This weekend we’re celebrating the ’90s movie that romanticized Seattle.
In 1993 Seattle got the full romantic comedy treatment from the queen herself, Nora Ephron, in her film Sleepless in Seattle. The film stars Tom Hanks as a recent widower who moves to Seattle with his young son and features iconic Seattle landmarks such as Pike Place Market, Alki Beach, and Lake Union houseboats.
At the end of the film, Hanks meets up with Meg Ryan for a romantic climax atop the Space Needle—wait… checks notes—actually, atop the Empire State Building in New York. Even in a movie with Seattle in the title, New York has to steal the spotlight. Anyway…
Read on for all the cool things you can do to celebrate the 30th Sleepless in Seattle anniversary.
To celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary, the Space Needle and the Empire State Building have teamed up for a special coast-to-coast collaboration. The Sleepless in Seattle Experience will fly a lucky winner and their guest to both Seattle and New York. You’ll get to enjoy complimentary hotel stays, a CityPass in each city, tours of the Space Needle and the Empire State Building, and more. You can enter to win the anniversary sweepstakes here.
That’s not all. Fans of the movie here in Seattle will be able to mark the anniversary all weekend, starting with a free outdoor screening of Sleepless in Seattle under the Space Needle on Saturday, July 1. The movie starts at 9:30 p.m. at the Mural Amphitheatre and seating is first-come, first-served.
Plus, if you visit the Space Needle this first weekend of July you’ll get to enjoy special themed cocktails and a custom photo background honoring the movie. The Space Needle really said, “You know what, I’m not going to let the Empire State Building have all the attention this time.”
That said, the Empire State Building will also be offering a themed photo backdrop and cocktails this weekend. If you happen to be in New York you can also get tickets for a screening of Sleepless in Seattle at the Empire State Building on July 6.
Finally, both city’s landmarks will be lit up on Friday, June 30th to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sleepless in Seattle. Be sure to be on the lookout for the Space Needle’s tribute tonight!
You can also feel free to take yourself on a guided tour around the city to check out all the locations seen in Sleepless in Seattle. See some of them below:
Sleepless In Seattle Anniversary Screening
When: Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center
Cost: Free!