Seattle TravelGram

How would you like to try something new for the 4^th of July?  Avoid the traffic snarls and huge crowds around Seattle firework displays and drive southwest to Westport on the on the Pacific Ocean instead.  

While many of the urban cities have bans on individual fireworks, in Westport on the 4^th you are allowed to set off fireworks while you are on the beach. Danger - Danger!!  YUP, you can pass by the Indian Reservation in Tokeland, pick up all of the fireworks that are banned in the Seattle area, then drive ONTO the beach and create your own fireworks show.

The city of  Westport also offers a 4^th of July festival including live bands, a huge bake sale all centrally located in down town in front of the Westport Maritime Museum.

Grab dad and take him to the Washington Brewers Festival at the beautiful Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore for Father’s Day. You can take the entire family because there are kids activities, craft booths, food booths and lots more to do than just sample over 200 types of beer. Taste regional, fruity, novelty, real ales, NW classics and new kids on the block beers. Discover rare vintage gems and the latest releases from the newest breweries in the region. There is bound to be something you’ll love.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 18-20, join festival lovers for food, fantastic musical entertainment and fun on this very special Father’s Day weekend.

Saint Edward State Park is a 316-acre day-use park with 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Washington. Once a Catholic seminary, the park’s rich history reflects in its grounds and architecture. Walks along the undeveloped lake-shore are peaceful and give the visitor many opportunities for nature study. 

Starting the end of June through the end of August the Puget Sound comes alive with parades, runs, car shows, festivals and culminates with the Unlimited Hydroplane races and Air Show on Lake Washington. SeaFair encompasses communities from Covington, Ballard, Kent, Kirkland, Silverdale and more who each host their own event as part of the largest festival in the Northwest region. Over two-million people each summer are participants in the myriad of events.

This list of events is sure to keep your summer schedule filled and full of adventure and fun. Here are just some of the highlights.

June 26                 Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon

June 26                 Greenwood Car Show

July 3-4                 Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival

July 8-11               Kent cornucopia Days

July 10                   Pirate’s Booty Milk Carton Derby – On Greenlake

July 10                   Seafair Pirate Landing – West Seattle

July 10-11            Ballard SeafoodFest

July 10-11            McDonald’s Seattle’s Chinatown-Intl Dist Festival

July 10-11            Mercer Island Summer Celebration!

July 10                   Pioneer Square Fire Festival

July 10                   The Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run/Walk & Kids Parade

July 10                   Wallingford Seafair Kiddie Parade & Street Fair

July 10-26            West Seattle Hi-Yu

July 14-18            Kla Ha Ya Days

July 16-18            Covington Days Festival

July 16-18            Kirkland Uncorked

July 16-18            Seafair Indian Days Pow Wow

July 17-18            Seattle Bon Odori

July 17-18            White Center Jubilee Days

July 18                   Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon at Seafair

July 18                   Kirkland Classic Car Show

July 23-25            IKEA Renton River Days

July 23-25            Silverdale Whaling Days

July 24                   West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade

July 25                   Chinatown Seafair Parade

July 25                   Hispanic Seafair Festival

July 28                   Greenwood Seafair Parade

July 30-Aug 1      Tour de Terrace

July 31                   Alaska Airlines Tourchlight Parade

July 31                   Michelob ULTRA Touchlight Run

July 31                Seafair Scholarship Program for Women Coronation

August 1              Pista Sa Nayon

Aug 4-8                 Seafair Fleet Week

Aug 6-8                 Albert Lee Cup

Aug 6-8                 Boeing Air Show

Aug 6-7                 Lake City Pioneer Days and Grand Parade

Aug 6-7                 Magnolia summer Festival

Aug 6-8                 Umoja Fest African Heritage

Aug 21-22            Central Area Community Festival

With this year’s celebrations Bumbershoot is bringing out the big guns.  On the Mainstage well know performers such as Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Weezer and Hole  are sure to be a huge draw.  On the other of the 6 stages Ozomatli, Angelique Kidjo, Booker T. and many more talented artists will be sure to feature something for everyone’s musical tastes.

Bumbershoot, Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival is now in its 40th year. On Labor Day weekend, Seattle Center once again will drawn artists representing the best in music, film, comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts to the Seattle Center.

 Bumbershoot is North America’s largest urban arts festival.

USF

Capitol Hill is once again hosting the Capitol Hill Block Party July 23-24-25^th. Over 60 of the best Northwest and national independent bands will perform on 3 stages. After 13 years this celebration has gained in popularity enough to add a 3^rd day to the festival.  Party goers will appreciate the low ticket prices, excellent independent craft booths and food booths which add to the festivities.

Some of the bands that will be playing over the 3 days have fantastic names which make you want to hear more such as; Fresh Espresso, Blond Redhead, Unnatural Helpers, Beach Fossils, Night Marchers and many more in this great line up.

Capitol Hill is the most densely populated Seattle neighborhood.  It is the center of LGBT life in Seattle and also a center of the city’s counterculture.  This neighborhood is home to some of the city’s grandest mansions and many attractions such as Seattle Asian Art Museum and Volunteer Park.

The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra

June’s jazzy mix of horns, pianos, guitars, percussion, and vocals are set to take over the heart of Bellevue for the 2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival.

Five highlight performances at The Meydenbauer Theater will get your feet tappin’ and fingers snappin’. See either the 17-piece Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra with The Festival’s Rising Stars, The Bad Plus comeback guitarist Pat Martino, Terence Blanchard or the double-bill sensation Sachal Vasandani Quartet with husband and wife piano duo Bill Charlap & Renee Rosness.

Pick up as many shows as you want at $15 per ticket and be captivated with enough aural delights for your iPod to keep you jivin’ and hummin’ until next June.

For more information on the Bellevue Jazz lineup, check out http://www.bellevuejazz.com/

HULIAU- hula

Get your grove on May 28- Memorial Day (May 31st).  Come to the Seattle Center to celebrate and be part of  The Northwest Folklife Festival. This smorgasbord of performances of music and dance has been part of Seattle’s festivals since 1972.

Starting mid-morning  to late evening each day you will be treated to folk tunes, bluegrass, Irish fiddle tunes, a Bollywood show, rock, reggae, music just for kids, poetry, and so much more. This is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in different cultures and learn through music and dance from all over the world.

The Northwest Folklife Festival is an interactive event that will appeal to all ages. This is a free festival however a suggested donation of $10 per day is well worth it.

Only in Seattle Right? Where else can you go to see survival suite races in the chilly waters of Puget Sound?  It’s hilarious to watch people trying to swim in these cumbersome suites. The powerful tug boat races are also amazing to watch.

Go to the  Downtown Seattle Waterfront May 6th -8th. The Seattle Maritime Festival is great fun for the entire family. There is a Chowder Cook-Off, a boat building competition, vessel tours and so much more. The festival celebrates our maritime industry and the important role it plays in the Puget Sound region’s economy.

This festival is FREE to the public. May 6th – 8th.

Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival is a premier beer, Scotch, wine and tequila tasting experience benefiting the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). The unique tasting experience features an impressive line up of over  80 beers, wines and spirits and allows guests to interact with beverage experts to discover their true palette during the two-day event.

The official Scotch sponsor, Johnnie Walker is offering some Wisky Scotch Seminars which will be held both days so reserve you space early becuase they fill up fast. Also on the line up is Scotch parings such as the Scotch and Cigar seminar and Chocolate and Scotch parings.

Develop your sense of taste at the stylish indoor setting of Fremont Studios on April 23rd and 24th.