The first full work week of May in Seattle promises to be busy: street festivals and markets, music and theater premieres, running and cycling events, major city celebrations and family activities — from the Opening Day boat parade and rowing regattas on the Montlake Cut to arts, film and food festivals. If you love live music and jazz — check out Seattle Jazz Vespers or street fests in Beacon Hill; theater and dance fans can find musicals and contemporary productions, and film lovers will enjoy SIFF and screenings at Langston Hughes. For those who prefer active outdoor fun, there are Beer Run, Spartan Race and the Beat the Bridge series; family and nature events include flower and butterfly festivals and World Migratory Bird Day, and foodies can enjoy Restaurant Week and neighborhood tasting walks. A detailed roundup of announcements and schedules is compiled at Events12 Seattle.
Seattle and area events for the second week of May
| Date(s) | Location | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2 | Pioneer Square | Brewery Running Series Beer Run – a fun 5K run with beer, live music, food trucks and prizes at Elysian Fields | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 2 | Seattle & Eastside | Seattle Restaurant Week – special menus and deals at about 220 restaurants from Seattle to Issaquah and Rainier Beach | Website |
| May 2 | Beacon Hill | Cinco de Mayo Celebration with Mexican food, live music, kids’ activities and a crafts market at Plaza Roberto Maestas | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 2 | University District | Opening Day Boat Parade — procession of pleasure and racing boats through the Montlake Cut by the UW stadium | Website, Map, Site map, Video |
| May 2 | University District | Windermere Cup rowing races — collegiate rowing competitions through the Montlake Cut | Website, Map, Site map, Video |
| May 2 | Wallingford | May Day Celebration and Potluck at Meridian Playground with games, live music, maypole dancing and a community picnic | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 2 | Mountlake Terrace | Making Local fair – about 50 vendors selling gifts, food, clothing, ceramics, plants and home goods at Mountlake Terrace City Hall | Website, Map |
| May 2 | Mill Creek | Beer & Wine Walk tasting festival — includes a glass and eight beer/wine tastings at shops in Mill Creek Town Center | Website, Map |
| May 2 | Tacoma | Tacoma Wayzgoose print festival — meet printmakers, paper crafts and art‑printing with road rollers at Tacoma Public Library | Website, Map |
| May 2–3 | Seattle Center | Seattle Erotic Art Festival – erotic art, film and live performances at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (18+/21+ on certain dates) | Website, Film festival, Map, Photos |
| May 2–3 | Central District | Seattle Black Film Festival – film screenings, workshops, panels and filmmaker Q&As at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute | Website, Map, Video |
| May 2–3 | Issaquah | Musical Grease — high‑school life and romance in the 1950s at Village Theatre in Issaquah | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 2–3 | Snohomish | 5K/10K races with 20 obstacles — Seattle North Spartan Event Weekend at Meadow Wood Equestrian Center | Website |
| May 2–3 | Puyallup | Puyallup RV Show — exhibition of campers and RVs at the Washington State Fair Events Center | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 2–3 | Tacoma | Tacoma City Marathon — series of races (5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon and relay) finishing at Dune Peninsula Park | Website, Map, Photos |
| May 2–9 | Sequim | Sequim Irrigation Festival — parades, fairs, car cruise, tours and a downtown parade in Sequim | Website, Schedule, Map, Photos |
| May 2–10 | Seattle area | Live theater roundup — plays at various Seattle and area theaters (drama, musicals, family shows) | — |
| May 2–10 | Vashon Island | Vashon Island Visual Artists Studio Tour — visit 43 studios and galleries on the island | Website |
| May 2–17 | Downtown | Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Jesus Christ Superstar at The 5th Avenue Theatre | Website, Map |
| May 2–17 | Seattle Center | Bizet’s opera Carmen presented by Seattle Opera at McCaw Hall | Website, Map, Video |
| May 2–30 | Seattle area | Seattle Architecture Foundation walking tours — neighborhood architecture walks (downtown, waterfront, Queen Anne, Mount Baker, etc.) | Website, FAQ, Video |
| May 2–Sept. 27 | SoDo | Seattle Mariners home games at T-Mobile Park | Schedule, Map, Tickets |
| May 2–Oct. 31 | Waterfront | Sailboat cruises on Elliott Bay aboard the schooner Bay Lady from Seattle's Tall Ship dock | Map, Video |
| May 2–Oct. 31 | Skykomish | Mini train rides and Great Northern & Cascade Railway museum visits on Saturdays | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 2–Dec. 26 | Seattle | Taste of Seattle food walking tours: Pike Place Market, downtown chocolate, Capitol Hill coffee, wine & cheese tours | — |
| May 2–Dec. 31 | Seattle area | Roundup of free activities: botanical gardens, museums, dance nights, walking trails and more | — |
| May 2–April 30 | Wenatchee | Washington State Apple Blossom Festival — major apple‑blossom festival with rides, concerts, parades and fair in Wenatchee | Website, Parade, Schedule, Map, Video |
| May 3 | First Hill | Seattle Jazz Vespers — jazz evening with the Jake Bergevin Quintet at Seattle First Baptist Church | Website, Parking, Map |
| May 3 | Central District | Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) celebration with martial arts, taiko drumming, tea ceremony and food at JCCCW | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 3 | Snoqualmie | Machos, Tacos & Tequila night at Snoqualmie Casino — tacos, cocktails and Lucha Libre show (21+) | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 3–30 | multiple locations | Candlelight Concerts – hour‑long string quartet concerts by candlelight with programs from video‑game music to classical and rock hits | Website, Video |
| May 5–30 | Belltown | Hot Stove Society culinary classes with tastings of food and drinks at Hotel Andra | Website, Map, Video |
| May 6 | Issaquah | Grape Escape tasting evening — bites, wine and a charity auction at Pickering Barn (21+) | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 6 | Federal Way | Step Afrika dance show — energetic step performances, songs and audience participation at Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center | Website, Map, Video |
| May 7 | Seattle & Tacoma | Free museum day: Burke, MOHAI, Museum of Flight, Nordic Museum, Seattle Art Museum, SAAM, Japanese Garden, Tacoma Art Museum and more | — |
| May 7–9 | University District | Mark Morris Dance Group — “Dances to American Music: Soul of America” at Meany Center | Website, Map, Video |
| May 7–16 | Seattle | Seattle Beer Week – dozens of craft beer tastings and food‑pairing events at bars and breweries across the city | Website |
| May 7–17 | Seattle | Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) – the region’s largest festival of independent film from around the world with premieres and parties | Website, Brochure, Programs, Video |
| May 7–21 | multiple locations | Evening Seattle Art Walks in Pioneer Square, Belltown, Ballard, Capitol Hill, West Seattle, U‑District and Edmonds | Website |
| May 8 | Snoqualmie | Wine Train Excursion with tastings and scenery from the Northwest Railway Museum (21+) | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 8 | Tacoma | The 253 Short Film Party — screening and party for 31 short films at Urban Grace | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 8–9 | Redmond | DroneArt Show: Space Chase — 1,200‑drone light show choreographed to music at Marymoor Park | Website, Map, Video |
| May 8–10 | Ellensburg | Get Intimate with the Shrub‑Steppe — nature festival with tours, birdwatching, river trips and animal displays in the Ellensburg area | Website, Map, Site map |
| May 8–16 | Seattle Center / Vashon | Whim W’Him contemporary dance — “Spring ‘26” at Cornish Playhouse and on Vashon Island | Website, Map, Video |
| May 8–17 | Camano Island | Camano Island Studio Tour — self‑guided visits to 24 studios and galleries on Camano Island | Website, Tour map, Map, Photo |
| May 8–June 6 | Ballard | Seattle Cabaret Festival at Egan's Ballard Jam House and The Triple Door | Website, Map, Tickets |
| May 9 | Downtown | Northern Lights Auction charity dinner and auction supporting the Nordic Museum at Hyatt Regency Seattle | Website, Map, Photos |
| May 9 | Seattle Center | A Glimpse of China — Chinese cultural festival at Seattle Center Armory | Website, Map |
| May 9 | Seattle Center | Science After Dark: STEM Art Walk — science‑art installations and electronic music at Pacific Science Center (21+) | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9 | Queen Anne | Queen Anne Spring Wine Walk — a tasting stroll with local wineries in neighborhood shops (21+) | Website, Map |
| May 9 | SoDo | Silver Foxes: The Eras Tour — aerial and trapeze acts by performers 45+ at Emerald City Trapeze Arts | Website, Map, Tickets |
| May 9 | Beacon Hill | Beacon Arts Street Fair — live music, art market and family activities at El Centro de la Raza | Website, Map, Site map, Photo |
| May 9 | University District | Beat the Bridge runs — 8K race, 3‑mile walk and fun run crossing the University Bridge and finishing at Husky Stadium | Website, Map, Video |
| May 9 | West Seattle | West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day — hundreds of neighborhood yard sales | Website, Interactive map, PDF map, Photo |
| May 9 | Seward Park | World Migratory Bird Day at Seward Park Audubon Center — exhibits and activities about migratory birds | Website, Map |
| May 9 | Bellevue | Spring Plant Sale at Bellevue Demonstration Garden — plant market and gardening consultations | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9 | Issaquah | Walk n Wag dog walk at Lake Sammamish State Park with pet shows and activities | Website, Map |
| May 9 | Edmonds | Edmonds Spring Fest — about 100 local artists and food trucks on the Frances Anderson Center lawn | Website, Vendors, Map, Video |
| May 9 | Edmonds | Edmonds Jazz Connection school jazz festival across three Edmonds venues | Website, Map, Video |
| May 9 | Maple Valley | Mom and Me Wonderland Tea at Lake Wilderness Arboretum — tea party with workshops and family entertainment | Event page, Map, Photo |
| May 9 | North Bend | Sip, Suds & Si — tasting evening with wine, beer and music in downtown North Bend (21+) | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9 | Puyallup | Sip Puyallup — wine & beer tasting event with tastings at about 20 downtown shops (21+) | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9 | Monroe | Seattle Metro Reptile Expo — reptiles, amphibians and vendors at Evergreen State Fairgrounds | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9 | Puyallup | Washington State Toy Show — about 250 sellers of toys, comics and collectibles | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9 | Coupeville | Penn Cove Water Festival — canoe races, performances, craft fair and kids’ activities on the Coupeville waterfront | Website, Schedule, Map, Directions, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Downtown | Flower Festival for Mother’s Day at Pike Place Market — featuring about 35 farmers | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Eastlake | Mother’s Day Cruise — brunch or dinner cruises on Lake Union from Chandler’s Cove | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9–10 | Central District | Seattle Art Book Fair — art book and independent press fair at Washington Hall | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Bellevue | Alice in Wonderland family ballet at Meydenbauer Center | Website, Map |
| May 9–10 | Federal Way | BonsaiFest — displays of hundreds of bonsai, demonstrations and tours at Pacific Bonsai Museum | Website, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Leavenworth | Maifest — European folk music, dancing, yodeling and a Sunday run in mountain Leavenworth | Website, Map, Photo |
| May 9–Nov. 7 | Pioneer Square | Seattle Sounders home matches at Lumen Field | Schedule, Map, Tickets |
| May 10 | Downtown | Mother’s Day Improv Show — improv comedy about motherhood at Unexpected Productions Improv | Event, Map, Photo |
| May 10 | multiple locations | Roundups of restaurants offering Mother’s Day brunches and dinners (lists from Gayot, OpenTable, Seattle Met and others) | — |
| May 10–Nov. 1 | Pioneer Square | Seattle Reign home matches at Lumen Field | Schedule, Map, Tickets |
