The Must List: Upstream, Mother’s Day Flower Fest and a Kitty Cocktail Party

Must Drink Like a Warrior
Terracotta Warriors

(5/11) Want to see Pacific Science Center’s historic Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibit without any noisy kids around? At the center’s After Hours event, there’s nobody but those 21 and older, plus a few 2,200-year-olds in Chinese army uniforms and cocktails for the living. 6–9 p.m. Prices vary, Pacific Science Center at Seattle Center; pacificsciencecenter.org.

Must Rock Seattle-style
Upstream Music Fest + Summit

(5/11-13) Paul Allen’s big new music festival and networking opportunity for musicians will feature more than 200 acts across all genres on more than 25 stages. Three-fourths will be Northwest talents. Keynote speakers will be Quincy Jones, Macklemore and Portia Sabin. “Upstream is a platform to showcase genre diversity, women and people of color—that’s something you don’t see in a lot of festivals,” says fest booker and all-star Seattle music booster Melissa Darby. Times vary, $40-$425, Pioneer Square and CenturyLink Field; upstreammusicfest.com.

Must Party for Kitties
Tuxes & Tails

(5/13) Expect dinner, drinks and adorable beasts at Seattle Humane’s annual event. Last year, $4 million was raised and, with the help of some fuzzy friends, supporters hope to do it all again this year. Attendees can bid at a live auction, cuddle kittens for a donation and watch a celebrity-chaperoned catwalk—a literal one. Adoptable pets of all kinds strut their stuff down the runway with the help of famous figures such as Seahawks’ defensive end Michael Bennett. seattlehumane.org

Must Show Momma Love
Pike Place Market Flower Festival

(5/13-14) It’s been scientifically proven that karma rewards those who give their moms flowers. Unless she left you at home (alone) during Christmas to ward of nincompoop baddies while she cavorted in Paris, she totally deserves it. Coinciding with Mother’s Day (Sunday, c’mon guys), Pike Place Market hosts its ninth annual flower fest—a fragrant two-day blowout where 40-plus Washington farmers will peddle their petals. Hit up some of these brunch spots, where last we checked reservations were still available, before or after bouquet browsing. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., free, Pike Place, pikeplacemarket.org.

Must Go Norwegian
Syttende Mai Seattle

(5/17) Outside Norway, no place has celebrated Norwegian Constitution Day longer than Ballard, whose fest is 125 years old, almost as old as our state. There’s food, music, Old World outfits, kids’ activities and a parade. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. Downtown Ballard; 17thofmay.org.