There are more festivals in Washington state than people realize. I think that’s because Washington has a rainy reputation so people think it’s only nice a few months out of the year, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is that Washington hosts festivals year-round that cater to a variety of interests, whether you’re into craft beer, niche music, hot air balloons, or home gardening. To keep track of the best Washington state festivals, I’ve compiled a list of the annual ones ranging from the most popular to under-the-radar ones worth traveling for. They’re organized by season so you can know what’s going on throughout different times of the year.
Festivals in Washington State
Browse Washington state festivals by season:
Save this to Pinterest for later because I’ll add more annual festivals in WA as I discover them!
WA fall festivals
Here are the festivals in Washington state that happen in the fall. For more ideas, check out my guide on things to do in Seattle in fall.
Oktoberfest
Fremont’s website | Leavenworth’s website | date: mid Sept – October | price: ~$40pp | best for: German beer festival
One of my favorite things to do in Seattle in October is to experience Oktoberfest. Fremont’s Oktoberfest is Seattle’s largest beer festival and usually happens the third weekend of September. Or you can experience the nation’s largest Bavarian festival in Leavenworth, which runs every weekend in October.
Earshot Jazz Festival
website | Seattle, WA | date: late October – early November | price: varies by performer | best for: music lovers
Seattle is known for having a rich jazz scene, and Earshot has been dubbed Seattle’s most important jazz festival. It hosts multiple weeks of big-name jazz legends traveling through the area and resident artists.
Seattle Restaurant Week
website | Seattle, WA | date: end of October & mid April | price: $20 – $65pp | best for: experiencing new restaurants
Every fall and spring, dozens of Seattle’s restaurants participate in Seattle Restaurant Week. During this time they offer curated, usually 3-course menus at varying price points, allowing you to explore Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods and possibly uncover a new Seattle hidden gem restaurant.
Freakout Festival
website | Seattle, WA | date: early November | price: ~$65 pp for 2-day pass | best for: underground music
Freakout Festival is a weekend-long music festival celebrating underground music in Seattle. You might find some nationally-recognized performers, but you’ll mostly be introduced to lesser-known artists in the punk, rock, and psychedelic genres.
WA winter festivals
Here are the Washington state festivals that happen in winter. They make a great excuse to take some of the best winter getaways in Washington! For more ideas, check out my guide on things to do in Seattle in winter.
Northwest Flower and Garden Show
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: 3rd weekend of February | price: ~$23pp | best for: home garden inspiration
Those with green thumbs know the planning stages start well before planting season. The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival features over 20 display gardens plus seminars, workshops, and planting competitions.
Lake Chelan Winterfest
website | Chelan, WA (get directions) | date: 2nd and 3rd weekend in January | price: ~$10 pp for general admission | best for: winter fun & wine tasting
One of my favorite things to do in Lake Chelan in the winter is to experience Winterfest. It’s Chelan’s biggest festival and promises two weekends of family-friendly fun. Admission gets you access to live music, kids activities, and the ice bar, or you can sign up for the Bubble Brunch or Wine Walk and taste your way through Chelan’s best wineries and restaurants.
Need a place to stay? Read my guide on the best places to stay in Lake Chelan.
Seattle Winterfest
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: late November – December | price: free | best for: winter fun
Each winter the Seattle Center transforms into an actual winter wonderland. There are multiple weeks of winter activities like the European-style Christmas Market, Winter Train Village, and World Bazaar. Families can stroll through countless light installations and go ice skating up until the new year. It’s one of the best Christmas activities to get into the holiday spirit!
Winthrop Balloon Roundup
website | Winthrop, WA (get directions) | date: 1st weekend in March | price: free | best for: hot air balloons
I always try to visit Winthrop in the winter, especially in March, for their excellent cross-country skiing and annual 3-day hot air balloon festival. Families can sit and watch them ignite the balloons in the middle of downtown or attend the nighttime balloon glow. If you’re more adventurous, you can book a ride and casually float over the Cascade Mountains.
Want to learn more? Read my guide on what to expect at the Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Festival, including what it’s like going up in a hot air balloon.
Comic Con
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: 2nd weekend in March | price: ~$44-73pp per day | best for: comic book super fans
Emerald City’s Comic Con is a major destination for comic book and pop culture enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest. It’s one of the few times you’re likely to meet the celebrities behind your favorite superheroes and villains. Each ticket gets you access to 40+ exhibitors and artists, panels, interactive content, photo ops, and more.
Taste Washington
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: March 15-16 | price: ~$109-129pp per day | best for: sipping Washington wines
Taste Washington is a weekend-long affair where 200+ Washington wineries gather to sample their wines while munching on small bites provided by 75+ of Washington’s best restaurants. It’s one of Washington’s largest food festivals that’s the perfect excuse to close out winter and usher in spring!
WA spring festivals
Here are some of the most iconic spring festivals in Washington. Check out my guide on things to do in Seattle during spring for more ideas.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
website | Mount Vernon, WA (get directions) | date: all April long | price: ~$10-15pp per garden | best for: tulip festival
Ask anyone what to do in Skagit County, and they’ll tell you to visit the tulip festival. It’s the largest tulip festival in the United States and attracts thousands of visitors who want to stroll through the never-ending rows of tulip blossoms. Before you go, make sure to read my guide on how to avoid crowds and get the most out of your visit.
Seattle Maritime Festival
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: mid-May | price: free | best for: hands-on maritime fun
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of boat building or how to pilot a tugboat, check out Ballard’s annual maritime festival. It’s free and great for families as there are multiple hands-on events where kids can build their own boats and learn how to survive at sea.
SIFF Film Festival
website | Seattle, WA | date: 3rd week fo May for ~2 weeks | price: ~$80pp for 6 tickets | best for: independent film festival
SIFF is Seattle’s largest independent film festival. Each of the three SIFF theaters feature the best independent films from around the world, ranging from foreign films to documentaries and short films, many of which won’t return to the United States.
Seattle surprisingly has a ton of film festivals throughout the year. Here are a few of the other iconic ones to check out in spring:
- NFFTY (early April) – World’s largest film festival for emerging filmmakers under 25 years old
- Seattle Black Film Festival (late April) – Showcases Black filmmakers and stories from the African diaspora
Northwest Folklife
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: Memorial Day Weekend in May | price: free | best for: folk music
The Seattle Center hosts the Northwest Folklife Festival every Memorial Day weekend. The festival celebrates the cultural tapestry of the greater Pacific Northwest. Over 250,000 participants visit yearly for a weekend of live music, a folk art fashion show, good food, and hands-on craft demonstrations.
Walla Walla Balloon Stampede
website | Walla Walla, WA (get directions) | date: 2nd weekend in May | price: free | best for: hot air balloons
One of the best things to do in Walla Walla come Mother’s Day weekend is to experience the hot air balloons dotting the Walla Walla Valley. Like Winthrop’s, it promises to be a weekend of family-friendly fun. Thursday is Kid’s Day where kids can assist with tethering the balloons. Friday through Sunday are fly days, and Friday evening is the Nite Glow Spectacular.
In between balloon peeping, check out Walla Walla’s best restaurants and wineries to see why it’s one of my favorite small towns in Washington.
WA summer festivals
Summer is when Washington really comes alive. Here are the most popular summer festivals in Washington. Check out my guide on things to do in Seattle in summer for more ideas!
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Summer Concert Series
website | Woodinville, WA (get directions) | date: late May – September | price: starts ~$65 per concert | best for: outdoor concert
Seattle loves celebrating the warmer weather with outdoor concerts. While there are many festivals concentrated around one blow out weekend, Chateau Ste. Michelle allows you to soak up those summer vibes all summer long with relatively big-name musicians. The cheapest tickets are lawn seating, but you can also splurge for dedicated seating. It’s the perfect excuse to check out the Woodinville wineries before the show!
There are a bunch of other music series throughout the summer. Some of the most popular are:
- Marymoor Live (May – Aug)
- Summer Sounds (June – Aug)
- Zoo Tunes (June – Sept)
Washington Brewfest
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: 1st weekend in June | price: ~$49pp | best for: craft beer enthusiasts
Washington state knows its way around craft beer, and we have multiple beer festivals to prove it. The biggest one in Washington is the Washington Brewers Fest. Each ticket gets you a commemorative glass plus access to 80+ local breweries and cideries.
Here are some more annual beer festivals worth checking out:
- Port Townsend’s Strange Brewfest (late Jan – Feb)
- Walla Walla Brewfest (mid Feb)
- Ellensburg Winterhop Brewfest (mid Feb)
Beyond Wonderland
website | Quincy, WA (get directions) | date: 3rd weekend in June | price: ~$230pp for weekend pass | best for: dance music
Beyond Wonderland is a 3-day long festival celebrating EDM music across sub-genres. Most who go choose to camp on-site, keeping you even closer to the action. In addition to music, you’ll find art installations and immersive artwork that makes you feel like you stepped straight into Alice in Wonderland.
Edmonds Art Festival
website | Edmonds, WA (get directions) | date: Father’s Day weekend in June | price: free | best for: art collectors
This is one of my favorite events of they year. Edmonds invites artists from all over the nation to sell their wares. You’ll find a lot of original wall art at affordable prices, oftentimes from my favorite Pacific Northwest artists. There’s also an art show for all ages with prizes.
Pridefest Seattle
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: last weekend in June | price: free | best for: LGBTQ+ pride
June is Pride Month nationwide, and Seattle pulls no punches when it comes to celebrating. All events are hosted between the Seattle Center and a handful of Capitol Hill’s trendiest spots. There will be multiple parades, live music, and talks from activists across the LGBTQ+ community.
Ballard SeafoodFest
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: mid July | price: free | best for: seafood lovers
Ballard SeafoodFest is a massive seafood-dedicated festival that takes over downtown Ballard. It’s free to the public and offers live music, crafts, a beer garden, and food vendors giving out samples of succulent seafood dishes.
Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: 2nd or 3rd weekend in July | price: ~$235 pp for non-members | best for: organized bike ride
Each year the Cascade Bicycle Club hosts the Seattle to Portland bike ride. It’s a 2-day, 200-mile organized ride from Seattle’s U-District to downtown Portland. There are enough riders and aid stations that it feels safe, and while it’s a thigh-burner, the diverse landscapes you pass more than makeup for it. Just make sure to get padded shorts!
Crave! Northwest
website | Spokane, WA (get directions) | date: between late June or mid July | price: ~$65-80 pp per day | best for: eastern Washington food fest
Crave! Northwest is an eastern-Washington-focused food festival that aims to shine light on the many purveyors, farmers, and restaurateurs of the area. There will be one-bite tasters of locally-inspired dishes, along with samples from Washington’s best wineries, cideries, and breweries.
Can’t make it to Spokane? There’s also Crave! Lynwood during the fall that’s just a 30-minute drive from Seattle.
Lavender Festival
website | Sequim, WA (get directions) | date: 3rd weekend in July | price: free | best for: lavender farms
Come July, nothing is more peaceful than strolling through lavender fields. The Sequim Lavender Festival runs every July and offers farm tours, live music, food vendors, and locally made lavender-infused goodies.
Can’t make it to the Olympic Peninsula? Visit Evergreen Valley Lavender Farm instead to frolic through fields and secure some of their house-made lavender-flavored jams or beauty products. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Olympia!
Capitol Hill Block Party
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: 3rd weekend in July | price: ~$110pp per day | best for: outdoor music festival
Locals and tourists alike will tell you Capitol Hill Block Party is one of the best things to do in Seattle in July. The neighborhood’s streets shut down so you feel like you’re in one big music festival. It attracts headliners and local musicians, while also hosting events like skate competitions and outdoor yoga.
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
website | Carnation, WA (get directions) | date: late July | price: ~$65-95pp per day | best for: family-friendly outdoor music festival
Timber! is an Indigenous-owned music festival that seeks to promote new and emerging talent in the PNW music community. The festival takes place in a densely forested 574-acre park and features a range of talent that perfectly complements the rustic nature of the festival.
Bite of Seattle
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: mid-late July | price: free | best for: massive foodie festival
The Bite has been Seattle’s premiere food festival since the 80s and remains the city’s largest food and drink festival. There are over 250 local food vendors, multiple beer and wine gardens, music, kid’s activities, and live cooking demonstrations.
Seafair
website | Seattle, WA | date: early July – early August | price: free | best for: multi-week summer festival
Seafair is Seattle’s iconic summer festival. In fact, most summer festivals that happen during this time of year are merely offshoots of this 10-week-long event. Events during Seafair include a 4th of July fireworks show, the Chinatown-ID parade, and hydroplane races before culminating with the Blue Angels military jets performing over Lake Washington.
Anacortes Art Festival
website | Anacortes, WA (get directions) | date: 1st weekend in August | price: free | best for: local arts fest
Anacortes is one of my favorite day trips from Seattle, most notably for its art festival. It takes over the town with multiple beer and wine gardens, live music, and dozens of local artists. If time allows, plan a weekend away and discover all the things to do in Anacortes.
Olympic Music Festival
website | Port Townsend, WA (get directions) | date: August | price: ~$40 pp | best for: classical music
Classical music lovers will want to reserve their spot to attend the Olympic Music Festival. It’s a multi-week festival dedicated to 18th-century chamber music that has educational programs to empower young musicians.
Chief Seattle Days
website | Suquamish, WA (get directions) | date: mid-August | price: free | best for: celebrating Suquamish heritage
Chief Seattle Days is an annual event hosted by the Suquamish Tribe in honor of Chief Seattle, who consistently advocated for environmental responsibility and respect for Indigenous land rights. The event starts by honoring his gravesite before celebrating his accomplishments through sports games, powwows, and a salmon bake.
Bass Canyon
website | Quincy, WA (get directions) | date: mid August | price: ~$279 pp for 3-day pass | best for: bass drop music festival
Bass Canyon is an annual electronic music festival that focuses entirely on bass music genres (think dubstep or techno). It promises to be a 3-day affair with non-stop head banging, tons of bass, and nightly sunsets overlooking the Gorge Amphitheatre.
Kite Festival
website | Long Beach, WA (get directions) | date: mid-late August | price: free | best for: kite flying
This wholesome, family-friendly festival features famous kite fliers from around the world who perform choreographed movements. When you go, spend the day in Seabrook so you can experience two of my favorite summer vacation spots in Washington!
Washington State Fair
website | Puyallup, WA (get directions) | date: day after Labor day – mid September | price: ~$15pp entry, more for rides | best for: state fair
I take my nieces to the State Fair every year, and it’s one of my favorite festivals in Washington state. Being one of the largest state fairs in the nation, it boasts over 75 carnival rides, countless games, food options, live music, and an adrenaline-pumping rodeo.
Pro tip: There’s also a less-frequented Spring Fair, as well as countless food and vintage festivals throughout the year.
PAX
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: Labor Day Weekend | price: ~$77 pp per day | best for: gaming convention
Gamers and the VR-curious will want to experience PAX West. It’s a gaming convention that highlights new and emerging technology in virtual reality, along with panels, demos, and gaming tournaments.
Bumbershoot
website | Seattle, WA (get directions) | date: Labor Day Weekend | price: ~$100 pp for weekend pass | best for: major music festival
Bumbershoot is quite possibly the most well-known music festival in Washington. It takes over Lower Queen Anne/Uptown and features top-name musicians, comedians, food trucks, beer gardens, and art.
More to do in Washington
After you plan which of these festivals in Washington you’ll attend, check out my other guides for more to do in the Evergreen State.
