The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Recreation in the summer

Gasworks Park is located in Fremont. It overlooks Lake Union and the Seattle skyline in the other side.
Photo credit: GINA VOLPE/The Falcon.

Numerous events, parades, concerts, fun over vacation

By BRIANNA LANTZ, Features Writer

Published: June 2, 2010

After the dorms clear out at Seattle Pacific and brains turn from thoughts of finals to thoughts of sunshine, Seattle comes alive with an endless number of fun activities to pass away the long summer days.

The Center of the Universe, or Fremont, becomes the center for the eclectic and peculiar during the weekend of June 19. The annual Fremont Fair will accommodate a variety of folk, ranging from stilt walkers to chalk fairies to dancers of all kinds. The infamous Solstice Parade will accompany the fair that Saturday.

The Seattle Center has events going all summer and is the yearly location for Bumbershoot in early September. Photo credit: GINA VOLPE/The Falcon.

For a weekend of self-indulgence, check out Bite of Seattle at the Seattle Center on July 17 and 18. Over 50 Seattle restaurants and over 30 food product companies come together to offer their specialties to thousands of attendees, according to its Web site. Live music and comedy will also be an option for those that choose to abstain from the indulgences. Admission is free.

From July 23 to 25, East Pike Street on Capitol Hill is reserved for the sole purpose of hosting independent music and culture. The Capitol Hill Block Party hosts a number of Northwest and national independent bands, boasting Sonic Youth, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes and Spoon as past memorable acts. This year's lineup has yet to be announced, so stay tuned. Tickets are $60 for a three-day pass or $23 for day passes. Profits go toward the Vera Project, an all-ages music and arts venue at the Seattle Center.

Lake Washington and the skies above it come to life the weekend of Aug. 7 for the Seafair hydroplane races and accompanying air show. Seafair claims to be Seattle's summer celebration and hosts a number of activities throughout the summer, including the Torchlight Parade on July 31, a family friendly celebration that includes drill teams, clowns and pirates. Seafair continues to be one of Seattle's most renowned and widest-reaching events, accommodating over two million Puget Sound residents each summer, according to its Web site.

Bumbershoot, Seattle's premier music and arts festival, brings in hundreds of musicians and talent acts annually on Labor Day weekend. The festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a lineup to be announced later this summer. Tickets are $40 per day, but are cheaper when purchased as a three-day pass. For those that would prefer to skip the larger acts on the main stage, tickets are even cheaper at just $22 per day.

For the music enthusiasts, the Ballard Locks and the Seattle Center offer free concerts on a weekly basis. Check out Concerts at the Mural on Aug. 14 for free music and a barbecue presented by local radio station KEXP. A lineup of artists for that event will be revealed shortly on KEXP.org.

For daily options, the always vibrant Pike Place Market caters to a variety of needs, from floral arrangements to unique foods to fresh produce. Starting June 6 and re-occurring every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, farmers will assemble stands on the cobblestone street east of the market for customers to choose from the season's best produce.

On any given summer day, Gasworks Park is alive with Frisbee enthusiasts, sunbathers, families, dogs, runners and more. This summer hot spot is perfect for soaking in the often fleeting sunshine. Alki Beach and Golden Gardens Beach also offer sun-friendly atmospheres. While daytime sees many barbecues and volleyball, bonfires light up the scene at night.

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