First Thursdays Are Back in a Big Way

Art Walk is turning Pioneer Square into a lively gallery crawl and an impromptu runway.

A busy city intersection with many pedestrians crossing the street, surrounded by historic brick buildings and large leafy trees.

All photos by Emma Smith / Seattle Magazine

For 60 years, the first Thursday of every month has pulled people into galleries across Seattle’s oldest neighborhood. Pioneer Square has burned down, been rebuilt, and reinvented more than once. It’s sandwiched between buzzy downtown to the north and, to the south, the stadiums and a stretch of rail lines. In between are brick buildings, cobblestones, and some of the city’s best shops, bites, and galleries. It’s a neighborhood that always finds a way forward.

This summer’s First Thursday Art Walk numbers show a major rebound for Pioneer Square. In May, nearly 20,000 people came out, compared to just over 10,000 the year before. June drew close to 19,000, up from about 14,000 in 2024. July topped 25,000, more than double the 10,064 counted last summer. And August set an all-time high with more than 47,105 people in the neighborhood on a single night, boosted by a Mariners game and a Seahawks preseason matchup. For comparison, monthly counts in 2022 and 2023 often hovered between 9,000 to 12,000.

And then there’s the fashion. The style on the street has become part of the art walk. People are dressing up, bringing their own sense of style, and turning the neighborhood into something to look at in its own right. This summer, much of the buzz has been about what people are wearing, so Seattle magazine hit the streets to ask a few people what brought them out and what they chose to wear.

A woman in a yellow and orange sleeveless dress stands in front of a beige stone wall, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Anisa, who moved to Seattle from the Tri-Cities three years ago, says, “It’s nice seeing everybody get out and dress up, but also seeing the art too. My outfit is colors that go with my skin tone, with gold to stand out and a simple necklace.”

A person wearing a blue shirt and glasses smiles at the camera while holding a can and a purse on a city sidewalk with people and cars in the background.

“I like looking at everyone, and thinking about where their clothing is coming from. The sartorial choices are really interesting lately,” says Lolel, who has been attending First Thursday Art Walk all summer. “It feels like part of the cultural legacy of Seattle to be building something on our own. Everything I have on right now I thrifted, except for my shoes. I guess it’s kind of like grandma clothes. I like dowdy things. It’s really fun, and it has a lot of movement.”

Person standing on a city sidewalk wearing glasses, a blue shirt, a white vest, and gray jeans, with people and buildings visible in the background.

It was Sar’s first time at art walk. She works in Pioneer Square and says that what she’s wearing is “kind of like my work uniform. I’ve been trying to accessorize lately, so what better way than to come to art walk?”

Two women stand smiling on a city street, wearing colorful and stylish outfits; one in pastel purple and green, the other in a pink dress with a large pink wig. Cars and buildings are in the background.

Nikora says she came because her friends invited her. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know the local art scene, meet people, and do some great people-watching.”

With her is Miracle, who moved to Seattle in 2017 and has been coming to First Thursday since 2021. “I have on full pink as per usual. It’s giving Legally Blonde. There are so many fantastic artists and so many people doing beautiful things here and I used to wish there were more people to see it. Now that it’s gotten bigger and more people are coming, more people are seeing the uniqueness of Seattle. I love it. I love Pioneer Square.”

Three young women stand together and smile on a city sidewalk near parked cars and buildings, with trees and street cones visible in the background.

Two women stand side by side on a city sidewalk, one in green overalls and black top, the other in a light green dress, both wearing boots and looking at the camera.

People browse artwork and crafts displayed on tables at an outdoor market in front of brick buildings and a restaurant named “Darkalinos.”.

A group of people attend an art gallery event, viewing artwork on the walls and conversing in a brightly lit, modern space.

The next First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square is Oct. 2. You can see the full lineup here and catch more of the art walk street style here and here. The Alliance for Pioneer Square has also launched an interactive map to help people find their way through the galleries and pop-ups.