The Emerald Palate

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Seasonal Activities, Things to Do ·

25 Best Things to Do in Seattle in April in 2026

woman standing in tulip fields, one of the best things to do in Seattle in April

Finding the best things to do in Seattle in April is easy since the city starts to become more active this time of year. The sun doesn’t set until past 7:30 PM, and the weather is in the high 50s. This means our winter hibernation is finally ending, and the spring foliage is revitalizing the city.

As we approach the warmer months, you’ll find tons of indoor activities like art shows and Easter celebrations, along with outdoor events like flower festivals and Earth Day events. Whether you’re visiting or a local, you can consider this your guide to everything there is to do in April in Seattle!

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Best Things to Do in Seattle in April

Save this list to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it every year with all the best activities in Seattle in April! For more events, check out my Seattle events calendar.

Wine and dine during Seattle Restaurant Week

website | neighborhood: various | dates: April 19 – May 2 | price: ~$20-65pp | best for: tasting menu

Twice yearly, dozens of Seattle’s best restaurants participate in Seattle Restaurant Week. For two weeks, diners are encouraged to explore the local food scene with curated lunch and dinner menus priced at $20, $35, $50, and $65. This includes fine dining establishments, bars, food trucks, and pop-ups across greater Seattle.

salad with sliced pears piled high from a lunch spot in Seattle

Attend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 

website | neighborhood: Mt. Vernon (get directions) | dates: March 20 – April 30 | price: $10-$20 to go to some farms, free for others | best for: tulips

woman covering head with rainjacket during rain storm in a tulip field

I look forward to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival every year. It’s the largest tulip festival in the country and takes place every April across multiple farms in the valley. Throughout the month, you’ll find additional events like the tulip street fair and art exhibits.

While you’re there, make sure to experience the Valley’s best restaurants and things to do, or spend the day in Anacortes.

Romp around at the Daffodil Festival

website | neighborhood: Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, & Orting | dates: April 4 | price: free | best for: parade

yellow daffodil fields in Skagit County

This year marks the 93nd year of Pierce County’s Daffodil Festival. The parade covers four cities in one day and includes music, princesses, and a massive daffodil-covered float.

Seek out cherry blossoms

University of Washington quad with cherry blossoms, one of the best things to do in Seattle in March
Image courtesy of Michael Camilleri via Flickr

Cherry blossoms cover the UW campus, but they only bloom for a few weeks near April. Check how they’re doing on the school’s Instagram, or look for them in other parts of town, like Sea-Tac’s Highline Botanical Gardens, Washington Park Arboretum, or Green Lake Park.

Attend a food & drink festival

There are food and drink festivals happening every month in Seattle, and April is no exception. Here are some that caught my eye:

Immerse yourself in the Bubble Planet Exhibit 

website | neighborhood: Bellevue (get directions) | dates: daily except Tuesdays | price: ~$33+ pp | best for: immersive bubble experience

huge pink room with a ball pit that has life-sized art sculptures of a head, balls, and rubber duck in it
Image courtesy of Fever

If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy an immersive bubble experience (or you want to know what the heck that means), check out the Bubble Planet Exhibit. It’s perfect for kids and promises to be a feast for the senses.

Enjoy the WA State Spring Fair

website | neighborhood: Puyallup (get directions) | dates: April 10-12, 17-19 | price: ~$15pp entry, more for rides | best for: state fair

swings at the Washington State Fair, one of the most fun summer activities

I eagerly look forward to taking my nieces to the fair each year. The spring fair has the same rides, carnival food, games, and petting zoo as the summer fair, but with fewer crowds (and often less hot weather).

Attend a spring art fair or shopping event

There are a ton of art fairs and markets perfect for getting shopping and getting inspired. For example:

Enjoy cabaret or acrobatics

burlesque performance

If catching a cabaret show is on your Seattle bucket list, consider this your sign. Here are some April can’t miss performances:

 

Celebrate Easter & Passover

Easter is on April 5 this year, and Passover runs from April 1-9, so you’ll find a range of activities that are perfect for families looking to celebrate. Here are some events happening around Seattle:

There are also a bunch of community Easter egg hunts for kids. For example:

Seattle’s Child put together a huge round up of other kid-friendly Easter activities if you want more ideas.

person picking up matzo ball that's been bitten with spoon

Easter & Passover meals

If you’re looking for a just a special meal, here are some restaurants offering Easter and Passover dining options:

  • Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi (Bellevue) – ~$145/adult, ~$40/kid brunch served on carts
  • Cedarbrook Lodge (Sea-Tac) – ~$95/adult, ~$35/kid Easter brunch buffet and egg hunt
  • Ray’s Cafe (Ballard) – A la carte Easter brunch, ~$110/adult, ~$50/kid brunch buffet or ~$85pp 3-course dinner
  • Woo Bar (Queen Anne) – A la carte Easter brunch
  • Zylberschtein’s (Lake City) – A la carte Passover pre-order, take-home meals

Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22, which is the perfect excuse to get out and explore a park in Seattle or give back to your community. Here are some events happening around town:

Washington Arboretum, one of the best parks in Seattle
Image of the Arboretum courtesy of Anthonix

Check out a niche interest festival

If you have a niche hobby no one in your friend group understands, Seattle probably has a festival for it. Here are some interesting ones to check out:

Spring Wedding Showcase

website | neighborhood: Woodinville (get directions) | dates: April 12 | price: ~$50pp | best for: soon-to-be newlyweds

Get transported between some of Woodinville’s most gorgeous winery wedding venues. Guests will get to enjoy wine, curated bites, and presentations at each in order to get wedding inspiration.

Be swooned by a candlelight orchestra

Celebrate a special occasion with your loved one at a candlelight orchestra concert covering music from their favorite performers. In April, you can listen to music from 90s Alt Rock Bands (April 9 & 23), Adele (April 23), and The Beatles (April 26).

pianist surrounded by candles on a stage
Image courtesy of Fever

Attend a cultural festival

We’re luck to be surrounded by a myriad of different cultures in Seattle, and many of them host annual events where you can learn about the culture and enjoy their food and music. Here are the ones happening in Seattle in April:

See a theatrical performance

April is the perfect time of year to treat yourself to pre-theater dining in Seattle, followed by a theatrical performance. Here are some I’m hoping to catch this month:

Don a mask at a masquerade

website | neighborhood: Georgetown (get directions) | dates: April 25 | price: ~$105pp | best for: masquerade ball

Have you always wanted to put on a fancy ball gown and don an elaborate masquerade mask? Now’s your chance. The theme this year is Venetian. Expect aerialists, opera singers, and musicians, along with heavy apps and an open bar.

Catch some music

Countless performers travel through Seattle on tour, and April is rich with musical performers.

See a game 

If you’re a sports person, you’ll be pleased to know plenty of teams are playing in Seattle in April. There’s the Seattle Kraken (hockey), Mariners (baseball), Sounders (men’s soccer), Reign (women’s soccer), UW Huskies (college basketball), Jet City roller derby, and the Seawolves (rugby).

Go on a food crawl 

There are so many restaurants in Seattle that you could never possibly visit them all. To cut through the chaos, I create self-guided food tours of my favorite foodie neighborhoods. Each tour includes a running list of the best spots (plus alternates), along with tips on when to visit and what to order.

Prefer an in-person guided tour? Here are some you can look into:

person holding a beer glass with Seattle waterfront in the back

Attend a film festival

Film festivals are so much fun, and I always uncover new flick I’d never otherwise find. Here are some film festivals in April:

  • Short Film Fest (April 18) – Emerging filmmakers’ 3-13 minute short films
  • Black Film Fest (April 30 – May 3) – Black filmmakers telling stories of the African diaspora

Tour a glassblowing campus

website | neighborhood: Stanwood (get directions) | dates: April 22-26 | price: varies based on event | best for: glassblowing

Each May, the Pilchuck Glass School opens their campus to the public for tours and educational talks. The campus is located on 54 acres of lush farm. You’ll have the chance to tour the campus, go on guided hikes, and meet world-renowned educators.

Go wine tasting or on a brewery crawl

April is precisely when the local breweries and wineries start getting the most foot traffic. Most of Seattle’s breweries and craft beer bars have some outdoor seating, and many are family-friendly. Bring a deck of cards and soak up the springtime sunshine.

If you’re more into wine, Seattle has plenty of urban wineries that cater to every palate. Or you can take an hour’s drive to Woodinville and check out their over 100 tasting rooms.

person pouring white wine into a glass

Visit a museum on their free days

Many Seattle’s museums are free, and most offer free admission on the first Thursday of the month to encourage locals to seek out a dose of history. Here are the museums that offer free admission on the first Thursday (April 2):

These museums offer free admission every day:

woman walking in the Olympic Sculpture Park, a great way to spend 24 hours in Seattle

More springtime activities around Seattle

After you check out all the best things to do in Seattle in April, take a look at my other guides for more ideas of how to savor the warmer weather.

 

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