The week of May 3–10 in Seattle and the surrounding area promises a flood of experiences: from major concerts at Wamu and Benaroya Hall to the city's largest film and music festivals — SIFF, Seattle Beer Week and the Seattle Erotic Art Festival; weekends add family celebrations and fairs, studio tours on the islands, and the traditional Sequim Irrigation Festival parades. Theater and musicals play on nearly all major stages (5th Avenue, Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, etc.), while sports and outdoor events — from marathons and Spartan races to home baseball and soccer matches — will keep active audiences moving. For those seeking a more relaxed pace, there are architectural and food walking tours, studio and gallery tours on Vashon and Camano, Candlelight concerts, and numerous cooking classes. The detailed list of events is compiled from available announcements and schedules; source: https://www.events12.com/seattle/.
Picks of events in Seattle and nearby (May 3–10)
| Date(s) | Venue | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 3 | Wamu (Seattle) | Charlie Puth concert | |
| May 3 | Downtown, 0.4 miles SW of Westlake | Seattle Jazz Vespers: Jake Bergevin Quintet (trumpet, piano, guitar, bass, drums) at Seattle First Baptist Church | Site, Map |
| May 3 | Seattle Center, 1.2 miles NW | Seattle Erotic Art Festival: explicit art, film, and live performances 18+ at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall | Festival site, Pan Eros Film Festival, Map, Photos |
| May 3 | Central District, 1.7 miles SE | Seattle Black Film Festival: film screenings, workshops, director Q&As at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute | Site, Map, Video |
| May 3 | Central District, 2.1 miles SE | Children’s Day Festival (Kodomo no Hi) with martial arts, taiko, tea ceremony, and food at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington | Site, Map, Photos |
| May 3 | Issaquah (17 miles E) | Grease (musical) about high school life and love at Village Theatre | Info, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 3 | Snoqualmie (27 miles E) | Machos, Tacos & Tequila evening: tacos, cocktails and Mexican wrestling at Snoqualmie Casino (21+) | Site, Map, Photo |
| May 3 | Snohomish (33 miles NE) | Seattle North Spartan Event Weekend: 5/10K with 20 obstacles at Meadow Wood Equestrian Center | Site |
| May 3 | Puyallup (37 miles S) | Puyallup RV Show showcasing the latest RVs at the Washington State Fair Events Center | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 3 | Tacoma (39 miles S) | Tacoma City Marathon series (5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon) finishing at the Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park | Site, Map, Photo |
| May 3–9 | Sequim (67 miles NW, via ferry) | Sequim Irrigation Festival – the state’s oldest festival: art walks, kids’ parade, fairs, car run and grand parade | Site, Schedule, Map, Photos |
| May 3–10 | Seattle and nearby | Live theater: a series of productions (“Appropriate”, “The Aves”, “Robin Hood”, “Seussical”, “Sweet Charity”, “Walden”) at various venues | |
| May 3–10 (weekend) | Vashon Island (19 miles SW, ferry) | Tour of 43 studios and galleries Vashon Island Visual Artists Studio Tour | Info |
| May 3–17 | Downtown, 0.2 miles SE | Jesus Christ Superstar (musical) by A. L. Webber at the 5th Avenue Theatre | Site, Map |
| May 3–17 | Seattle Center, 1.2 miles NW | Bizet’s Carmen (opera) performed by Seattle Opera at McCaw Hall | Site, Map, Video |
| May 3–30 | Multiple venues | Candlelight Concerts – hour-long string quartet shows by electronic candlelight (soundtracks, rock, pop, etc.) | Info, Video |
| May 3–Sept. 27 | SoDo, 1.6 miles S | Seattle Mariners home games at T-Mobile Park | Schedule, Map, Tickets |
| May 3–Oct. 31 | Waterfront, 0.7 miles W | Bay Lady schooner cruises on Elliott Bay: daytime and sunset 2-hour sailings | Info, Video |
| May 3–Dec. 26 | Seattle | Series of food walking tours Taste of Seattle (Pike Place, chocolate, coffee, wine, etc.) | |
| May 3–Dec. 31 | Seattle and nearby | A selection of free activities: parks, museums, concerts, dances and more | |
| May 3 – Apr. 30 | Wenatchee (148 miles E) | Washington State Apple Blossom Festival: entertainment, rides, fairs and parades year-round | Site, Grand Parade, Schedule, Map, Video |
| May 5–30 | Belltown, 0.1 miles NW | Hot Stove Society cooking classes at Hotel Andra (Mexican steak, Moroccan dinner, Georgian cuisine, etc.) | Site, Map, Video |
| May 6 | Benaroya Hall / Wamu and others | Rick Ross concert at Benaroya Hall; see other May concerts in the table | |
| May 6 | Issaquah (16 miles E) | Grape Escape wine event with tastings and small bites at Pickering Barn (21+) | Info, Map, Photo |
| May 6 | Federal Way (23 miles S) | Step Afrika! – energetic African-American stepping with history and audience participation at Federal Way PAEC | Site, Map, Video |
| May 7 | Seattle and Tacoma | Free Thursday at museums – many major museums open free | |
| May 7–9 | University District, 4.6 miles NE | Mark Morris Dance Group: Dances to American Music at Meany Center | Site, Map, Video |
| May 7–16 | Seattle, various venues | Seattle Beer Week – dozens of beer tastings and food-pairing events | Site |
| May 7–17 | Seattle, various venues | Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) – the region’s largest independent film festival | Site, Brochure, Programs, Video |
| May 7–21 | Various neighborhoods | Evening Seattle Art Walks – walking art routes through galleries and venues | Info |
| May 8 | Snoqualmie (29 miles E) | Wine Train Excursion: scenic train with 8 wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres (21+) | Site, Map, Photo |
| May 8 | Tacoma (34 miles S) | The 253 Short Film Party: 31 shorts, audience voting and prizes at Urban Grace | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 8–9 | Redmond (16 miles NE) | DroneArt Show: Space Chase – nighttime drone light show of 1,200 drones choreographed to music at Marymoor Park | Site, Map, Video |
| May 8–10 | Ellensburg (112 miles E) | Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe – nature festival with hikes, birding, rafting and tours | Site, Map, Site map |
| May 8–16 | Seattle Center, 1.3 miles NW | Dance performance Whim W’Him: Spring ‘26 at Cornish Playhouse | Site, Map, Video |
| May 8–17 | Camano Island (66 miles N) | Camano Island Studio Tour – self-guided tour of 24 studios and galleries | Site, Tour map, Photo |
| May 8 – June 6 | Ballard, 5 miles NW | Seattle Cabaret Festival – series of musical cabaret shows (rock, blues, chanson, etc.) at Egan's Ballard Jam House | Site, Map, Tickets |
| May 9–10 | Downtown, 0.3 miles SW | Pike Place Market Flower Festival – large flower market for Mother’s Day with live music | Info, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Eastlake, 1.3 miles E | Mother’s Day Cruise – special brunch and dinner cruises on Lake Union | Site, Map, Photo |
| May 9–10 | Central District, 1.5 miles SE | Seattle Art Book Fair – art book and indie publisher fair at Washington Hall | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Bellevue (11 miles E) | Children’s ballet Alice in Wonderland at Meydenbauer Center | Site, Map |
| May 9–10 | Federal Way (25 miles S) | BonsaiFest at the Pacific Bonsai Museum – hundreds of bonsai, demonstrations and food | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9–10 | Leavenworth (117 miles E) | Maifest – Bavarian spring festival with music, dancing and a run | Site, Map, Photo |
| May 9–30 | Seattle and neighborhoods | Seattle Architecture Foundation walking tours – architecture walks of the waterfront, downtown and residential neighborhoods | Site, FAQ, Video |
| May 9 – Oct. 31 | Skykomish (66 miles NE) | Great Northern & Cascade Railway weekend mini-train rides | Site, Map, Photo, Video |
| May 9 – Nov. 7 | Pioneer Square, 1.3 miles S | Seattle Sounders home games at Lumen Field | Schedule, Map, Tickets |
| May 10 | Downtown, 0.4 miles SW | Mother’s Day Improv Show – improv comedy about motherhood at Unexpected Productions Improv | Tickets, Map, Photo |
| May 10 | Various places | Restaurant guides for Mother’s Day (brunches, lunches and dinners) from local media | |
| May 10 – Nov. 1 | Pioneer Square, 1.3 miles S | Seattle Reign (women’s team) home games at Lumen Field | Schedule, Map, Tickets |