Looking for things to do this August in Seattle?
From Seafair festivities to free outdoor movies and bustling weekend markets, August 2024 is going to be a memorable one in Seattle. Summer in Seattle is beyond beautiful, so take full advantage of the stunning outdoors, delicious local cuisine, and numerous activities happening during August!
The best part is: many of these events and activities are free!
Read on for all the best things to do in Seattle this August.
1. Seattle Fleet Week
Celebrate the start of Seafair in Seattle at Seattle Fleet Week. It begins on 1:00 p.m. on July 30 with the Parade of Ships on the Seattle waterfront. Then you can enjoy ship tours on the piers from August 1 to August 4. See more on the Seattle Fleet Week website.
đź“…When: July 30 – August 4
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle waterfront
2. Step into this haunted bar in Seattle
This Haunted Tavern cocktail experience is opening here in Seattle this August 28-31—and tickets are selling fast! This 4-part interactive cocktail journey is guided by the tavern keeper himself, a spooky character all his own. So get ready for a ghoulish experience and get your tickets here!
When: August 28 – August 31
Where: Jewelbox Theater
3. Sail away to the Titanic exhibition
Get ready to learn the true history and discover the personal stories and more of Titanic passengers at the riveting Titanic: The Exhibition in Seattle this summer. Tickets are on sale now! Step back in time and hear all about the true tale of the Titanic. Check out all the details here.
đź“…When: August 1-31
đź“ŤWhere: Maritime Building
🎟️ Get tickets here!
4. 75th Annual Seafair Weekend Festival
One of Seattle’s biggest summer events is happening this month on the weekend of August 2-4! According to Seafair’s website: “Set on Lake Washington’s 1.5 miles of shoreline, Seafair Festival Weekend is the largest boating event, air show, and festival all rolled into one.”
đź“…When: August 2-4
đź“ŤWhere: Genesee Park And Lake Washington
5. Washington State Open Tennis Tournament
If you love tennis, don’t miss this year’s Washington State Open Tennis Tournament that runs from July 29 – August 4. It’s free to attend with food and drink available to purchase. As a bonus, you’ll be able to enjoy an epic view of the Seafair Air Show.
đź“…When: July 29 – August 4
đź“ŤWhere: 922 McGilvra Blvd East
6. Take free dancing lessons in the park at Dancing Til Dusk
All throughout August you can head to a downtown park in Seattle to take a free dance lesson and then groove to live music. See the August schedule with locations on the Dance for Joy website.
- Cal Anderson Park on Thursdays from 6:00-9:30 pm
- August 8 — WCS DJ Battle with Sam, Lia & Rebecca | West Coast Swing
- August 15 — Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” | Django Reinhart Swing
- Westlake Park on Tuesdays from 6:00-9:30 pm
- Aug 6 — Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano | Salsa
- Aug 20 — WCS DJ Battle with Za, Thomas & Rebecca | West Coast Swing
- Pier 62 with Friends of Waterfront Seattle on Fridays from 6:00–8:30 pm
- Aug 16 — DJ Jim Chow | Salsa
- Lake City Mini Park on Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 pm
- Aug 22 — Buena Vibra | Salsa
- Ballard Commons Park on Tuesdays from 6:00-9:00 pm
- Aug 13 — Louisiana Night with Sean “Gator Boy” Donovan | Zydeco and Cajun
- Aug 27 — The Elnah Jordan Experience | Swing & Blues
- FUNDRAISER • Golden Gardens Bathhouse on Wednesday, Aug 21 from 6:00-9:00 pm
- DJ Battle with Sean Donovan and Lilli Ann Carey | Variety (Suggested donation $25)
See the full summer schedule on the Dance for Joy website.
đź“…When: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on select dates in August
đź“ŤWhere: various Seattle city parks
đź’˛Cost: Free!
7. Have a romantic date night at a Candlelight Concert
These string concerts by candlelight take place at some of the most stunning venues in Seattle. You can enjoy A Tribute to Taylor Swift, 90s Unplugged on Strings, and more. There are only a few tickets left for some of these concerts in August, so get yours now. Here are some of our favorites in Seattle right now:
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift on August 14
- Candlelight: The Best of Metallica and Schubert on August 14
- Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer on August 15
- Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons on August 22
- Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More on August 22
- Candlelight: 90s Unplugged on Strings on August 23
- Candlelight: The Best of The Beatleson August 27Â
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen and More on August 28
8. Shakespeare in the Park
GreenStage is providing free Shakespeare performances in Seattle parks from August 1 through August 4. See more info, including the full August performance schedule, on the GreenStage website.
9. Summer concerts at a local winery
Is there any better way to spend your summer evenings than at a winery listening to live music? Read more about the Chateau Ste. Michelle Summer Concerts that are lined up for this August.
10. Magnolia Summerfest
The Seattle neighborhood Magnolia has more to offer than Discovery Park. On August 2-4Â you can head over there for Magnolia Summerfest, which has live music, a beer and wine garden, food, a parade, and more planned.
đź“…When: August 2-4
📍Where: Magnolia Playfield, W Smith St & 33rd Ave W
11. Seahawks Football Fest
On August 3, you can go to Lumen Field for Seahawks Football Fest. There will be a mock game, live music, food trucks, and player autographs. Tickets cost around $12.
12. Go back in time at the WA Midsummer Renaissance Faire
This year’s Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is bigger and better than ever with 5 full weekends of fun events. Start preparing your very best outfit for every special themed weekend.
📅When: August 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 2024 from 10:00am – 7:00pm
đź“ŤWhere:Â 18601 Sky Meadows Lane, Snohomish, WA
đź’˛Cost:Â $30 for GA, $125 for camping, free for ages 12 and younger
13. Free National Parks Day
Saturday, August 4 is National Parks Day, which means no park admission. We highly recommend heading to one of the stunning national parks near Seattle for a free hike: Olympic National Park, Rainier National Park, or North Cascades National Park.
14. South Lake Union Block Party
The annual South Lake Union Block Party is on August 9Â from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There will be live music, kids’ activities, a beer garden, food trucks, and more.
đź“…When: August 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
đź“ŤWhere: Westlake Ave N. and Denny Way
15. Enjoy free fun at Summer at SAM
Seattle Art Museum’s summer events at Olympic Sculpture Park are free and open to all ages. Expect food trucks, arts and craft workshops, live performances, and more. See the full schedule of events here.
đź“…When: Thursdays and Sundays, July 11 through August 11
đź“ŤWhere:Â Olympic Sculpture Park
đź’˛Cost:Â Free!
16. Capitol Hill Garage Sale
Don’t miss the Capitol Hill Garage Sale, Seattle’s longest running community wide garage sale on Sunday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s an annual tradition that regularly sees hundreds of families selling gently used treasures at Cal Anderson Park. Plus, you can find many other garage sales happening the same day across Capitol Hill.
đź“…When: Sunday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
đź“ŤWhere: Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill
17. Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market
You can get tickets now for the hotly-anticipated annual Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market on August 16 at 7:30 pm. You’ll be able to try food and drinks from over 100 of the best local restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries, plus enjoy live entertainment.
đź“…When: August 16 at 7:30 pm
đź“ŤWhere: Pike Place Market
18. The Seattle Tattoo Expo
Hosted by Hidden Hand Tattoo on August 16-18, the Seattle Tattoo Expo will showcase new and emerging talents along with fan favorites, plus concerts and more. Get your tickets at the event website.
đź“…When: August 16-18
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
19. Chinatown-International District Food Walk
Head to Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on August 17Â for a delicious food walk. You’ll get to support local businesses and enjoy some incredible food deals.
đź“…When: August 17
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle’s Chinatown-International District
20. Movies at the Mural
Enjoy a picnic on a gentle slope at the Mural Amphiteather lawn, and watch a delightful movie on a 40-foot screen with the Space Needle looming above—for free! Read more about this year’s Movies at the Mural.
21. Chinatown-International District Block Party
Head to Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on Saturday, August 17 from 3 – 9 pm for the annual block party that will be full of fun activities and, of course, delicious food.
đź“…When: Saturday, August 17 from 3 – 9 pm
đź“ŤWhere: 900 S King St
22. Seahawks preseason home games
The NFL preseason kicks off this August with the following Seahawks home games at Lumen Field:
- Aug. 24 vs. Cleveland Browns
23. Go to a Waterfront Block Party
Head to the Seattle waterfront on Friday, August 30th for free family-friendly fun. There will be live music, dancing, food, and more from 12:00 to 8:30 p.m. all along Waterfront Park.
đź“…Â When: Friday, August 30th from 12:00 to 8:30 p.m.
đź“ŤWhere: All Along Waterfront Park
24. Go to a Concert Under the Stars
If you love live music, you’ll want to plan a date night at “Sinatra Under The Stars” Concert Under the Stars at the Olympic Rooftop Pavilion on August 28. Get your concert tickets online.
25. The 11th annual Alki Beach Pride
Head over to West Seattle on August 31 from 12 – 8 pm for the annual Alki Beach Pride celebration that includes live music, a drag brunch, entertainment, and more!
đź“…When: August 31 from 12 – 8 pm
đź“ŤWhere: Alki Beach
26. Experience Bumbershoot
We’re so excited to have Bumbershoot back for 2024. It takes place during Labor Day weekend on August 31 and September 1st at Seattle Center. It’s two full days of live music, art, food, and culture. Get tickets and more info on the Bumbershoot website.
đź“…When: August 31-Sept. 1
đź“ŤWhere:Â Seattle Center
đź’˛Cost: $65+
27. Catch a ball game
There’s nothing like a summer baseball game. Be sure to check out our guide to the best food at T-Mobile Park before you go! Check out the full schedule of upcoming Mariners home games this August.
28. Seattle weekend markets
You’ll find food, handmade goods, produce, entertainment, and more at various Seattle neighborhoods’ weekend markets. See our guide to this summer’s weekend markets in Seattle.
29. Look for Seattle’s giant trolls
These beloved giant troll sculptures are all around the Seattle area. Make a day of it and go searching for all of them. Read more about the Northwest Trolls in Seattle.
30. Have a beach day
August is a great month for beach days in Seattle. Our favorites are Alki Beach in West Seattle and Golden Gardens in Ballard. Just prepare yourself – the water will be cold!