Must List: Seven Buzzy Summer Things to Do This Week
Art, block parties, and berries
By Sarah Stackhouse July 17, 2025
It’s so hot. My kids haven’t left the inflatable pool and are living on popsicles. If you’re escaping the sun and relaxing in the shade, check out our stories on what not to miss at Seattle Art Fair this year, and how Trailhead Direct can save you from mountain parking stress.
Now, seven ways to fill your week:
Seattle Art Fair
Now-July 20
Lumen Field
$50+
I always think I’ll just swing through — but every year, I end up skipping meals and staying for hours. Founded by Paul Allen in 2015, this showcase has become a Pacific Northwest arts anchor. Expect neon, glass, photography, and 80+ galleries packed into Lumen Field. It’s big, glossy, and everything you want from an art experience.
Strawberry Festival
July 18-20
Ober Park
Free
An island tradition dating back to 1909 (or maybe 1912 — the history’s a little fuzzy), Vashon’s Strawberry Festival is pure small-town summer. Take the water taxi over for a parade, strawberry shortcake, and a reason to put on something pretty and wander. Honestly, is there a better way to spend a warm Seattle weekend?
Seafair Indian Days Powwow
July 18-20
Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center
Free
You’ll hear the drums before you even get there. Hosted by United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, this three day gathering fills Discovery Park with drumming, dancing, and food. The powwow draws 400-600 dancers in full regalia, 25 drum groups, and around 10,000 viewers, all celebrating the richness of Native culture. A Seattle tradition for over 35 years, it fosters community connection across generations.
Capitol Hill Block Party
July 19-20
Capitol Hill
$147+
From a scrappy 1997 street fest to the giant music takeover it is now, CHBP is peak summer fun. Last year, we camped out by the food stalls and let the crowd carry us from stage to stage. This year’s 21+ event brings Thundercat, Anderson.Paak (as DJ Pee. Wee), and two days of sweaty, nonstop music. Plan on lines, loud sets, and loving every second of it.
Sketcher Fest Edmonds
July 19-20
Graphite Arts Center
$25+
Led by Gabi Campanario, the original Seattle Sketcher from The Seattle Times, this art fest has grown into North America’s premiere travel sketchbook festival. Expect workshops, talks, and market browsing, with artists from Barcelona to the French Air Force (seriously). It’s a casual, community-focused event. This is artists coming together in the best way, for the best reasons — to talk art, make art, and share it.
Chinatown Seafair Parade
July 20, 7 p.m.
Seattle Chinatown-International District
Free
Floats, lion dancers, marching bands — it’s everything you want from a parade, but with the energy only the CID can pull off. It’s been part of Seafair since the 1970s and winds through some of the city’s best food streets. Go hungry and stay for the lion dances. They always get me — the drums and dragons are pure, priceless joy.
Seattle 48 Hour Film Project
July 21-23
SIFF Cinema Uptown
$12+
Twenty years of chaos filmmaking: teams get two days to make a short film, and you get to watch what they came up with. Screenings run all week at SIFF Cinema Uptown. I’ve never been, but this sounds wild and fun — I’m dying to check it out this year. Who’s with me?
Visit our events calendar for more ideas.
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