

Join the club

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