The local summer festival season is hot, hot, hot — even if the weather isn’t. We’ve put together a sample of the area’s amazing array of outdoor fairs and festivals so you can start planning. Also check our online calendar for the full rundown on what’s happening each week.
June
June 14–22: Marysville Strawberry Festival. The long-running celebration includes a Berry run, a kiddie parade, a strawberry shortcake eating contest and the Grand Parade on June 21.
June 13–15: Edmonds Arts Festival. The festival includes fine art for the adults to look over, a student art exhibit, and cool art activities and entertainment in the Kids’ Creative Corner.
June 14–15: Olympic Air Show. View aircraft displays and watch performances at the Olympic Flight Museum.June 20–22:
June 20-22: Meeker Days. It’s the largest street festival in Pierce County — get in on classic car shows, lots of entertainment, activities for the kids, fair food and more.
June 20–22: Fremont Fair. Don’t miss the freewheeling Solstice Parade that kicks off the fair— and stick around for kids’ activities, art car displays and most excellent people watching.
June 28–29: Old Bellevue Strawberry Festival. Heritage displays, entertainment, a family fun area and (of course) strawberry shortcake.
June 28-29: PrideFest. Celebrate all people and families with a wild parade, live music and festivities. On Saturday head to Seattle's Cal Anderson Park or MOHAI for a family pride celebration (drag queen storytime! music!). On Sunday, the 40th annual Pride Parade moves from downtown to Seattle Center.
June 27–29: Taste of Tacoma. It’s all about the food, but there’s entertainment and kid fun, too.
July
July 4–6: Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. Take a spin around the lake and build a toy boat.
June 2–Aug 18: Seafair. Seattle’s old-timey maritime festival has grown to encompass most Seattle neighborhoods — and many neighboring towns. Parades and street fairs, the kick-off Milk Carton Derby and Seafair Pirates Landing, the Torchlight Parade and the Blue Angels and more.
July 5: Wallingford Family Parade & Festival. Kids of all ages parade, along N. 45th St. in Wallingford, starts at Lincoln High School to Merdian Park. The street fair includes lots of food, crafts, live music and kiddies’ activities like bouncy houses.
July 11–12 Redmond Derby Days. Enjoy a carnival, great food, beer, live music, fireworks and more.
July 13–14: Summerfest. Lakewood’s summer festival features live music, activities for the kiddos and outdoor movies.Haven’t confirmed, waiting for answer.
July 12–13: Seattle’s Chinatown – ID Dragon Fest. International District. Known to be the largest Asian-American street fair in Washington, the International District Summer Festival offers Japanese Drumming, Chinese Martial Arts, Lion and Dragon, a recycling fashion show and parade for kids and a $2 food walk.
July 16–20: Capital Lakefair. Music, entertainment, a car show, sports activities, Kids’ Day and a finale of fireworks at Olympia’s summer festival.
July 19–20: Sandblast. Fine arts & crafts, sand sculpturing and live music, on the shores of the beautiful Snoqualmie River in Duvall.
July 18–20: Bite of Seattle. Noshes from local restaurants and plenty to do for kids in the Family Fun Zone. Admission is free.
July 18–20: Sequim Lavender Festival. Enjoy the glorious sight of lavender in peak bloom by taking a lavender farm tour, or comb the street fair for crafty treasures.
July 25–27: Bellevue Arts Museum Artsfair. Browse fine crafts stalls and visit Kidsfair. Held in the Bellevue Square parking lot.
July 26–27: Ethnic Fest. Crafts, performances and food from cultures around the world, plus events just for kids. Held in Tacoma’s Wright Park.
August
July 30–August 3: Thurston County Fair. Entertainment, exhibitions, kids’ activities and much more in Lacey.
Aug. 2: Proctor Arts Fest. Kids’ Fun Fest and family stage, a dog parade, and more. Held in Tacoma.
Aug. 7–10: Pierce County Fair. Entertainment and a kids’ zone, a carnival and 4-H displays, located in Frontier Park in Graham.
Aug. 8–10: The Festival at Mount Si. The North Bend festival features a parade, entertainment, fireworks and food events.
Aug. 9: Phinneywood Summer Streets. One of several "Summer Streets" festivals in Seattle that close off streets to cars, creating a temporary public space where people can walk, bike, roll, run, skip and shop and celebrate community, There will be loads of kids’ activities, live music, and art, and Seattle’s Largest Canned Food Pyramid.
Aug. 12–17: Southwest Washington Fair. Head to Chehalis for the fair, which includes exhibitions, rides and fab food.
August 16: PEPSapalooza. The ultimate music festival for the short set and their families, including performances by all your favorite kindie bands (Caspar Babypants, The Not-Its!, Rolie Polie Guacamole), Food and drinks including adult beverages will be available on-site. And of course, it's for a fantastic cause. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $25-$35/family. Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett.
August 16: Rainier Summer Streets/ Culture Fest Weekend. Another free, car-less community festival on Rainier Avenue S between S Alaska and S Brandon Streets, featuring a parade, Columbia City Art Gallery’s Art in the Alley, a ‘Bike Lane’, youth chess games and more. Haven’t confirmed, waiting for response.
Aug. 21–Sept. 1: Evergreen State Fair. Animals, midway rides and the rodeo. Look online for Kids’ Day deals.
Aug. 23–24: Sand in the City Downtown Olympia turns into a beach to benefit the Hands On Children’s Museum.
September
August 30–September 1: Bumbershoot. Music, film, dance, literary and visual arts, comedy..it's all there at the crown jewel of Seattle's festival season. Kids are free up to age 10, and check out the festival's "Youngershoot" programming for families, and stop by the Kids' Zone daily, for artsy activities with ParentMap; PacSci; The Children's Museum, Seattle; and others.
Sept 20–21: Tacoma Maritime Fest. Celebrate Tacoma’s working waterfront with free port harbor tours, train rides, dragon boat races and boat building for the kids.
