While the 2026 Capitol Hill Block Party remains a 21-and-over event for the second year in a row, an all-ages celebration next door will be a sanctuary for anyone who needs one in the midst of the festival rumpus. Just steps from the Capitol Hill Block Party gates, cafe and venue Eleven:Eleven is offering an all-ages alternative throughout the festival weekend.
Running alongside CHBP, the free On the Block / Eleven:Eleven festival is offering three days of live music, local DJs, open mic sessions, and community gatherings centered around the Eleven:Eleven cafe at 1512 11th Ave. Designed as a welcoming space for all ages, the event features free hydration stations, affordable food, art kits, and a “sober sanctuary space” where visitors can take a break from the crowds. On Saturday night, the venue will also host Sanctuary Afterhours, staying open from 11 p.m. through 6 a.m. Sunday for anyone looking for a safe late-night space in Capitol Hill.
Eleven:Eleven opened in 2025 as an all-ages community venue inside a former Capitol Hill nightclub. The project emerged after the physical location of Café Racer, one of Seattle’s best-known all-ages music venues, closed following several years of financial challenges. This weekend, Eleven:Eleven aims to give younger music fans and other community members a chance to experience some of the Block Party atmosphere in a safe, welcoming environment, even if they can’t attend the main festival.
The weekend also marks the launch of the Root the Block campaign, a community fundraising effort created to address a funding shortfall after Washington state ended violence-prevention arts grants. Organizers said on Instagram that state budget changes eliminated key community funding, creating a significant gap across their network. According to the campaign, about $20,000 has been raised so far, with a goal of reaching the next $50,000 fundraising milestone through community support.
Here’s this weekend’s On the Block / Eleven:Eleven festival schedule:
- Friday: Cafe opens at 4 p.m.; open house, open mic, and DJ begin at 5 p.m.; live performances run from 7–10 p.m.
- Saturday: Cafe opens at noon; open mic and DJ at 2 p.m.; live performances from 5–10 p.m.; Sanctuary Afterhours from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Sunday: Cafe opens at noon; open mic and DJ at 2 p.m.; live performances from 5–9 p.m.
Whether you’re taking a break from the CHBP crowds or looking for an all-ages space to experience Capitol Hill’s creative energy, Eleven:Eleven On the Block will be open just outside the festival fence at 1512 11th Ave with a welcoming place to connect, create, and recharge.
For more information about this weekend’s festival and the Root the Block campaign you can visit the Eleven:Eleven On the Block website.
