Must List: Folklife Festival, SIFF ShortsFest, Pets in the Park
Your weekly guide to Seattle's hottest events.
By Daria Kroupoderova May 24, 2018
MUST CELEBRATE
Northwest Folklife Festival
(5/25–5/28) The annual Folklife Festival is back for its 47th year. Enjoy music, dancing (including a Bollywood dance showcase!), food and art. Big names appearing at the festival include musical artists Naomi Wachira, Kung Foo Grip and Baby Gramps. This year’s cultural focus is on Mexican American and Chicana/o roots in the northwest, so many events focus on Latin music, dance and art. Times vary. Free (suggested daily donation $10/person). Seattle Center; nwfolklife.org
MUST EAT
Taste of West Seattle
(5/24) The 13th annual Taste of West Seattle is a community-based food extravaganza benefitting the West Seattle Helpline’s emergency assistance programs. Taste your way through 50 different breweries, restaurants, bakeries, wineries and more. Plus: There will be live music, chances to win gift cards to your favorite restaurants and a competition among the vendors for Best Taste, Pour, Sweet and Sip. 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Prices vary. Limited tickets available at the door. The Hall at Fauntleroy, West Seattle, 9131 California Ave. SW; wshelpline.org
MUST WATCH SHORTS
SIFF ShortsFest Weekend
(5/25–5/28) The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is in full swing and this weekend the festival is celebrating short films. Opening night of ShortsFest includes seven films from a variety of genres and countries all spanning eight to 14 minutes in length. The weekend continues with batches of short films packaged together under categories such as Legends of the PNW, Animation4Adults and FutureWave Shorts. See a story unfold in as little as three minutes. Times, prices and locations vary; siff.net
MUST ADOPT
Pets in the Park
(5/30) Meet the purrfect pal at Cal Anderson Park during your lunch break. Seattle Humane is hosting a lunchtime adoption event where people can meet (and pet) adoptable cats and dogs from the shelter. If you end up meeting your next furry friend, they will be doing adoptions on site, so grab your lunch and get ready to have your heart melt from all the canine and feline cuteness. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Cal Anderson Park, Capitol Hill; Pets in the Park event page.
Photo via soundexcursions.com
MUST DRINK AND PLANT
Boozy Terrarium Making
(5/26, 6/9, 6/23) You know what’s more fun than making a terrarium? Making a terrarium to take home while drinking a glass of something delicious and alcoholic. Sound Excursions is hosting a boozy terrarium-making class at Henry’s Tavern in South Lake Union. All supplies such as moss, charcoal and succulents will be provided along with a glass of craft beer, wine or a speciality cocktail. Feel free to bring your own decorations (mini dinosaurs, anyone?) and get ready to get your hands dirty. 2:30 p.m. $49. Henry’s Tavern, South Lake Union, 501 Farview Ave. N; soundexcursions.com
Follow Us
A New Year of Influence
Seattle magazine’s Most Influential list kicks off 2026 with leaders across the city.
New year, new issue! As we kick off 2026, Seattle magazine is proud to present this year’s cohort of the Most Influential list, which showcases local leaders in politics, philanthropy, arts, hospitality, and business. Determined, creative, empathetic, humble, and bold are just a few of the words you’ll see describing them—each one has achieved great…
The Queen of the Seattle World’s Fair
With a fur coat and gold Cadillac, Gracie Hansen struck a figure. Her business savvy and whip-smart humor made her a star.
In 1960, a group of well-attired men from the Seattle World’s Fair planning committee gathered in a downtown office. With the fair only two years away, people were starting to pitch their business ideas and on this day, some lady wanted to meet with them to do the same. At the scheduled time, the door…
Cookies From Home
Seattle author Kat Lieu introduces a first-of-its-kind cookbook centered on Asian cookies.
Kat Lieu has built a career out of baking, storytelling, and standing up for what she believes in. A former doctor of physical therapy turned bestselling cookbook author, she’s based in Seattle, is the founder of the online community Subtle Asian Baking and is the author of Modern Asian Baking at Home, a book that…
Photo Essay: The Relief of the Moment
Words and photography by Nick Ward.
Photography tricks my ADHD brain into doing something borderline miraculous: It allows me to focus on exactly one thing at a time. When I press the shutter and hear that lovely little ka-chunk, the inner chatter winks out. I feel oddly connected to the moment by being outside it, observing through the frame instead of…