Looking for things to do this August in Seattle?
From Seafair festivities to free outdoor movies and bustling weekend markets, August 2023 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 August 1st with the Parade of Ships on the Seattle waterfront. Then you can enjoy ship tours on the piers from August 3 to August 6. See more on the Seattle Fleet Week website.
2. Enter the Upside Down at Stranger Things: The Experience
You can still get tickets for select dates throughout August!
3. Seafair Weekend Festival
One of Seattle’s biggest summer events is happening this month on the weekend of August 4-6! 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.”
4. See The Empire Strips Back
This hilarious and sultry burlesque Star Wars parody often sells out! Tickets for August performances are on sale now.
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 31 to August 6. 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.
6. Step into the world of Van Gogh
Experience the art of Van Gogh in a whole new way at this exhibit that lets you step into his paintings. There are still a few tickets left for a few August dates.
7. Take free dancing lessons in the park
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.
8. 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, Favorite Anime Themes, and more. There are only a few tickets left for some of these concerts in August so get yours now!
9. Go to a Concert Under the Stars
If you love live music, you’ll want to plan a date night at “From Ella to Alicia” Concert Under the Stars at the Olympic Rooftop Pavilion on August 24. Get your concert tickets online.
10. Shakespeare in the Park
GreenStage is providing free Shakespeare performances in Seattle parks from August 3 through August 12. See more info, including the full August performance schedule, on the GreenStage website.
11. 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.
12. WildBites at the zoo
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is hosting WildBites on August 4. You’ll get access to the zoo exhibits while enjoying beverages and bites from some of Seattle’s best chefs. General admission tickets cost $95. The premium admission tickets are already sold out, so hurry and get yours if you plan to attend. Tickets and info are on the zoo website.
13. Seahawks Football Fest
On August 4, 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 $20.
14. Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire
There are several weekends of the faire from August 5 to August 20 at Bonney Lake, each with its own theme as well as entertainment, food, camping, and more! Get your tickets here.
15. Free National Parks Day
Friday, August 4 is National Parks Day, which means no park admission. We highly recommend taking the day off work if possible and 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.
16. Magnolia Summerfest
The Seattle neighborhood Magnolia has more to offer than Discovery Park. On August 4-6 you can head over there for Magnolia Summerfest, which has live music, a beer and wine garden, food, a parade, and more planned.
17. South Lake Union Block Party
The annual South Lake Union Block Party is on August 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There will be live music, kids’ activities, a beer garden, food trucks, and more.
18. Seahawks home games
The NFL preseason kicks off this August with the following Seahawks home games at Lumen Field:
- Aug. 10 vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Aug. 19 vs. Dallas Cowboys
19. Day In Day Out Music Festival
The Day In Day Out music festival is back at Seattle Center on August 12-13 and tickets are on sale now. This year’s headliners include Leon Bridges, Bon Iver, and more. See more local music festivals happening this summer.
20. Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market
You can get tickets now for the hotly-anticipated annual Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market on August 18. 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.
21. The Seattle Tattoo Expo
Hosted by Hidden Hand Tattoo on August 18-20, 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.
22. Chinatown-International District Food Walk
Head to Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on August 19 for a delicious food walk. You’ll get to support local businesses and enjoy some incredible food deals.
23. The 10th annual Alki Beach Pride
Head over to West Seattle on August 2o for the annual Alki Beach Pride celebration that includes live music, a drag brunch, entertainment, and more!
24. 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.
25. SAM Remix
There will be live music, art installations, and more at Olympic Sculpture Park on Friday, August 25 from 8:00 p.m. to midnight to celebrate the end of the Summer at SAM program. Read more about Summer at SAM.
26. Chinatown-International District Block Party
Head to Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on Saturday, August 26 for the annual block party that will be full of fun activities and, of course, delicious food.
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!
Here are the upcoming Mariners home games this August:
- Aug. 1-2 vs. Boston Red Sox
- Aug. 8-9 vs. San Diego Padres
- Aug. 11-13 vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Aug. 25-27 vs. Kansas City Royals
- Aug. 28-30 vs. Oakland Athletics
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 new giant trolls
This August, giant troll sculptures will start to pop up around the Seattle area. Read more about the Northwest Trolls coming to 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!