Looking for things to do this August in Seattle?
From Seafair festivities to free outdoor movies and bustling weekend markets, August 2025 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 Tuesday, July 29 with the Parade of Ships on the Seattle waterfront. Then you can enjoy ship tours on the piers! See more on the Seattle Fleet Week website.
đź“…When: July 29 – August 3
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle waterfront
2. Seafair Weekend Festival
One of Seattle’s biggest summer events is happening this month on the weekend of August 1-3! 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 1-3
đź“ŤWhere: Genesee Park And Lake Washington
3. Washington State Open Tennis Tournament
If you love tennis, don’t miss this year’s Washington State Open Tennis Tournament that runs from July 28 to August 3. There will be 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 28 – August 3
đź“ŤWhere: 922 McGilvra Blvd East
4. 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.
5. Magnolia Summerfest
The Seattle neighborhood Magnolia has more to offer than Discovery Park. On August 1 to August 3Â 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 1-3
📍Where: Magnolia Playfield, W Smith St & 33rd Ave W
6. Seahawks Football Fest
On August 2, 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.
đź“…When: August 2
đź“ŤWhere:Â Lumen Field
7. Shakespeare in the Park
GreenStage is providing free Shakespeare performances in Seattle parks from August 1 through August 16. See more info, including the full August performance schedule, on the GreenStage website.
8. Go back in time at the WA Midsummer Renaissance Faire
This year’s Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is bigger and better than ever with multiple weekends of fun events. Start preparing your very best outfit for every special themed weekend.
đź“…When: August 2-3, 9-10, and 16-27
đź“ŤWhere:Â 18601 Sky Meadows Lane, Snohomish, WA
đź’˛Cost:Â $30 for GA, $125 for camping, free for ages 12 and younger
9. Free National Parks Day
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.
10. Explore Bubble Planet
Bubble Planet is a fun immersive experience for all ages in nearby Bellevue. Each room has a different theme or landscape. Get tickets for August here.
11. 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 workout classes, food trucks, arts and craft workshops, live concerts, and more. On August 10, Summer at SAM concludes with Fairy Fest! Read more about Summer at SAM before you go.
đź“…When: August 3, 7 & 10
đź“ŤWhere:Â Olympic Sculpture Park
đź’˛Cost:Â Free!
12. Free First Thursday
The first Thursday of every month is free admission day for many Seattle museums as well as some attractions like the Seattle Japanese Garden! Some require advance registration or have limited hours, so get all the details about free museum admission in Seattle here.
đź“…When: Thursday, August 7
đź“ŤWhere:Â participating museums and attractions
đź’˛Cost:Â Free!
13. Pioneer Square Art Walk
On the first Thursday of every month you can join the country’s longest-running art walk in Pioneer Square. There’s often live music, free refreshments, and pop-ups. If you miss it, other neighborhoods have art walks as well! Check out all of this month’s upcoming Seattle art walks here.
đź“…When: Thursday, August 7 starting at 5:00 p.m.
đź“ŤWhere: Pioneer Square
đź’˛Cost:Â Free!
14. See The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody
If you’re looking for a fun live show, check out The Empire Strips Back. This humorous parody is a burlesque show in Seattle for a limited time. Get tickets here.
15. Eat and shop at the South Lake Union Block Party
The annual South Lake Union Block Party is on Friday, August 8Â 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 8
đź“ŤWhere: Westlake Ave N. and Denny Way
16. Explore the The Seattle Tattoo Expo
Hosted by Hidden Hand Tattoo on August 15-17, 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 15-17
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
17. Eat at the Chinatown-International District Food Walk
Head to Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on August 16 for a delicious food walk. You’ll get to support local businesses and enjoy some incredible food deals.
đź“…When: August 16
đź“ŤWhere: Seattle’s Chinatown-International District
18. Find treasure at the Capitol Hill Garage Sale
Don’t miss the Capitol Hill Garage Sale, Seattle’s longest running community wide garage sale on Sunday, August 17 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 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
đź“ŤWhere: Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill
19. See an outdoor movie under the Space Needle
This August you can enjoy a picnic on the Mural Amphiteather lawn and watch a movie on a 40-foot screen with the Space Needle looming above—for free! Read more about this year’s Movies at the Mural.
20. Watch the Seahawks preseason home games
The NFL preseason kicks off this August with the following Seahawks home games at Lumen Field:
- Aug. 7Â vs. Cleveland Browns
- August 15 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
21. 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. Get your concert tickets online.
22. Alki Beach Pride
Head over to West Seattle on August 16 for the annual Alki Beach Pride celebration that includes live music, a drag brunch, entertainment, and more!
đź“…When: August 16
đź“ŤWhere: Alki Beach
23. 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.
24. Experience Bumbershoot
We’re so excited to have Bumbershoot back for 2025. It takes place during Labor Day weekend on August 30-31 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 30-31
đź“ŤWhere:Â Seattle Center
đź’˛Cost: $65+
25. Bake for Cookies in the Park
If you like to bake, you’ll love swapping cookies with 200+ other Seattleites at this park meetup in Ballard at the end of August. Advance tickets ($15) are required. Read more about Cookies in the Park.
đź“…When: August 31
đź“ŤWhere: Salmon Bay Park
đź’˛Cost: $15
26. Catch a baseball 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.
27. See a Sounders match
A Seattle Sounders match is always an exciting event thanks to their passionate fans. You can catch two home matches at Lumen Field this August. See the full Sounders schedule here.
đź“…When: August 24 & 30
đź“ŤWhere:Â Lumen Field
28. 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.
đź“…When: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on select dates in August
đź“ŤWhere: various Seattle city parks
đź’˛Cost: Free!
29. Shop and eat at 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.
30. 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.
31. 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!