All Fired Up in Pioneer Square for the Annual Fire Festival
This super hot fest celebrates the history of Seattle’s oldest neighborhood
By Lexi Bolton August 13, 2014
The annual Pioneer Square Fire Festival returns to Occidental Square Park August 16-17 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire that happened on June 6, 1889. On that infamous day of the most destructive fire in the city’s history, a combustible pot of glue destroyed some 64 acres of the Central Business District despite the volunteer firefighters’ efforts, who needed more than the privately owned water mains available to save the wooden buildings.
It’s hard to imagine this fiery demolition actually happened when you’re standing in Seattle’s most historic district, but for one weekend the influx of regional firefighters and antique fire trucks will bring the catastrophe that allowed Pioneer Square to rebuild its identity (this time in stone and brick, of course) to top of mind.
What’s in the cards at this year’s hot fest? Settle in to watch the Scott Safety Firefighter Challenge, an X-Games of sort for the firefighting community that has regularly drawn thousands on each day of the event and demands feats of bravado and skill from participating firefighters in the form of climbing a five-story tower in full gear or rescuing a life-size 175-pound victim in a race against the clock. There is even a modified Kid’s Firefighter Challenge for plenty of family-friendly fun. Turns out you don’t have to be a pyro to appreciate this fire-themed occasion. (8/16-8/17, S Main St & Occidental Ave S, 206.623.0340, downtownseattle.org)
Follow Us
Getting Ghosted
Kim Fu’s latest novel turns a rain-soaked Pacific Northwest winter into the backdrop for a story about grief and loneliness.
In their latest novel, Seattle-based author Kim Fu gets one thing right about the Pacific Northwest: the rain. Set during a particularly bleak winter, The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts tells the story of Eleanor Fan, an online therapist grappling with the recent loss of her mother, Lele. After Lele’s passing, Eleanor inherits money to put…
Go See Diné Artist Eric-Paul Riege’s Largest Show to Date at the Henry Art Gallery
With a mix of mediums, ojo|-|ólǫ́ examines questions surrounding the authenticity and ownership of Indigenous work.
It’s a phrase that’s been drilled into most of us since we were young children: When you’re visiting a gallery, please, do not touch the art. In many cases, it’s with good reason: the pieces on display are fragile, one-of-a-kind, or historic works that cannot be reproduced. It’s such an ingrained approach to the museum-going…
Rearview Mirror: Ballet’s Saddest Story, New Art in the Sculpture Park, and a Home-Grown Wine Label Promoting Social Justice
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
Circular Thinking I am very lucky to live just a 12-minute walk away from Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a regular destination for my weekly walks and, aside from the world-class art, has one of the city’s best views of Puget Sound. Earlier this week, I went on a wet, windy walk and discovered…
Studio Sessions: Gabriel Stromberg
For his current show at studio e gallery, Gabriel Stromberg explores the challenges of working with clay.
Gabriel Stromberg has been a name about town for nearly two decades. As one of the cofounders of design firm Civilization (where he was the creative director and lead designer from 2008 to 2022), Stromberg worked on many award-winning projects, helped produce the wildly popular and always packed Design Lecture Series, and co-created and moderated…