The Must List: Bumbershoot, Bigfoot Convention and PAX West
Your guide to Seattle's hottest events.
By Danny Sullivan and Callie Little August 31, 2017
MUST BUMBER
Bumbershoot
(9/1-9/3) Seattle’s flagship music festival (keep dreaming Upstream!) returns Labor Day weekend as Seattle Center becomes the staging ground for Bumbershoot. With daily headliners Flume, Lorde, Washington’s own Odesza and too many other great acts to list, Bumbershoot has something to offer to even those who can’t name a Big Sean tune. Activities like Yogashoot (group yoga) and Youngershoot (an area designed for children 10 and under) provide a welcome counterpoint to the intensity of the crowds and concerts. Peep our tips on making the most of your Bumbershoot experience before heading to the fest. Prices vary; Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St.; bumbershoot.com
MUST CHASE SQUATCH
International Bigfoot Conference
(9/1-9-3) If the Twin Peaks revival still hasn’t scratched your itch for woodsy Northwest mysteries, head to Kennewick this weekend for the second annual International Bigfoot Conference. This event—as unbelievable as Bigfoot himself—will focus on the scientific evidence that points toward the hairy beasts’ existence and has attracted speakers that range from true believers to literature professors fascinated by the persistence of sasquatch creatures in folktales from all over the world. It looks to be a fun dive into one of the enduring and endearing quirks of our region. Prices vary, all ages; Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, 7016 W Grandridge Blvd.; internationalbigfootconference.com
MUST PLAY
PAX West
(9/1–9/4) From new Greenwood game bars to virtual reality lounges in Ballard, gaming has officially blown up. Since its 4,500-attendee beginnings in Bellevue in 2004, PAX has become the largest gaming event in North America, drawing tens of thousands of attendees each year. Peruse halls packed with exhibits, expert panels, game-play stations and cosplayers as far as the eye can see. Times and prices vary. Downtown, Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St.; west.paxsite.com
MUST TOAST
Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend
(9/2–9/3) Our region’s most renowned winery isn’t the only institution celebrating a big anniversary this fall. But Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 50th anniversary bash marks the grand opening of its brand-new $7 million, 22,700-square-foot visitor center with live music, food trucks, tours, tastings and more. The beloved winery had a big showing in Seattle magazine’s Washington Wine Awards, so you know the juice will be good. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free. Woodinville, 14111 NE 145th St.; 425.488.1133; ste-michelle.com
MUST SING
Karaoke World Championships Washington State Finals
(9/2-9/3) The qualifiers are over and this Saturday and Sunday the Washington state finals in the Karaoke World Championships go down at the Tulalip Resort Casino. The top three men and women will advance to the finals at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. At stake in Vegas is the chance to rep the United States in the world championships in Helsinki. While it’s too late to make your own karaoke dreams come true, an opportunity to watch Washington’s best karaoke rock stars perform ought to be a blast. Times vary, $15, 21-plus; Tulalip Resort Casino’s Canoes Cabaret, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.; tulalipresortcasino.com
Follow Us
Ferry Tales: Eight Indie Bookstores Worth the Ride
Plan a summer day around these bookshops in Seattle, Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Kingston, and Poulsbo.
Independent bookstores tend to be cornerstones of the communities in which they reside, and Seattle is no exception. In addition to helping customers discover their next read, these neighborhood hubs host weekly gatherings and events, like publication release parties, author talks, and book clubs. Many of them have cafés and reading tables that encourage lingering…
Rearview Mirror: Seattle Art Fair is Back, Nordstrom Throws a Block Party, and a Must-Try Ice Cream Sundae
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
SEATTLE ART FAIR RETURNS The buzziest event of the summer (well, aside from the World Cup), is returning next week. Now in its 10th edition, the Seattle Art Fair will once again take over the Lumen Field Event Center, packing it to the gills with art from 101 local, national, and international galleries. This year,…
Studio Sessions: Jennifer Leigh Harrison
Seattle artist Jennifer Leigh Harrison uses layers of paint and abstraction to explore what we carry beneath the surface.
Jennifer Leigh Harrison’s paintings are dense with movement. Color and texture gather into mosaic-like fields, as if they have been fractured and reformed. There are places in the work where a frenetic buzz seems trapped between the canvas and the first layer of paint. That energy runs through Patterns of Belonging, her current exhibition at…
ENHYPEN’s Jay Has K-Pop Stardom and a Seattle Heart
The Federal Way-raised singer talks hometown memories, Ivar’s clam chowder, and how it feels to perform in the place he grew up.
Long before he was performing in sold-out arenas around the world and representing brands like Prada, ENHYPEN’s Jay called the Puget Sound region home. Born Jay Park (not to be confused with the other famous K-pop star of the same name, who is also from Seattle) in Seattle and raised in nearby Federal Way before…