I loved compiling a list of the best things to do in Seattle in September. There’s more to do than most people realize, and fewer tourists to deal with too. Plus the days are still long, with sunset around 7:30 PM, and the weather is pleasantly in the mid-60s.
With fall around the corner, restaurants and bars are making use of their patios and hosting the last of their outdoor events, and fall activities like apple picking and fall hikes are finally beginning.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’ll love this list of all the best things to do in Seattle in September!
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Best Things to Do in Seattle in September
Save this list to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it when I discover more of the best Seattle September events! For a snapshot of more fun activities, check out my Seattle events calendar.
Rock out at Bumbershoot
website | Lower Queen Anne (get directions) | dates: Aug 31- Sept 1 | price: ~$70-$99pp for day passes & $125-$175pp for weekend passes | best for: music festival
Kick off September with a ticket to Bumbershoot. It’s a major music festival highlighting local and big-name performers, comedians, craft vendors, beer gardens, food trucks, and an art show.
Geek out at PAX and BrickCon
Gamers and VR aficionados are going to want to head to PAX West from Aug 30- Sep 2. It’s a gaming convention highlighting cutting-edge technology with panels, demos, and tournaments.
If you’re more into tactile games like Legos, buy a ticket to BrickCon September 7-8 and get a close-up view of life-sized Lego models, or start building your collection.
Find thrills at the WA State Fair
website | Puyallup (get directions) | dates: Aug 30-Sept 22 | price: ~$12-$18pp admission, more for rides and games | best for: rides
I make it a point to visit the Washington State Fair every year with my nieces so we can go on carnival rides until we get dizzy. To make it more economical, we always get the Dizzy Pass wrist bands for unlimited rides, as tickets per each ride add up quick.
If you’re not really into ride, there’s also a lot of other things to do at the fair. Music lovers should prioritize their concert series, while those who love animals can go to the petting zoo or various animal shows. There is also a ton of fair food, crafts, and carnival games to wile away the day.
Go back in time at the Titanic Exhibit
website | Downtown (get directions) | dates: Sept 1-29 | price: ~$34pp | best for: history buffs
The traveling Titanic exhibit features an audio-guided experience describing the events of the tragic day in 1912 when the Titanic sank. You’ll also see real personal belongings and testimonies from the survivors.
Attend an arts fest
Take advantage of the last few sunny days and check out the local art festivals. They’re free to enter, great for families, and often have live music and good food. These arts fest take place in September:
- Arts a Glow (Sept 7)
- Spotlight on the Waterfront (every Thursday in Sept)
- Beacon Arts Street Fair (Sept 14)
- Luminata (Sept 21)
- Edmonds Art Studio Tour (Sept 21-22)
- Walk the Block (Sept 28)
If you prefer fashion arts, head to Pacific Place for pop-ups featuring local fashion brands, makers, and musicians. On Saturday Sept 21, the downtown mall will host the “Art is Everywhere” event from 2-4 PM. It’ll include live jazz, a community-inspired collaborative art project, DIY activities, and more.
“Art Experience” will happen on Friday Sept 27 and Saturday Sept 28. There will be local DJs, a live art installation by artist Paul Nunn, in-store specials, and trunk shows. There will also be a popup market as part of the Belltown Art walk.
Indulge at a food & drink festival
One of the most fun things to do in Seattle come September is to check out a local food and drink festival. Here are the ones happening in September:
- Taste of West Seattle (Sept 19, ~$75pp) – All proceeds go to the food bank
- Cider Summit (Sept 6-7, ~$35-50pp, 21+) – Cider, mead, and cocktail tastings
- Bite of PhinneyWood (Sept 15, ~$25-75) – 20+ neighborhood food vendors
- Hops & Crops (Sept 14, ~$25pp, 21+) – Music and beer festival
- Wallingford Brat Fest (Sept 20, free entry) – Brats and family-friendly activities
- R-Day (Sept 21, 21+) – Free festival celebrating Rainier Beer
- C-ID Night Market (Sept 21, free) – Asian street food and vendors
- Fall Cider & Cheese Festival (Sept 22, ~$24pp) – Cider and cheese pairings
- Dining Out for Life (Sept 26, free to participate) – Dine at participating restaurants for charity
- SIP Puyallup (Sept 28, ~$40pp, 21+) – Local wine, beer, and bubbly tastings
- U-District Chowdown (Sept 28, free entry) – 70+ foodie vendors plus live music
Go on a food crawl
With countless restaurants in Seattle, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time. Save yourself the trouble and do one of my self-guided food tours. They’re regularly updated and include tips on what to order, when to go, and honorable mentions so you can customize your tour.
If you prefer in-person guided tours, try one of these options:
- The Seattle Coffee Tour
- Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market
- Craft Cocktail Gourmet Food Tour
Sip at the NW Tea Festival
website | Uptown (get directions) | date: Sept 28-29 | price: ~$20pp | best for: tea tasting
The Northwest Tea Festival is an educational and fun two-day event showcasing the multifaceted world of tea. There will be panels, tastings, and tea ware suppliers. All ages and levels of knowledge are welcome.
Celebrate Oktoberfest
Beer lovers know one of the best things to do in Seattle in September is Oktoberfest. Several Seattle neighborhoods take this holiday very seriously.
The Edmonds Oktoberfest runs September 13-14 and features local brews, a dog parade, and a kids’ corner. If you want one September 14 closer to home, Ballard Oktoberfest is happening at the Ballard breweries.
The most popular of the festivals, Fremont Oktoberfest, runs September 21-22. It’s 21+ and includes a dog parade alongside 100+ local breweries and cideries.
Visit the Wooden Boat Festival
website | Port Townsend (get directions) | date: Sept 6-8 | price: ~$30pp | best for: wooden boats
The Wooden Boat Festival is a chance for families and boat lovers to learn about Port Townsend’s maritime culture. Tickets allow you to walk aboard the boats, attend presentations, and enjoy live music. There will also be food vendors and a kids’ corner. It’s the perfect excuse to explore all the fun things to do in Port Townsend!
Gawk at the Seattle Modern Home Tour
website | various locations | date: Sept 14 | price: ~$15-$100pp | best for: interior design fiends
You don’t have to wait for open houses to snoop in some of the city’s most beautiful homes. The Seattle Modern Home Tour lets you inside 8 of the most meticulously-designed new builds from talented Seattle-area architects.
Immerse yourself in a cultural festival
website | Uptown (get directions) | date: varies | price: free | best for: sharing cultures
Every month the Seattle Center hosts cultural festivals. They’re free to the public and designed to share the unique aspects of different cultures. In September, there’s the Hawaiian Festival (Sept 8), the Latin American Sea Mar Festival (Sept 14-15), and the Italian Festival (Sept 28-29).
In addition to the Seattle Center events, there are a bunch of other cultural festivals happening around the city:
- San Gennaro Italian Street Fair (Sept 6-8)
- Ukrainian Festival (Sept 7)
- Mexam NW Festival (Sept 7 – Oct 19)
- Salmon Homecoming (Sept 21)
- St. Demetrios Greek Festival (Sept 27-29)
Attend a neighborhood festival
Neighborhood festivals are a great way to explore Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods and highlight local artists and vendors through free, family-friendly activities. The Sustainable Ballard Festival and Bothell Sustainamania (both Sept 28) celebrate sustainability through education and eco-conscious vendors.
Porchfest Edmonds (Sept 7) is hosted by downtown Edmonds and will feature local tattoo artists, breweries, music, and bites.
Newcastle Days (Sept 7) takes place every September at Lake Boren Park in honor of when Newcastle became a city. Expect family-friendly fun, live music, games, and plenty of food.
Check out a music festival
Seattle is a city for music lovers, and fortunately, many outdoor shows are held in September. Here are a few that caught my eye:
- Ballard Locks Free Summer Concert Series (Sept 1-2)
- Downtown Summer Sounds (Sept 3-10)
- Chateau Ste Michelle Summer Concerts (Sept 6-28)
- Jackson St. Jazz Walk (Sept 6-8)
- Pratt’s Open House (Sept 7)
- Seattle Peace Concerts at Volunteer Park (Sept 8)
- Remlinger Farm Concerts (Sept 6, 20-21)
- Afropunk (Sept 7)
- Summer Park Pop-up (Sept 14)
- Skagit Bigfoot Fest (Sept 27-29)
Attend an orchestra concert by candlelight
Nothing says romance quite like surprising your partner with a candlelight orchestra of their favorite cover band. Catch covers of Metallica (Sept 12), Taylor Swift (Sept 12), or The Beatles (Sept 24).
See a band
Take advantage of Seattle’s music scene and catch one of your favorite performers live. Here are some that are on my list to check out:
- Def Leopard and Journey (Sept 4)
- P!nk (Sept 3-4)
- Gracie Abrams (Sept 6)
- Sum41 (Sept 7)
- Get Up Kids (Sept 8)
- Experience Hendrix (Sept 19)
- Green Day (Sept 23)
Watch a theater or comedy performance
It’s safe to say there’s always a live performance in the city. Here are the ones happening in September:
- Dane Cook – (Sept 7)
- Camelot (Sept 10 – Oct 13)
- David Spade (Sept 14)
- After Midnight (Sept 20 – Oct 13)
- Funny Girl the Musical (Sept 24-29)
Cheer at a sports game
September is when all the most popular major league sports overlap. Between the Mariners (baseball), Seahawks (pro football), Huskies (college football), Storm (basketball), Sounder (men’s soccer), Reign (women’s soccer), and Kraken (hockey) leagues, you have a lot of options!
Attend the Pacific Audio Fest
website | Sea-Tac (get directions) | dates: Sept 6-8 | price: ~$25-$40pp | best for: music buffs
The Pacific Audio Fest is a major audio show for the audio community. There will be live music, over 200 exhibitors showcasing audio gear at all price points, and seminars on what’s new in the industry.
Visit the Edmonds Classic Car Show
website | Edmonds (get directions) | date: Sept 8 | price: free | best for: car buffs
If you’re a classic cars and motorcycles fan, you’ll want to check out the Edmonds Classic Car Show. It’ll feature 250+ classic vehicles alongside a beer garden, vendors, and bites served by some of the best restaurants in Edmonds.
Go wine tasting
Seattle has no shortage of wine tasting rooms, especially in the SODO neighborhood where you’ll find most of the city’s urban wineries. If you’re up for a short drive, Woodinville is under an hour away and has over 130+ Washington wineries.
Several neighborhoods in Seattle host wine walks, where you can walk to multiple tasting rooms and get special deals on tastings and bottles. There’s Kent’s Downtown Sip & Savor (Sept 15) and Magnolia’s Vino in the Village (Sept 28).
Laugh at SketchFest
website | Pike Place (get directions) | dates: Sept 6-8 | price: ~$15pp for GA | best for: sketch comedy
SketchFest Seattle pays tribute to comedy with original sketches performed by local and national talent. There will be seven featured shows and numerous performers taking the stage to entice and entertain.
Go apple picking
One of the best things to do in Seattle in September is something I eagerly wait for each year: apple-picking. Most orchards are in eastern Washington, but there are a few in Snohomish if you’re hoping to stay close to Seattle, like Bailey Farm, Swans Trail Farms, and Skipley Farms.
There are also a number of farm stands and u-pick fields in Skagit Valley, like Pleasant Ridge Farms, Jones Creek Farm, and Gordon Skagit Farms. It’s the perfect excuse to explore all the fun things to to in Skagit and the best Skagit restaurants.
Visit a state or National Park for free
In honor of National Public Lands Day, all national and state parks are free to enter on September 28. If you’ve always wanted to explore Rainier National Park, now’s your chance!
Attend Farm Fest
website | Rainier Beach (get directions) | date: Sept 21 | price: free | best for: urban farming festival
Farm Fest is hosted by Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands. Each year they host an urban agriculture celebration with activities and seminars geared toward green living, growing your produce, kids’ craft activities, and cooking demos.
Frolic at a sunflower festival
I think one of the best things to do in Seattle in September is check out the sunflowers when they’re in full bloom. Here are a few happening this year:
- Schilter Sunflower Experience (Sept 5-8 & 12-15, ~$13-$15pp)
- Rutledge Family Farm (Aug 17 – Sept 2, ~$12pp)
- Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm (Aug 17 – Sept 8, ~$21pp)
Watch your heart out at a film fest
Film festivals are a fantastic way to support local film schools and view films you might not otherwise come across. Here are some festivals happening in September:
- SEA-Nordic Film Festival (Sept 13-15)
- Port Townsend Film Festival (Sept 19-22)
- Local Sightings Film Festival (Sept 20-29)
- Gig Harbor Film Festival (Sept 26-29)
- Manhattan Short (Sept 27 – Oct 1) – One week of film festivals shared around the world, with venues on Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Dayton, Mt. Vernon, Spokane, and Vashon Island.
Attend a boat show
With precious few weeks of warm weather remaining, now’s the chance to get out on the water before the rain hits. The Frank Hansen Memorial Regatta is on September 7 and will feature hydroplane and roundabout classes geared towards aspiring racers.
The Boats Afloat Show from September 12-15 will include boat tours around Lake Union, free seminars, live music, kids’ activities, food, and a beer garden.
Go swimming with your pup
website | Kirkland (get directions) | date: Sept 7 | price: ~$10 per dog | best for: fun with the dogs
Celebrate the closing of pool season by bringing your pup to swim at the Peter Kirk Pool. This fun, family-friendly event will feature vendor booths, food trucks, and lots of soggy, happy dogs!
Find peace at the Branch Out Bonsai Fest
website | Federal Way (get directions) | date: Sept 29 | price: ~$55pp | best for: bonsai trees
The Pacific Bonsai Museum is hosting their annual fundraising event and celebrating their 10th anniversary. Expect an evening of peacefully strolling past bonsai exhibits alongside live music, good food, and libations.
Get inspired at a fashion show
website | Kirkland (get directions) | date: Sept 12 | price: ~$125pp | best for: sustainable fashion show
The Kirkland Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual sustainable fashion show featuring local boutiques, creative outfits, and a silent auction. There will be complimentary bubbles and a plated lunch, and you’ll even leave with a swag bag of fun surprises.
Visit a museum on one of their free days
Most museums offer free admission at least once monthly so locals and families can enjoy the arts without spending a fortune. These museums offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month (September 5):
- Seattle Art Museum
- Seattle Asian Art Museum
- National Nordic Museum – Must be reserved in advance
- Museum of History and Industry – 5-8 PM
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
- Henry Art Gallery – Also free on Sundays
- Museum of Flight – 5-9 PM
- Volunteer Park Conservatory – Also on the first Saturday (Sept 7)
- Washington Park Arboretum Walking Tour – 11:30 AM-1 PM
- Seattle Japanese Garden
These museums offer free admission every day:
- Frye Art Museum
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Center for Wooden Boats
- The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
- Klondike Gold Rush Museum
- Center on Contemporary Art
More Seattle activities
After you check off all the best things to do in Seattle in September, check out my other guides to making the most of late summer and early autumn!
