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MUST WATCH CARTOONS

Children’s Film Festival Seattle
(2/27-3/8) Expect an eclectic extravaganza of international cinematic offerings, from animated shorts to feature-length films, at this impressive annual festival aimed primarily at audience members ages 2 to 14. Check online for a full listing of 2020 events; previous years’ festivals have included interactive lobby installations, hands-on experiences, live scores performed alongside classic films and singalong screenings. Times and prices vary. Northwest Film Forum, Capitol Hill; childrensfilmfestivalseattle.org

MUST SWILL

10^th Annual WA Beer Open House
(2/29) Join over 130 breweries across Washington in a day celebrating local craft breweries, with tastings, tours and more. Activities vary by location but include food trucks, ping pong, special beer releases and discounts. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Prices and locations vary; washingtonbeer.com

MUST MARCH FOR COOKIES

The Lemon Cookie Parade
(2/28) Celebrating the release of their new cookie imprinted with motivational messaging like “I am Bold,” the Girl Scouts of America invite everyone to attend the first-ever Lemon Cookie Parade. Featuring prominent Seattle women, including Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best and Mayor Jenny Durkan as the grand marshal, this day promises all things yellow—from a yellow fire engine to free lemon cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches and more! 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Free. Westlake Park, downtown; Facebook: ‘The Lemon Cookie Parade’

 

MUST ADD OLIVES

Seattle Cocktail Week
(3/1-3/8) While more than 50 bars around the city will offer cocktail deals throughout this week, the real draw is the “carnival of cocktails” at the Cocktail District grand tasting event on Saturday, March 7. There, you can sip concoctions from pop-up cocktail bars, watch demonstrations and sample bites from local food trucks. An on-site retail store lets you purchase the liquors you like best to take home. Times vary. $46-$60. Bell Harbor International Conference Center, waterfront; seattlecocktailweek.com

MUST GIVE YOUR FULL 90

Seattle Sounders Opening Day
(3/1) Following their championship win in the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup, the Seattle Sounders will kick off the 2020 season with a home game against the Chicago Fire FC. The Sounders beat the Fire 4-2 last season, but the Chicago team has undergone a rebrand with a new owner and new crest, among other changes, which makes the first match of the season required viewing. Prices vary. Noon. CenturyLink Field, downtown; soundersfc.com

MUST SPOOK

The Turn of the Screw
(Ends 3/8) In this eerie tale, adapted by playwright Rachel Atkins from Henry James’ gothic horror novella, a young governess is hired to care for orphaned siblings Flora and Miles in a remote British country house. She soon begins to see strange spirits and becomes convinced that these evil apparitions are possessing the children. But are they really the spirits of former house employees, as she believes, or are they inventions of the governess’ mind? Come for the deliciously spooky ambiguity, stay for the performances by Book-it Repertory Theatre newcomer Shannon Lee Clair as the governess, and rising local stars Nabilah Ahmed and Rheanna Atendido as Miles and Flora, respectively. Times and prices vary. Center Theater at the Armory, Seattle Center; book-it.org

MUST NOT STOP THE BEAT

Kassa Overall
(3/1) Don’t sleep on Kassa Overall, a Seattle-born, New York City-based jazz drummer who recently signed with Brownswood Recordings. Overall has played with the best of the best, and will release his first album with Brownswood, I Think I’m Good, on February 28. Come and celebrate. 7:30 p.m. $15. The Triple Door, downtown; thetripledoor.net

Coming up: 
These events are weeks away but are bound to sell out—get your tickets now. 

MUST BE AMAZED

Moisture Festival
(3/12-4/5) Self-proclaimed the “world’s largest comedy/varieté festival,” this annual event features a diverse array of short performances backed by a live band. This bizarre talent pool includes (but is not limited to) jugglers, clowns, musicians, comedians, aerialists, rope acts, strong men and women, drill teams, tap dancers and bubble acts. Times and prices vary. Hale’s Palladium, Fremont; moisturefestival.org

MUST PAIR AND SHARE

Sake pairing class
(3/23) Offering 12 sake and 12 snack pairings, this teacher warns “this isn’t a 100-level class.” In order to dive deeper, this class will assume its pupils know the basics so they can cover four main topics of sake pairing: nigorizake, Ginjo-ka, namazake and dessert pairings. 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. $120. Hannyatou, Fremont; hannyatou.com

MUST DINE LIKE IT’S 1950

You Can’t Eat Mt. Rainier
(3/5, 9/17, 12/17) Chef Eric Rivera takes you back through Seattle in the 1950’s with a seven-course meal. Based on Bill Speidel’s You Can’t Eat Mt. Rainier, a book detailing restaurants and recipes of 1950’s Seattle, this meal will take you back to simpler times without compromising the complex flavors that accompanied them. 6:30 p.m. $75. addo:incubator, Ballard; exploretock.com