The end of April and the first days of May in Seattle promise a busy and eclectic schedule: from intimate concerts and musicals to outdoor festivals, wine and beer walks, major sporting events, and family celebrations. The city is alive with festivals — Seattle Restaurant Week and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival draw foodies and photographers, Langston Hughes hosts screenings of films by Black filmmakers, and Village Theatre and the 5th Avenue Theatre stage musicals and a rock opera for theater fans. Outdoor enthusiasts will find runs and marathons, rowing regattas, and two‑hour tall‑ship sails on Elliott Bay; theater and concert listings include National Geographic Live, Candlelight Concerts, and performances by Charlie Puth, Patrick Watson, and Treaty Oak Revival. For family weekends — the Puyallup RV Show, the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival, and children's programs at museums and cultural centers. Details and event schedules are available on local listings and at events12.com/seattle (source).
Current events in Seattle and nearby (late April – first week of May)
| Date(s) | Venue | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30 | Neptune Theatre, University District | Patrick Watson concert — atmospheric indie pop and baroque pop in the intimate Neptune venue. | Venue info |
| Apr 30 | WaMu Theater, Pioneer Square | Treaty Oak Revival concert — contemporary country and red dirt in the large WaMu Theater. | Venue info |
| Apr 30 | Various locations (King County and surrounding areas) | Seattle Restaurant Week — expanded menus and special offers at more than 220 restaurants (Seattle, Eastside, Snoqualmie, and more). | Official site |
| Apr 30 | Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Central District | Seattle Black Film Festival — film screenings, workshops, discussions, and director talks focusing on Black cinema and Afro‑diasporic cultures. | Festival site, Video |
| Apr 30 | Village Theatre, Issaquah | Musical “Grease” — a nostalgic trip to the 1950s about school life, love, and rock ’n’ roll. | Show page, Photo, Video |
| Apr 30 | Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup | Puyallup RV Show — new motorhomes, trailers, and campers for travel and recreation; children under 17 free. | Info, Photo, Video |
| Apr 30 | Memorial Park and downtown Wenatchee | Washington State Apple Blossom Festival — a city fair with food, rides, parades, and concerts celebrating the apple bloom. | Festival site, Schedule, Video |
| Apr 30 | Benaroya Hall, downtown Seattle | National Geographic Live series — talks featuring scientists, photographers, and travelers with striking photos and video; April’s theme — urban wildlife. | Event, Map |
| Apr 30 | The Village at Totem Lake, Kirkland | Evening Wine Walk — tasting 12 wines from local wineries; glass included, 21+. | Info & tickets, Map |
| Apr 30 | Mount Vernon and the Skagit Valley | Skagit Valley Tulip Festival — vast fields of tulips and daffodils, photo spots and farm attractions; many sites free or low‑cost. | Bloom status, Downtown map, Fields map, Video |
| Apr 30 – May 2 | Various restaurants, Seattle and Eastside | Seattle Restaurant Week — ongoing restaurant week with prix‑fixe menus and discounts at popular spots. | Official site |
| Apr 30 – May 3 | Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Central District | Seattle Black Film Festival — multi‑day program of screenings, panels, and workshops devoted to films by Black creators. | Festival site, Video |
| Apr 30 – May 3 | Village Theatre, Issaquah | Musical “Grease” — the hit musical about 1950s teens, with rockabilly songs and lively dance numbers. | Show page, Photo, Video |
| Apr 30 – May 3 | Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup | Puyallup RV Show — major RV and trailer expo with opportunities to explore travel models. | Info, Photo, Video |
| Apr 30 – May 3 | Memorial Park and downtown Wenatchee | Washington State Apple Blossom Festival — continued festival activities including car parades, a carnival, food court, and craft fair. | Site, Calendar, Video |
| Apr 30 – May 10 | Various regional theaters | Series of plays: the drama Appropriate at Seattle Rep, The Aves at Union Arts, the three‑person drama Walden at ArtsWest, and family shows (Seussical, Sweet Charity, Robin Hood). | Theater listings (overview) |
| Apr 30 – Oct. 31 | Seattle’s Tall Ship, Waterfront | Two‑hour day and sunset sails aboard the Bay Lady on Elliott Bay with skyline views; snacks and drinks sold onboard. | Company site, Video |
| Apr 30 – Dec. 26 | Seattle (various neighborhoods) | Walking food tours “Taste of Seattle”: Pike Place Market tour, downtown chocolate tour, Capitol Hill coffee tour, combined wine, bread, cheese & chocolate tours. | Info |
| Apr 30 – Dec. 31 | Seattle and surrounding areas | Selection of free activities: Bellevue Botanical Garden, Olympic Sculpture Park, museums and music programs, dance nights, and walking trails. | List “Free things to do” |
| May 1 | Seattle Art Museum, downtown | Teen Night Out — a teen‑run event for ages 14–19: DJ, creative activities, a fashion show, and games in the museum galleries. | Event, Photo |
| May 1 | Parking lot E12 at Husky Climbing Rock, UW | Party on the Cut — evening open‑air party with live music, food trucks, beer garden, and games; 21+. | Info & tickets, Map, Video |
| May 1 – 3 | Seattle Center Exhibition Hall and SIFF Film Center | Seattle Erotic Art Festival — curated exhibition of erotic art, films, and performances for adults (18+/21+). | Festival site, Pan Eros Film Festival, Photos |
| May 1 – 9 | Sequim Civic Center and nearby | Sequim Irrigation Festival — the state’s longstanding festival with parades, an art market, family activities, and a car show. | Site, Schedule, Photos |
| May 1 – 21 | Various Seattle neighborhoods and Edmonds | Series of evening Art Walks — free gallery and storefront strolls with art (Central District, Mercer Island, Pioneer Square, Belltown, Ballard, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, West Seattle, University District, Edmonds). | Info |
| May 1 – Sept. 27 | T‑Mobile Park, SoDo | Seattle Mariners home season — MLB baseball on a modern stadium with a retractable roof. | Schedule & tickets, Map, Tickets (reseller) |
| May 2 | Elysian Fields, Pioneer Square | Beer Run (Brewery Running Series) — fun 5K run followed by beer, prize draws, music, and food trucks. | Series site, Photo, Video |
| May 2 | Plaza Roberto Maestas, Beacon Hill | Cinco de Mayo celebration by El Centro de la Raza — Mexican food, live music, kids’ activities, and a craft fair. | Event, Photo |
| May 2 | Montlake Cut, University District | Opening Day Boat Parade — decorated yachts and boats pass through the Montlake Cut; great viewing points along the shore. | Info, Map, Video |
| May 2 | Montlake Cut, University District | Windermere Cup rowing races — collegiate and international crews compete in the scenic channel. | Site, Map, Video |
| May 2 | Meridian Playground, Wallingford | May Day Celebration and Potluck — spring festival with games, live music, dancing around the maypole, and a community potluck. | Event, Photo |
| May 2 | Mountlake Terrace City Hall | Making Local street market — about 50 local vendors: food, clothing, ceramics, jewelry, plants, and home goods. | Info, Map |
| May 2 | Mill Creek Town Center | Beer & Wine Walk — tasting beer and wine (8 samples) at shops in the mall; 21+. | Info, Map |
| May 2 – 3 | Meadow Wood Equestrian Center, Snohomish | Seattle North Spartan races — 5K and 10K courses with 20 obstacles through scenic countryside; no pets allowed. | Race site |
| May 2 – 3 | Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, Tacoma | Tacoma City Marathon — marathon weekend with 5K, 10K, half‑marathon, and marathon races; the route crosses the Narrows Bridge. | Site, Map, Photos |
| May 2 – 10 (weekend) | Vashon Island (various studios) | Vashon Island Visual Artists Studio Tour — self‑guided tour of 43 studios and galleries, meeting over 140 artists. | Info |
| May 2 – 17 | The 5th Avenue Theatre, downtown | Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” — the legendary musical about the last days of Jesus with powerful rock music and choreography (contains scenes of violence and suicide). | Show page, Map |
| May 2 – 17 | McCaw Hall, Seattle Center | Bizet’s opera “Carmen” — the classic tale of passion and jealousy about the gypsy Carmen, performed by Seattle Opera in French with English surtitles. | Opera site, Video |
| May 2 – 30 | Various Seattle neighborhoods | Seattle Architecture Foundation walking tours — routes through historic neighborhoods, the waterfront, and downtown; cost about $35. | Tours site, FAQ, Video |
| May 2 – Oct. 31 | Skykomish (Great Northern & Cascade Railway) | Miniature train rides on a scenic route with a bridge and tunnel, plus a gift shop; runs on Saturdays. | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 3 | Seattle First Baptist, First Hill | Seattle Jazz Vespers — free jazz evening featuring the Jake Bergevin Quintet in a church setting. | Info, Map |
| May 3 | Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington, Central District | Kodomo no Hi — children’s day celebration with martial arts demos, taiko drumming, tea ceremony, and street food. | Site, Photo |
| May 3 | Snoqualmie Casino | Machos, Tacos & Tequila night — Mexican wrestling, 4 tacos and a signature drink; 21+. | Info & tickets, Photo |
| May 3 – 30 | Various venues (Nordic Museum, Seattle Library, Arctic Club Hotel, Langston Hughes) | Candlelight Concerts series — hour‑long string quartet concerts by candlelight: video game music, Coldplay, ABBA & Queen, Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Hans Zimmer, and more. | Info, Video |
| May 3 | WaMu Theater, Pioneer Square | Charlie Puth concert — pop singer and hit songwriter on his world tour. | Venue info |
