MUSIC

Timber! Outdoor Music Festival 2022 Like Add to a List
Timber! is full of crowd-friendly folk, rock, and pop performances, and all-ages activities like camping, kayaking, and stargazing. This year's lineup includes the Milk Carton Kids, Built to Spill, Caroline Rose, a Simon & Garfunkel campfire singalong, and more.
(July 21–23, Tolt-MacDonald Park, Carnation)

Capitol Hill Block Party Like Add to a List
This year, CHBP has a lineup that I can only describe as chaotic, glitzy, fun. Joining British hyperpop star Charli XCX are major acts like Diplo, Jai Wolf, millennial-favorite Toro y Moi, Zoomer favorite 100 gecs, and a bunch of others like Remi Wolf and rap wunderkind Flo Milli. Local acts like Enumclaw, The Black Tones, Archie, and The Grizzled Mighty are also part of the stellar 69+-performer lineup. It's been over two years since the last CHBP took place in 2019, but in December the festival announced a July 22-24 return for the 24th edition of the block party. CHBP's talent buyer and program director Evan Johnson said that this summer is the "perfect time" for the party to make its comeback. As one of the tentpoles of Seattle summers before the pandemic, organizers are hopeful that crowds will turn out to support the tried and true formula of the block party. And as such, CHBP's footprint in the neighborhood will look much the same as it did in years past: two main outdoor stages, several indoor stages and activations, and a giant beer garden right outside the Neumos complex. JAS KEIMIG
(July 22–24, Capitol Hill)

Summer Meltdown Festival 2022 Like Add to a List
Originally started as a grassroots event on San Juan Island, Summer Meltdown is now a full-fledged music festival a bit closer to Seattle. This year, the event goes down in Sky Meadows Park in Snohomish, a riverfront property that the organizers note is full of "forested camping, beaches, swimming holes, and stunning views." Artists like Greensky Bluegrass, Lettuce, and Travis Thompson will headline the weekend lineup, rounded out by yoga and meditation workshops, plus a Saturday night forest creature costume party.
(July 28–31, Sky Meadows Park, Snohomish)

KEXP50 Like Add to a List
Beloved Seattle institution KEXP will celebrate half a century on-air with musical performances, live broadcasting, food trucks, and more. Stay tuned for the lineup reveal in the upcoming months.
(Sat Aug 6, Seattle Center)

Day In Day Out Like Add to a List
DIDO's lineup looks like it was specifically engineered to capture a particular kind of millennial indie nostalgia. Headlining the fest are The National and Mitski, fresh off the release of her sixth album Laurel Hell and requesting people to get off their damn phones at her shows. Pepperoni Playboy and headliner Mac DeMarco will celebrate the TENTH anniversary of his albums Rock and Roll Nightclub and 2 during his set, which makes me feel old. Salad days no more, amirite? JAS KEIMIG
(Aug 12–14, Seattle Center)

THING 2022 Like Add to a List
THING comes to us from the brains of the nonprofit Seattle Theatre Group (STG) and producer Adam Zacks, who also happens to be the founder of Sasquatch! (R.I.P.) as well as chief programming officer at STG. And the lineup is pretty sick. The headliners include angsty Sub Pop crooner Father John Misty, the Issaquah-formed Modest Mouse, and UK band Jungle. The bench is also stacked with Atlanta sensation Faye Webster, modern rock star Yves Tumor, London post punks Dry Cleaning, KEXP-fave L'Rain, Tuareg guitars Mdou Moctar, as well as local acts like Enumclaw, Shaina Shepherd, Jarv Dee, and Terror/Cactus. Oh yeah and how could I forget Triumph the Insult Comic Dog or The Future Is 0 (a game show I WON!)!! JAS KEIMIG
(Aug 26–28, Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend)

FOOD & DRINK

Kirkland Uncorked Like Add to a List
This summer wine festival, which benefits no-kill shelter Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, encompasses a 21+ wine tasting garden with live music and a Saturday "food truck feast," as well as a street fair with a market and a must-see canine modeling contest hosted by CityDog.
(July 8–10, Marina Park, Kirkland)

Ballard SeafoodFest Like Add to a List
Originally started as a celebration of the neighborhood’s fishing industry in 1974, this festival has expanded over the years to include a salmon dinner, a crab shack, a beer garden replete with local craft brews, food and artisan craft vendors, a skateboarding competition, and music. This year's music lineup includes Thunderpussy, Polyrhythmics, and Nite Wave, among many others. Gluttons for punishment can enroll in the lutefisk eating contest, an annual competition to see who can scarf the most of the salty, gelatinous fish.
(July 15–17, Ballard)

Fremont Dungeness Festival Like Add to a List
On Ballard SeafoodFest weekend, hop (crab walk?) over to Fremont to crack open some cold beers and crustaceans at the second annual edition of this event hosted by Revel, Local Tide, and Aslan Brewing.
(Sat July 16, Fremont)

Bremerton Summer Brewfest Like Add to a List
Hop the ferry to Bremerton and taste samples from 30 different Washington breweries, including Reuben's, Jellyfish, Fremont, and more.
(July 22–23, Bremerton Boardwalk)

Sales and Ales Beer Fest: A Tiki Adventure Like Add to a List
Take in the marine breeze while you try beers and ciders from local purveyors, poured into a souvenir glass, at this beachside tiki extravaganza at Kirkland Summerfest. Don your tackiest T-shirt for a shot at winning a prize.
(July 29–31, Marina Park, Kirkland)

CHOMP! 2022 Like Add to a List
Settle in for a celebration of local food at this free festival featuring a farmers market, educational classes about sustainability and the environment, a market of upcycled goods from local makers, zucchini races, a petting zoo, and more. Oh, and did we mention the Drive-By Truckers will be there?
(Sat Aug 20, Marymoor Park)

Scooped! Ice Cream Festival Like Add to a List
Embrace unbridled gluttony at this ice cream festival, which promises two hours of unlimited frozen dairy treats (plus additional scoops available for purchase if you somehow still have room). The event will also include savory food vendors, DJ tunes, cornhole, and a lounge with mixologist-crafted libations.
(Sun Aug 28, Seattle Center)

ARTS

Seattle Art Fair Like Add to a List
Eighty-five gallerists from all over the world will bring first-rate artwork to Seattle for one hectic weekend in the sixth edition of this fair, back for the first time since pre-pandemic days. It's always an impressive display of cool, cutting-edge contemporary art, and plenty of Seattle institutions and artists get involved as well. This year's local highlights include Peter Gronquist's communion (featuring a real pool of water), a full-size totem pole from Preston Singletary, and other projects from Inye Wokoma, Clyde Petersen, Humaira Abid, the Seattle NFT Museum, and more.
(July 21–24, Lumen Field Event Center)

Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair Like Add to a List
A more accessible (and family-friendly) event, the BAM Arts Fair also claims to be the "largest award-winning arts & crafts festival in the Northwest." You'll have the chance to peruse goods from more than 300 creators, explore the museum for free, check out food trucks, and more.
(July 29–31, Bellevue Arts Museum)

LUSIO Lights Festival Like Add to a List
Wander around the Lusio festival grounds (a farm in Kent) and take in light-art installations tucked into corners, hanging from trees, and otherwise incorporated into nature. Local artists and DJs will "leave you relaxed and uplifted," and you're encouraged to dress in "glowing, LED, light-up attire," which for many will mean a profusion of glow-stick necklaces. 
(Aug 19–20, Mary Olson Farm, Kent)

Seattle Tattoo Expo 2022 Like Add to a List
Hidden Hand Tattoo hosts this three-day expo of permanently decorated flesh, where you can see displays, attend seminars, and even get yourself inked up by the right artist for you. There's also live music and a burlesque revue.
(Aug 19–21, Seattle Center)

Seattle Design Festival 2022: Connection Like Add to a List
Going strong since 2011, the Seattle Design Festival explores how urbanism, architecture, and design can further justice, ecology, and community by featuring art installations and events in public spaces. You can typically expect tours, talks, films, and other events that relate to the theme, which this year is "connection."
(Aug 20–26, various locations) 

COMMUNITY

 

West Seattle Summer Fest Like Add to a List
For the 40th year, spend some time shopping, dancing to live music from great local bands, dining, drinking in beer gardens, and enjoying other summery activities at this annual family-friendly festival. This year's headliners include Naked Giants, the True Loves, Chong the Nomad, and Acapulco Lips. You can also sign up to help paint part of a sealife mural that will be on permanent display in the West Seattle Junction after the fest.
(July 15–17, West Seattle)

South Lake Union Block Party Like Add to a List
South Lake Union throws itself a party featuring diverse musical pleasures from local bands (this year's lineup includes The Moondoggies, Smokey Brights, Cytrus, and I///U). There will also be food trucks, a beer garden, a "letterpress salon", and booths from local community businesses and organizations.
(Fri Aug 5, South Lake Union)

2022 Gigantic Bicycle Festival Like Add to a List
Every summer, the Gigantic Bicycle Festival prompts us to rethink how we access our activities. First you ride your bike (for 50 miles), and then you're done (hopefully) and you get to hang out, listen to music, check out art installations and food trucks, watch outdoor movies, and camp out. You also can just drive. This year, the likes of Superchunk and Black Belt Eagle Scout will perform in celebration of the Northwest's favorite populist transit option: the bicycle.
(Aug 12–Aug 13, Centennial Fields Park, Snoqualmie)

Washington State Fair 2022 Like Add to a List
Before the end of summer comes the beginning of the annual Washington State Fair in Puyallup, which brings family-friendly activities like rides and games, carnival food, free music and performances, baby animals, cultural events, produce contests, a rodeo, live concerts, and much more. Don't miss the Grandstand concert series Like Add to a List , with headliners including Lindsey Stirling Like Add to a List and Shaggy and TLC Like Add to a List .
(Sept 2–25, Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup)

GEEK

Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire 2022 Like Add to a List
At this annual three-weekend renaissance festival at Bonney Lake's Kelley Farm (aka the village of Merriwick), you can watch knights “vie for the favor of crown and court” in jousting duals, shop from an artisan marketplace, and feast like royalty on turkey legs and meat pies. If you're into cosplay, choose from three different themed weekends to dress up for: masked marauders (Aug 6–7), fairytale adventures (Aug 13–14), and "Across the Multiverse" (Aug 20–21).
(Aug 6–21, The Kelley Farm, Bonney Lake)

Emerald City Comic Con 2022 Like Add to a List
Geeks across fandoms save their most inventive cosplay for Emerald City Comic Con, the biggest local comic event of the year. The four-day festival is filled to the brim with panels, meetups, special events, fun parties, and tons and tons of guests hanging out in the artist alley.
(Aug 18–21, Washington State Convention Center)

PAX West 2022 Like Add to a List
One of my very favorite things about living in Seattle— one of the things that convinced me to move here, in fact—is PAX, the giant video game convention held every Labor Day at the Convention Center, a sprawling throng of fandoms and beep-boop screens and clattering dice. MATT BAUME
(Sept 2–5, Seattle Convention Center)