BAM ARTSfair, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and Sixth Street Fair, July 28-30, Bellevue; Seafair Torchlight Fanfest and Seafair Torchlight Parade, July 29, Seattle.
Art fills downtown Bellevue this weekend with the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) ARTSfair, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and Sixth Street Fair all being held Friday through Sunday, July 28-30. Meanwhile, in Seattle, the 68th annual Seafair Torchlight Parade makes its way through downtown on Saturday, July 29.
BAM’s ARTSfair, the largest arts and crafts festival in the Northwest, with a marketplace of 300 artists, art exhibits and live entertainment, takes place at Bellevue Square. BAM’s KIDSfair for children and families is held at the museum itself, along with exhibits on art and design from the Northwest and around the world. BAM offers extended hours with free admission all weekend.
Two other art fairs, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and Sixth Street Fair, fill more of downtown Bellevue with art, music, food vendors and festivities all weekend. Parking is free at the Bellevue Collection, with valet parking available at some locations.
BAM ARTSfair
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28-30.
KidsFair: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Bellevue Arts Museum: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Location: Bellevue Square, Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast Eighth Street and 100th Avenue Northeast to Bellevue Way; and Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue
More info:bellevuearts.org/artsfair.
Bellevue Festival of the Arts
Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28-30.
Location: Cost Plus World Market parking lot, 10300 N.E. Eighth Street, Bellevue.
More info:bellevuefest.org/.
Sixth Street Fair
Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28-30.
Location: Northeast Sixth Street and 106th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue.
More info:bellevuedowntown.com/events/6th-street-fair/overview.
Torchlight Parade and FanFest
FanFest: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 29, Seattle Center, Seattle.
Parade: 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Fourth Avenue from Seattle Center to South Washington Street, Seattle.
Reserved seating: $35-$60.
More info:seafair.com/events/.
The Seafair Torchlight Parade starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but many fans of Seattle’s grandest parade start the day early, staking out curbside locations with blankets and chairs along the Fourth Avenue parade route first thing in the morning. Reserved bleacher seating is available online while supplies last. In a change from previous years, seating is sold by section, with seating for ticket holders now first-come, first-served, opening at 5 p.m. on Saturday. There’s always standing room at the festive event that starts with the Seafair Torchlight Run along the parade route at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Tips for hot weather
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Never leave children or pets unattended in cars.
- Apply sunscreen if you are going to be outdoors.
- Stay inside in air-conditioned areas if you are more susceptible to heat.
More tips
- How to keep your home cool and comfy when Seattle heats up
- Â Easy ways to help your pets stay cool in hot weather
- Scorched? 5 tips to stay cool at night during Seattle’s heat wave
- Seattle cooling center locations 2017
Just for fun
Watch the 360 video of people escaping from the Seattle heatSeafair Torchlight Fanfest at Seattle Center offers a preview of the parade with Seafair-themed displays and activities, music, a performance by the Alaska Airlines Drill team and a chance to see the parade floats as they get lined up and ready to go.
The parade heads out from Seattle Center at 7:30 p.m., with 100 units, including drill teams, marching bands, giant helium balloons, hydroplanes and Seafair Clowns, Pirates and Royalty.
If you’re staying home on parade night, the festivities will be on KIRO-TV, starting with a pre-parade show at 7 p.m. and live coverage of the Torchlight Parade at 8 p.m.
Related:Â Community calendar: festivals, fairs and more for July 28-Aug. 3, 2017Â
Planning out your summer? Use this interactive guide to find activities