May   Seattle International Children's Festival. Celebration of world cultures through the performing arts -- contemporary world music, theater, dance, circus, puppetry and storytelling from five continents, and more. Held at the Seattle Center. For two decades at Seattle Center, and six years in downtown Tacoma remarkable performers from across the globe have provided a dazzling variety of cultural experiences for the children, teachers and families of the Pacific Northwest. Features the arts of Argentina, Belgium, Benin, Cuba, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, and the Pacific Northwest.

May   University District Street Fair  For over 35 years the University District Street Fair has been the kick-off event for the festival season in the Seattle region. Attracting more than 50,000 people and nearly 400 craft and food booths to the District, the StreetFair is an energetic and exciting celebration of arts and crafts, community, music, and food. You'll find a whirl of color, craft, creativity and downright craziness! Join the thousands of people who attend. There are two great music stages, a special children's area with age appropriate events, a live theatre stage, and a wonderful medley of street performers. Unique local and regional arts & crafts and an array of international food will delight you. The Street Fair is a free event, located in the heart of Seattle's University District on University Way NE, and is produced by the Greater University Chamber of Commerce.

May   Northwest Folklife Festival  Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center's Festal are dedicated to sharing the ethnic, traditional and folk arts of the cultures of the Pacific Northwest region. Northwest Folklife relies heavily on the region's diverse communities for inspiration for the Northwest Folklife Festival each May. The annual festival not only presents dance and music performances, exhibits, crafts, films and foods from Pacific Northwest Cultures but also offers multiple opportunities for people to dance and sing together. These interactions enrich the community as much as the audience. The Festival is free (suggested donation is $5 per person per day), and family friendly.

May   Lacey Spring Fun Fair  Since 1988, Lacey Spring Fun Fair organizers have worked hard to create the perfect environment for kids...it’s called Kids World! With the help of non-profit organizations from the greater Thurston County region, St. Martin's University, the City of Lacey, and North Thurston Public Schools, the campus of St. Martin's University is converted into a kids' paradise every May. Additionally, Lacey Spring Fun Fair offers a wide range of free family-oriented entertainment! The outdoor Main stage and the indoor Pavilion stage provide a variety of local and regional entertainers including jazz, country, folk, golden oldies and gospel performances. You can hear talented singers, solo or in groups, with or without accompaniment. When you add in performing arts, such as drama, cheer & drill teams, and dance from ballet, folk, contemporary or hip-hop, Lacey Spring Fun Fair is truly the place to be for entertainment!

May   Sasquatch Music Festival   Sasquatch Music Festival is a music festival held annually over Memorial Day weekend at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington and is presented by the House of Blues. The Gorge Amphitheatre, near the Columbia River is a multiple winner of Pollstar magazine's award for Best Outdoor Music Venue where there is an emphasis on indie rock bands and singer-songwriters, but also includes alternative rock and hip hop acts.

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June   Roy Pioneer Rodeo.  Held in June (and September) the Roy Pioneer Rodeo features an Old West flavor. At the Roy Pioneer Rodeo, there are bucking broncos, homemade sweets, bake sales, a cowboy breakfast, a spaghetti feed dinner, and evening country dancing, all in the country town of Roy, just south of Tacoma.

June   JazzyJune   On a hot August night in 2001, a Hot August Nights event was ushered in by a group of local women who began networking in support of success through real connections, to provide knowledge and opportunity through abundant resources and to allow for casual and comfortable conversations where relationships in business and life expand. It seemed to be the hottest night in August that year so it was decided that June might be a smidgy better, giving in to a little less heat and maybe a little more comfort. Since then, JazzyJune has steadily met with an increasing amount of success and each year providing a different charitable organization with the evening’s financial proceeds. JazzyJune was founded by Rachael Costner, director of Women's Resource and owner of Sands Costner & Associates who continually looks for new ways to purposefully connect and network by creating unique venues and opportunities that appeal to the busy lifestyles that many women lead. It will be found that the power of JazzyJune is in the variety, the fun, the laughter, the connections, the resources and the relationships that are built over time. "This year experience the power of laughter and the folks that will make us laugh. As usual there will be a delicious spread of food, a no-host bar and a fondue fountain. The abundant raffle's proceeds and a percentage from our Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsorship fees will be given back to our benefiting non-profit: the Breast Cancer Resource Center " JazzyJune 2008 will be held June 26th, 4:00pm-9:00pm at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, downtown Tacoma.

June   City of SeaTac International Festival   Held in June at Angle Lake Park in the City of SeaTac. Live entertainment ---come listen to the hottest popular performers in the Pacific Northwest. Different types of ethnic and cultural music will be performed, as well as entertainment for kids. Entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with the City's preschool dance recital. Live entertainment then continues at noon on Saturday and runs through Sunday afternoon. Parade---Saturday, June 24, 10:30 a.m. Parade begins at Tyee High School and travels west on S. 188th St. It then proceeds southbound on 33rd Ave. S. traveling through Angle Lake Park and finishing at the Alaska Airlines parking lot. "Classic Thunder Unlimiteds" ---Sunday, June 25 - Noon-4:00 p.m. Come watch electric model hydroplanes as they race around a course on Angle Lake. The fun begins at noon so head on down to the beach for some racing fun! "Pride in your Ride" Car Show ---- Saturday, June 24 - 1-6 p.m. Shine up your ride and cruise on over to Angle Lake Park to spend the day with other car enthusiasts. This event will be running simultaneously with the International Festival. Open to all make, model and year vehicles. Spectators are free. A RECAP --- live entertainment, parade, arts & crafts, international foods, informational displays, children's area, electric model hydroplanes, car show, more....

June   Duvall Days  Held in Duvall, Washington in early June, Duvall Days is a community event. The Historical Society, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Arts Commission, City of Duvall, Duvall area churches, businesses, individuals....... they are all part of the planning for this fantastic event. Join the fun runs, be in the parade, or come watch as kids, horses, dancers and floats march down Main Street. After the parade, stroll along Main Street to view the Art Show or down to McCormick Park along the Snoqualmie River and enjoy the all day festival in the park. There will be food, games, crafts, music and performances to entertain your entire family! Check out these activities: Frog Jump, Cowpie Bingo, Sack Races, Dog Competition, Dunk Tank, Kid's Carnival, Horse Dancing, Pony Rides, Wreck a Wreck and Speed Pitch. And don't forget the Annual Pancake Breakfast held at the Duvall Fire Station. For more than 45 years, this event had made local headlines.

June   Tacoma Classic Weekend  After a rounding success in 2006, Small Ships Tacoma and The Foss Waterway Seaport (home of The Working Waterfront Maritime Museum) have partnered to present Tacoma Classic Weekend. The event will be held at The Working Waterfront Maritime Museum located at the mouth of the Foss Waterway in Tacoma and will be held towards the end of June. Featured events will be classic wooden yachts, classic fiberglass boats, classic motorcycles and bicycles, classic cars, hot rods, music, food and beverages, miniature boat building, a spaghetti dinner and charity raffle. Do you have a classic wooden boat or fiberglass boat from the 1950s and 1960s that you would like to display in the water? Visit Tacoma Classic Weekend website for a registration form. Do you have a classic vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle you want to display? Is your classic car club interested in participating? Come on down on Saturday morning and be prepared to have a fun time. The event is sponsored by the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum, Small Ships Tacoma, The Classic Yacht Association, The Ed Monk Wooden Boat Club, The Antique and Classic Boat Society Pacific Northwest Chapter, Gig Harbor Antique and Classic Yacht Festival and many area merchants. This is going to be "the real thing."

June   Han Woo-Ri Festival   Held in June at Han Woo-Ri Festival Village, South Parking Lot of The Commons Mall (formerly SeaTac Mall). For three days in early June, Federal Way and its surrounding neighbors have the opportunity to come together and be a part of the Pacific Northwest’s largest Korean Festival. With musicians, artists, designers, and dancers from Korean and across the U.S. festival goers will have the chance to experience traditional and modern Korean culture through hands-on activities, performances and demonstrations, games and food. Also available are three sports tournaments in separate venues and evening performances guaranteed to provide the audience an exciting and pleasurable time. Han Woo-Ri is a chance to celebrate time-honored traditions and modern customs through captivating ways. During the Festival, there will be many different opportunities available for people of all ages to experience many aspects of Korean culture, including art, music, and traditional customs. There will be booths, exhibitions, and performances representing both traditional and modern Korea, allowing the community to actively participate and learn more about what this vibrant culture offers. Also available are traditional Korean games and activities for kids to play. Some of these games include jaegi chagi and yucht. Several exhibits on Korean history, World Cup Soccer and Korean pop entertainment will be offered. Food vendors will be located at the food court, selling all types of Korean food, from appetizers to main courses to desserts. Come share the delightful taste of Korean food as well as experience a day in Korea. Get ready for a rare and unique experience of Korean culture in our own backyard! Three days will be filled with great culture, live music, and sport tournaments for everyone! The Festival is a great opportunity for a new and exhilarating experience in a new culture. For three days, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional and contemporary arts, dance, and music, along with a crafts, workshops, and food of Korea.

June   Seattle Pride  Since Seattle launched its first Gay Pride Festival in 1974, it's become the largest gay festival in the Northwest. As they make their way to the Freedom Rally in Volunteer Park, Northwest gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders march side by side in the annual Pride parade in celebration of their solidarity. Up Broadway they move with flamboyant splendor, their gay banners waving above the exuberant caravan of lavish floats, drag mavens in fancy duds, dykes on bikes and gay-friendly politicians. Besides the parade and rally, Gay Pride sponsors dances, sports events and special forums. Over the two-day festival, 100,000-plus supporters explore the caravan of vendors sprawled along Broadway, with the revelry spilling over into gay-friendly bars and restaurants.

June   Tastin' n Racin'  Held in June at Lake Sammamish State Park. This is from their website: "10 Years of Torture on Lake Sammamish! That is, 10 years of twisting, churning and waking up the waters for the festival that is Tastin' n Racin'! What a milestone Tastin' n Racin' has met! We are celebrating our 10th anniversary! And, what a celebration we are planning! We are going to make a 'big splash' this year, not only with the increased activity on the water, but with great events and specials on the board walk, main stage, the family fun area and even activity in the night sky! We had a wonderful time in 2005, but what a time we have planned for 2006! We are working hard to make sure we can provide a great 10th anniversary celebration, starting with Free Admission Friday during Hydro Happy Hour, June 9th from 4pm - 8pm. We are adding more kid's activities including batting cages and climbing walls, a great line up on the main stage and lots of great vendors. Our main goal is to make this a celebration to remember…. And continue torturing the waters of Lake Sammamish!" Planned events include a 10-class Hydro race, 2 stages of live entertainment, classic car show, carnival, arts & crafts, food booths, beer garden, antique Hydro display, race boat swap meet, and more.

June   Edmonds Arts Festival  Held in June. For three days, over Father’s Day weekend, the waterfront town of Edmonds is the site of one of the Northwest’s premier arts festivals. Each year art-lovers immerse themselves in a rich array of visual and performing arts. Great food and special activities for children round out this annual event including plaza & field artists, performing arts, kids creative corner, junior art exhibits, a juried gallery, a food court plus wine bar & bistro. Over 75,000 art lovers from the greater King and Snohomish counties and beyond are expected to attend this popular free three-day festival. One of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest and largest arts festivals, it offers a r ich array of visual and performing arts and art events in a stunning natural setting. Art lovers can stroll charming “streets” named after painters as they discover and purchase fine art and artisan crafts directly from the talented artists themselves. The Festival will showcase the work of over 200 selected artist exhibitors, offering oils, watercolors, pastels, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, jewelry, glass, metal, pottery/ceramics, toys, collectibles, and furniture. This Festival has something for everyone, with performing arts, seminars, classes, children’s activities, musicians, and storytellers. A striking limited-edition Festival poster and a poster created by a junior artist will be specially produced to commemorate the event. The Annual Edmonds Arts Festival began in 1957. The mission then, as now, was to celebrate and promote the arts with a lively and pleasurable presentation of local and national work.

June   Laser Light Festival.  Held in June at Grand Coulee Dam. Nightly at 10 PM. The Grand Coulee Dam is used as a giant movie screen while lasers dance across the face and spillway, telling the story of the Columbia River, history and purposes of the Grand Coulee Dam. Nightly at 10PM (approx 37min) Entertaining as well as educational for all ages, with music. An unforgettable experience! The Columbia River tells you its story through this narrated production of brilliant lasers that dance across the face of the entire Grand Coulee Dam! Learn about the dam and enjoy the entertainment sections with a patriotic finale. Great for all ages! If you are not in a "speaker" section, the program can be heard on 90.1 FM Radio. There are several areas to view the show from. View from the Visitor Arrival Center bleacher area or park area below the center (speakers provided), Crown Point Vista, Coulee Dam parks, vista points, across from the Coulee Dam shopping area on the east side of the bridge bleacher area - grassy knoll (speakers provided}.

June   Pike Place Market Street Festival  Held during the first part of June each year, Pike Place Market Street Festival is held along the Seattle waterfront and is a two-day event in the Market Place. It features arts & crafts, food, beer and wine gardens, chef demos and the Strut Your Mutt Dog Show and Parade plus kids zone activities. Additionally, there is live entertainment galore and hundreds of local artisans. Experience a one of a kind marketplace, the likes of which is nowhere else but along Seattle's historic waterfront. Pike Place Market is a need-to-see place to go.......

June   Edmonds Waterfront Festival  The Edmonds Waterfront Festival is held every June at the Port of Edmonds Marina. Each year, there is entertainment, a family stage, a beer garden stage and ducks on parade. The Rotary Club of Edmonds, as its premier fund-raiser, presents this annual family festival which includes marine exhibits, arts & crafts and FOOD. This is one of Edmonds’ top outdoor events, attracting an estimated attendance of 35,000.

June   Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration.  What better setting could there be than Washington's Bavarian Village for a celebration of accordion music including jazz, popular, classical, ethnic, and everything in between pulses through the village as musicians (children through seniors) and music lovers flock to Leavenworth to compete for awards and cash, attend workshops, jam sessions, a film/video series, parade down Front Street and enjoy four nights of concerts and dances with world class musicians.

June   Northwest New Works Festival  Held in June. For 23 years, On the Boards (OtB) has celebrated the most innovative artists from our community and region, through the Northwest New Works Festival. 2006’s festival features 20-minute showcases of new works by eighteen of the region’s established and emerging contemporary performing artists and companies across a range of d isciplines: dance, theater, music, solo performance, multimedia, and performance installation. Artists come from Seattle, Portland, Bellingham, Vancouver BC, and beyond! Line-up of artists are available on OTB's website.

June   Maple Valley Creative Arts Festival.  During the month of June, this popular event coincides with the yearly community celebration, Maple Valley Days and is the must see highlight of the weekend. Arts Festival will include a live performance area (poetry, music, dance, etc.), indoor gallery space for display of visual arts, artists’ demonstrations and hands-on art activities for children. You can also check out a slide gallery of prior year’s Arts Festival and an awesome venue! Also enjoy first hand the creative partnership with the Lodge’s next-door neighbor, the Lake Wilderness Arboretum adding outdoor fun for all ages. Maple Valley Days, organized and supported by local volunteers, features a community parade, amusement park rides, stage presentations, fun run, classic car display, and craft, food, vendor and informational booths. In past years Maple Valley Days has also featured an Arts Festival, the Wenatchee Youth Circus, and special presentations by the South King County Arboretum Foundation at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum. Maple Valley Days is held in Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley.

June   Point Defiance Flower & Garden Show  Held at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. In the 101 years since its inception as a city park, Point Defiance has sparkled as the crown jewel of the area's public parks. Point Defiance has provided Tacoma with an urban oasis, a forested refuge, and a beloved gathering place. Today, visitors to Point Defiance Park can enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities and amenities. The rich history of the park is a testament to the forward- looking people of a century ago who sought to preserve this land for future generations. Gracing 10 acres of the Point Defiance Park garden and bowl area, this three-day show offers world-class exhibits, exciting events, and learning opportunities for the whole family – rain or shine. Take time to dream! With new features and expanded offerings, the show provides a glimpse of the best and brightest in the world of horticulture – and a magical vision of the future for your backyard, deck, or garden spot. Today, you will find Grand Display Gardens, Children's Pavilion, Window Boxes, Container Gardens, Pagoda Floral Designs, Sculpture Garden, School Display Gardens, Educational Exhibitors and more.

June   Baltic Homeland: Folksong Heritage from the Baltic Shores.   This is no festival, but an EVENT and is being put on by the Seattle Choral Company. The choral heritage among the Baltic countries is centuries old. Unknown to most Americans, there are more choirs per capita in this region than anywhere else in the world. Communal singing and national song festivals play a significant role in the Baltic states, attracting thousands of participants. So significant are these song festivals that the term "Singing Revolution" was given to the huge choir festivals held in Baltic nations, involving thousands of participants, which turned into defiant rallies against Soviet rule. The Seattle Choral Company will explore the choral riches of the Baltic sea countries. Here, folk traditions and epic poems have been great sources for a vast choral repertory that is now being appreciated everywhere. The program includes works by Jan Sibelius, Toivo Kuula, Einojuhani Rautavaraa, Jaakko Mantyjarvi, Peteris Vasks, and Veljo Tormis.

June   Meeker Days Hoedown and Bluegrass Festival.  Held in downtown Puyallup, Meeker Days' festivities date back to 1939 and the golden Anniversary of Washington statehood. Meeker Days has grown from a small arts and crafts fair in Pioneer Park into what is now one of Pierce County's largest and most successful street festival. Meeker Days Festival will be held in conjunction with "Meeker Days at the Mansion," located at 312 Spring St., Puyallup. 

June   Sound to Narrows 12K Run.   Held in June, the Sound to Narrows 12K Run is one of the top 25 foot races in the United States, drawing some 10,000 runners from all ages. The run begins and ends in Tacoma's Point Defiance Park and includes the park's Five-Mile Drive.

June   Tacoma Highland Games.  Frontier Park, Graham, Washington, and held annually on the 4th Saturday in June, the Tacoma Highland Games Association brings alive the tradition of the Highland Games at Frontier Park in Graham. 2004 marked the 35th Annual Tacoma Highland Games. This event continues to be one of the most pleasant and family orientated Games in the area. The centerpiece of the Games are competitions in four major area: Highland piping, drumming, dancing and traditional Scottish athletics. Here you will be able to experience Scottish music, culture and food, and enjoy a variety of Celtic performances.

June   Taste of Tacoma  Held in mid-summer, Taste of Tacoma features the city's largest food festival, and is held in Point Defiance Park. Chefs and restaurants from the entire area participate. This event includes over 30 booths, offers goodies ranging from barbecue spareribs and ethnic dishes to heavenly desserts and Washington State wines and beers, plus live music and local artists. This is possibly the ultimate family picnic.

June   Vancouver International Jazz Festival. In Vancouver B.C. Today, twenty years after its inauguration, the TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival is the largest music festival in British Columbia, winner of numerous awards for Best Festival and praised as one of the leading jazz festivals in the world. Acclaimed for its innovative and adventurous programming, stellar production values, community partnerships, solid fiscal management and extraordinary volunteers (1000+) the Festival brings audiences a state of the art look at the global jazz scene. Over 400 shows (including 130 free concerts) take place during the 10 days of the Festival. By taking the music to concert halls, clubs, parks, community centers, public plazas, and neighborhoods and streets, the Jazz Festival animates the city like at no other time of year. From Water Street in historic Gastown to grand concert halls like the Orpheum and the Commodore; from the picturesque Capilano Suspension Bridge to the huge outdoor stage at David Lam Park, jazz of all styles and stripes, blues, funk, Latin, fusion, electronica and world music resonates in venues big and small across the city.

June   Classic Weekend    Port of Seattle Neighborhood celebration with music and food and boat parade; display of over 40 classic yachts, many built prior to 1942, some available for boarding (wear soft-soled shoes) and classic cars including vehicles from The Pacific Northwest Metropolitan Owners Club and Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts. This event is held at Pier 66, Bell Street and Alaskan Way in Seattle, and is sponsored by the Classic Yacht Association and the Port of Seattle, the Bell Street Pier Classic Yacht Rendezvous is one of the largest gatherings of pre-war classic motoryachts to be held anywhere. A formal "Sail-In" takes place on Friday afternoon with signal flags, happy crews and horn blasting being the order of the day! On Saturday, a "People's Choice" ballot will be available and the public is invited to vote for their favorite yacht. Window Signs describe each yacht's particulars and history. Admission is free. Here is an opportunity for a close-up look at vessels from the Golden Age of Motoryachting!

June   Juneteenth Celebration. - Tacoma - Held on the third Saturday in June in Tacoma's historic "K" Street District in celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation.

June   Juneteenth Celebration. - Seattle - African-American celebration of the end of slavery in the United States on June 19th, 1865. Started in Texas and has been more commonly celebrated in the South. Juneteenth symbolizes the end of slavery. For many African-Americans, it has come to represent the same freedom as the Fourth of July does for all Americans. Since that time, annual celebrations have taken root, with a range of activities to teach, educate, entertain, and celebrate the contributions of our ancestors and the growth of African Americans as a people. Everything from rodeos and fishing to barbecues and baseball are typical of the activities surrounding Juneteenth. Guest speakers and elders of the black community are called upon to recount the events of the past.

June   Freemont Fair.  Held in June, the Fremont Fair is located in the funky and friendly Fremont neighborhood—Seattle, Washington's own "Center of the Universe." For 2006, now in its 35th year, Fremont Fair returns to celebrate the Summer Solstice and the best of its community: art, spirit, sharing, celebration and working together to help each other. During Fair weekend, people from all walks of life come together to shop, eat, drink, perform, smile, dance, run, converse, debate, groove and parade. And while Fremont Fair continues to emphasize good times, don't forget about the good work it does by raising awareness and understanding of the needs of low-income people in our community. Presented by Fremont Public Association (FPA), all donations received during this FREE event go directly to fund FPA programs that provide shelter, food, advocacy and care for low-income families and individuals throughout Seattle and King County. YOU CAN HELP! Bring a buck or two to drop in the orange donation boxes at the main festival entrances. It only takes $1 to make a difference! Thousands upon thousands of people come to Fremont to enjoy the sun, great food, music, street performances, wide variety of artisans and imports while supporting the fight against poverty in the community.

June   Lummi Stommish Water Carnival. Annual pow-wow and canoe races, held at the Lummi Indian Reservation.

June   White River Bluegrass Festival   Held annually, over a weekend in mid-June in Pacific, Washington. This rippin' bluegrass festival is held at City Park, 3rd Ave & Pacific, by the river. Watch for signs. This event includes jamming, kids events and food. On Thursday night there's a Food Bank Fund raiser show, then comes the Friday evening show around 6:00 PM, and then the Saturday afternoon and evening shows. On Sunday, there is a gospel show, usually between 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. Some of the best in local and regional bluegrass bands will be on hand to rock your socks so if'n you'r into 'grass, "come on down." This festival is South King County's largest Bluegrass Festival where you can camp on 18 acres of grass located on the White River. Rain or Shine, come and enjoy a great event.

June   Olympic Music Festival. Imagine a turn-of-the-century dairy farm nestled on 55 acres of tranquil farmland on Washington's beautiful Olympic Peninsula...the sounds of exquisite chamber music floating in the air. Inside the beautiful barn, world-renowned musicians clad in blue jeans are enthralling Northwest natives and visitors with outstanding music from the most-beloved classical composers. The Olympic Music Festival has been voted "Best Classical Music Festival" for many years. From late June through early September, performances are held every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Pack a picnic, bring your friends, and spend a day roaming the Festival grounds before the concert.

June   SummerFEST  SummerFEST is the City of Lakewood’s annual festival in the park and is usually held the third Saturday in June at Fort Steilacoom Park. It’s a fun day with activities and events for the entire family. There’s live music, Partners for Parks Car Show, there’s a Kidz Zone activity area, outdoor cinema, baseball tournament, fun run, remote control boat races, pony rides, dog agility demonstrations, baseball tournament, historical activities, and more; definitely fun for all ages including tours of Old Fort Steilacoom. As to vendors, there are food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, safety fair booths, public market vendors and non-profit vendors promoting everything from traditional crafts and food treats to organizational good deeds and community needs. Festivities usually begin at noon and conclude after dusk with a family-friendly movie being shown on an outdoor screen set up for everybody’s enjoyment. 2006 attendance was estimated at 9,000 ~ each year seemingly increasing in number.

June   Shoreline Arts Festival   Held annually in June. With continuous entertainment, music and dance, juried art shows for adults and students, a photography show, artists and crafters in action, hands-on art, readings, theatre presentations, a used-book sale, and food there is sure to be something for everyone! One of the goals of the Festival is to provide participatory experiences in all the arts. In addition to dance lessons and hand-on art activities, some exciting new projects are always in the wind. This very successful event will be a great opportunity for the community to celebrate summer through the arts. Plan to be there! This creative, community event will takes place every June at the Shoreline Center, 18560 - 1st Ave. NE in Shoreline.

June   Northwest Garlic Festival. Held at Ocean Park's Sheldon Park, on the Long Beach peninsula. In the land of clams, crab and oysters what are folks looking forward to in June? Garlic, and plenty of it! Celebrate the passion for this exalted bulb with the faithful throngs who make their annual pilgrimage to the NW Garlic Festival which is held each June in the seaside community of Ocean Park, Washington, located on the Long Beach Peninsula. The Garlic Olympics of Gastronomy is not held for the region's Garlic growing ability. This Festival was born out of love of great, garlic-laden cuisine and fabulous wine to go with (and stand up to) it! More than 80 specialty food and craft vendors offer up this supernatural powered herb, prepared and put to use in every imaginable way including some ways that go beyond. Where else could indulgence be so healthy? Don't miss the succulent garlic oysters or garlic-smothered sausages paired with a garlic jam. For desert, decadent chocolate-covered garlic or some donuts laced with garlic herbs and cheese. Come and enjoy!

June   Maritime Gig Festival. Held on the first weekend in June in Gig Harbor, it includes the "blessing of the fleet" and includes many favorite activities and events, including the Fun Run, the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, the Grand Parade, Regatta, the Round Rock Contest, music and entertainment, food vendors, historic boat displays, arts and crafts, loads of children's activities. For 2006, in conjunction with Maritime Gig Festival, there is being a planned-for First Annual Gig Harbor Antique and Classic Yacht Festival available with about 450 linear feet of dock space at two locations: City Dock, 300 feet and Tides Tavern 150 feet. Moorage is free, but no water or power at either location. Rafting at City Dock is allowed. Attendants will greet you Friday, June 2nd from 1600 on to help you moor. This promises to be a fun filled weekend with thousands of people in attendance. Boaters will be asked to have boats available for boarding Saturday from 1000-1800 and Sunday from 1000-1200. A sister website for the event weekend is at the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce  Also scheduled in for your memoriable visit is the Taste of Gig Harbor event: "Sample Our City's Finest Cuisine" gig.

June   Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival  Held in June. Celebration is the Filipino way of life, and celebrate they do! Pagdiriwang celebrates Philippine independence. Known as the "musical islands," music is a highlight of Filipino celebrations, although the culture of the more than 7,000 islands is as varied as the Asian and Western influences that shaped them. Multihued costumes and grand pageants, photo and historical exhibits, film, dance, drama, fashion and culinary arts will depict a wide range of traditions, from antique to avant garde. Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival is produced by the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington and Seattle Center's Festal.

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July   Tacoma Freedom Fair Air Show and Fireworks Extravaganza.  Along the Ruston Way Waterfront, the Tacoma Freedom Fair events cover two miles of the Ruston Way waterfront on the 4th of July. Events include live entertainment performances featuring country, rock, folk, jazz, blues, Latin, folk, and music and dance. Everyone attending this annual extravaganza will find games, rides, kids carnivals, and an open-air market with arts, crafts and an international food court. In addition to that, a log boom for boaters, a classic car show, Dragon Boat races and Metro Parks Family fun zones are available for enjoyment. Of special interest to thousands every year is the Tacoma Air Show, and then capping off the day is the spectacular Grand Finale Fireworks Display. TacomaScene.com invites you to visit our photo album and experience our experiences at Freedom Fair 2001, 2002 and 2003.

July   Art on the Avenue   Annually, in July, Art on the Ave. is held along the 6th Ave. business district in Tacoma, between Trafton St. and Pine St. Each year, the 6th Avenue Merchants Association invites the populous to participate in a celebration of the arts. This high-energy neighborhood festival offers art demonstrations, art vendors, children’s activities, several music stages and much, much more. Local artists are always encouraged to participate. Look to see, maybe, about 10,000 folks coming to enjoy this ever-increasing popular event. 2005’s attendance was around 8,000 individuals and families. Art on the Avenue covers eight blocks of interesting and unique facades. There will be many interesting live performances. All this and numerous arts and crafts activities for the kids and young at heart. Glass, ceramics, woodworking, furniture, forged metal, mixed media, photography, weaving, watercolor and jewelry are just a smattering of the types of art vendors you may find. Do not expect to see any commercially manufactured or mass produced goods.

July   Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival .  Held in the Old Town District, the Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival was founded in 1994 by Ted Brown and is becoming an annual  South Sound favorite. An entire day of blues delights can be had during this musical event which highlights well-known local and regional blues acts. The day starts off with a Bluesberry Pancake Breakfast and continues right on into the night with "sounds to simmer your mind." This blues event brings blues lovers from all over and features vibrant music, smiling faces, dancing feet and soul-soothing dynamics ~ all in one activity–packed Saturday! In presenting a full menu of musical delights it provides more than 15 hours of live entertainment performed by some of the best known local and regional blues acts.

July   Tacoma Farmers Market -- Annual Dog Days of Summer -     [Farmers Market is held each Thursday, from 10 am to 3 pm May 18th - Aug. 31st and 10 am to 2 pm Sep. 7th - Oct. 19th Downtown on Broadway Street, between 9th and 11th] -- The Broadway Street Market has over 80 booths of food, flowers, produce, and more. Restaurant and prepared food booths fill lunchtime shoppers with hot, delicious meals from a world of culinary traditions. Artists and craftspeople display handmade candles, fragrant soaps, sparkling jewelry, and colorful paintings. Our local farmers’ booths overflow with fruits, vegetables, plants, and huge bouquets of the freshest flowers. And there’s no better place to stock your pantry with artisan breads, tasty jams and jellies, and much more. Perhaps the best part of the Broadway Street Market is the hundreds of people who come there each week — to meet friends, listen to live music, or get a quick, delicious bite to eat. The Tacoma Farmers Market has become the seasonal spot where downtown Tacoma comes together. July marks the month that merchants, artists and animal welfare organizations get together. Learn about service animals, spay service, pet sitting, grooming, boutiques, animal artists, and more! And here you can learn about Woofstock, AnimaloCity Pet Parade and other events coming in the summer. Come not only for the Farmer Market experiences, but also come to see how you can help the animals of Pierce County.

July   Key Peninsula Community Fair. A carnival. A midway. Vendor booths. A cultural and historical center. A food court. An arcade. Rides. Games. Dance areas. Non-stop entertainment. Face painting. 4-H exhibits. Petting zoo. Youth events. That's what's at the Key Peninsula Community Fair, located on the historic Key Peninsula, 10 miles SE of Purdy. This Fair is much more then you would expect from a community fair, while maintaining ole' time charm. Located on 20 acres, the fair is a wonderful family oriented event serving both young and old. There are events featuring an ole' time pie judging contest, historical re-enactment actors, kids workshops, horticulture and animal events as well as three stages of entertainment and a beer garden.

July   Wooden Boat Festival   Held annually in July. The Center for Wooden Boats holds a Fourth of July festival on Lake Union each year that attracts some 10,000 participants. The theme is heritage wooden boats. The ambiance is that of an old-fashioned, down-home waterfront festival where everything is fun, almost everything is free and nothing much is fancy. It's as authentically grassroots American as you can get and has been for over 25 years. If it's at the festival, you can probably touch it, try it or do it. Experience maritime culture first hand. It's a hands-on festival right in the center of the city, in the summer, on a bustling lake. Families come down in droves because everything can be done by young and old together - toy boat building, sailing model boats on the pond, boat rides and races, picnicking, clambering over boats big and small, festive food and music, and general joy. Over the last 25-plus years, the festival has developed into a gem of the Seattle Summer. We hope you'll join us. Try it -- you may like it: Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival and Classic Speedboat Show. Some of the activities you'll find: Lots of exhibits where families and individuals can go for a boat ride or "experience the craft" of boatbuilding and maritime skills; partnering activities with the Antique and Classic Boat Society; more than 40 classic runabouts and speedboats on display; on the water kayak and rowing shell demos, historic longboat rides.

July   Seattle Chamber Music Festival.   The Seattle Chamber Music Society presents our 25th Anniversary season of our Summer Festival at Lakeside School this July and our second annual Summer Festival at The Overlake School in Redmond this August. Come hear 17 amazing chamber music concerts with pre-concert recitals, Music Under the Stars outdoor broadcasts, an Emerging Artist Concert, and Family Concerts. Established in 1982, the Seattle Chamber Music Society's mission is to foster the appreciation of chamber music in our region by presenting performances featuring world-class musicians in accessible and inviting formats, with an emphasis on developing a broad-based sustainable audience through education and community outreach. For its concerts, Seattle Chamber Music Society brings to the city some of North America's finest young chamber player.

July   Zoobilee.  Zoobilee is an annual black tie fund raiser under the stars that benefits Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, and is held the third Friday in July. For the last several years, Zoobilee has been a sold-out gala event. It is held on the third Friday in July every year. Since its inception in 1991, it has raised over $2 million in cash and in-kind support for educational and special needs at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Zoobilee funds have been used for new educational graphics, the elephant restraint chute, expansion of the Red Rooster Grill deck, the Jellies: Jewels of the Sea exhibit, the education building offices and classroom space, parking lot and entrance lighting, and general operating expenses at the Zoo. 

July   Zoobilee Encore.  Held at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Zoobilee Encore is a casual family festival that is held the third Saturday in July, the day following Zoobilee. Zoobilee Encore was designed for families to enjoy the sights and setting of Zoobilee in an alcohol-free setting and showcasing the entire Zoo. Zoobilee Encore hosts a stage concert appropriate for all ages and includes magicians, mimes, jugglers, a game area featuring kid's karaoke, carnival games and a basketball free-throw contest. It also focuses on education with live animal encounters and informative activity booths.

July   Bellingham Music Festival. Also billed as Bellingham Festival of Music by some, is held at various venues during its season. Established in 1993, the Bellingham Festival of Music attempts to provide the area with educational opportunities to experience live music performances at the highest artistic level by nationally and internationally renowned musicians in a concentrated festival format. For over 13 seasons, the Festival has presented 175 concerts. The Festival has been dubbed by Arts & Entertainment Television as the “Premier Northwest Summer Music Festival." The annual series of concerts consists of classical, chamber, jazz and world music with a resident 40-piece orchestra of musicians from major American and European ensembles. The Festival utilizes various indoor and outdoor venues during the season. Adult education is provided via Prelude talks prior to most concerts and other lectures. An interactive youth education program called “Beethoven in the Schools” is presented annually in Bellingham and Whatcom County schools and has reached over 12,500 students. Annually, the Festival attracts over 10,000 people to its various activities drawing audiences locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

July   West Seattle Summer Fest   Held annually in July at the West Seattle Junction on California Ave SW, between SW Edmunds and North of SW Oregon Street to the Post Office; and on Alaska Street, between 42nd Ave SW and 44th Ave SW. This has been going on for over 20 years. The Junction Festival is a FREE event, hosted by the West Seattle Junction Association, an organization of local merchants, and held in conjunction with the West Seattle Junction Merchants' Sidewalk Sale. The family-oriented festival has regularly attracted more than 30,000 attendees to the three-day weekend event and continues to be one of the most popular street festivals in the region. It is a family-oriented event with community ties that are even stronger than ever. Unique arts & crafts booths, a selection of vendors representing a cross-section of cultures, two stages with on-going live entertainment, and a welcoming beer & wine garden make every Festival day special. It's a weekend of family entertainment that is sure to please kids of every age on each festival day.

July   Ethnic Fest, also known as Tacoma Ethnic Fair.  This is a July festival held at Tacoma's Wright Park and is an annual celebration of diverse cultures. There are exhibits of arts and crafts, food vendors, and several stages featuring performances by many of Tacoma's ethnic groups. Ethnic Fest has celebrated Pierce County's cultural and ethnic diversity since 1986 and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Each year, the festival features the many cultural and ethnic groups that make Tacoma and Pierce County a great place to live. At Ethnic Fest you can enjoy performing and visual arts, crafts, dancing, information and foods representing the many cultures from within Tacoma and Pierce County.

July   Salmon Bake - Steilacoom.  Held on the last Sunday in July from noon-4:00 pm, the Sunnyside Beach Salmon Bake features delectably grilled salmon complemented with clam nectar, fresh fruit pies and live entertainment. This meal is prepared in Washington State's historic Steilacoom, truly a Northwest experience.

July   Sequim Lavender Festival. Held in Sequim, the Sequim Lavender Festival is a three-day summer celebration of the joys of lavender. This annual Festival includes Farms on Tour, each offering a variety of lavender-centered activities, including, lavender lore, demonstrations, agricultural history, workshops, horticultural programs, food, music and the opportunity to spend time in the fields. The Street Fair features more than 125 craft artists of hand made items and vendors of lavender and other Olympic Peninsula specialties. Also at the Street Fair is fine musical entertainment, great local foods and an Olympic Peninsula wine tasting event.

July   Seafair Indian Days POW WOW Held in July in Seattle's Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Discovery Park. The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation holds an annual celebration on the grounds of Discovery Park with the Pow Wow averaging 400-600 dancers in full regalia, 30 drum groups and 10,000 spectators who come to celebrate the richness of the Native American culture. In addition to the dancers, more than 60 vendors showcase a wide array of Native American arts and crafts which include jewelry, carvings, intricate beadwork, artwork, tapes, CD's, and T-shirts.There are food concessions and on Saturday and Sunday there is a traditional Salmon Bake. Just some of the activities include traditional singing, dance contests, drum contests, arts & crafts, food booths, salmon bake grand entries. A highlighting event is the crowning of a Seafair Indian Days Pow Wow Princess.

July   Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. Held at the Center for Wooden Boats, south Lake Union. Each year, The Center for Wooden Boats holds a Fourth of July festival on Lake Union that attracts some 15,000 participants. The theme is heritage wooden boats. The ambiance is that of an old-fashioned, down-home waterfront festival where everything is fun, almost everything is free and nothing much is fancy. It's as authentically grassroots American as you can get and has been for the last 28 years. If it's at the festival, you can probably touch it, try it or do it. Experience maritime culture first hand. It's a hands-on festival right in the center of the city, in the summer, on a bustling lake. Families come down in droves because everything can be done by young and old together - toy boat building, sailing model boats on the pond, boat rides and races, picnicking, clambering over boats big and small, festive food and music, and general joy. Over the last 28 years, the festival has developed into a gem of the Seattle Summer. Also, each month, all year 'round, The Center for Wooden Boats has many maritime heritage activities, classes and lectures for a person to participate in.

July   Seafair. Seafair is Seattle's summer community festival. It is a month-long, region-wide barbecue, that brings an entire community together in celebration. For over 50 years Seafair has been about community events, parades, Miss Seafair, the Navy and Coast Guard, amateur athletics, airplanes and of course, boat racing. But most of all, Seafair has been about people and it continues to be. There are more than 5,000 Seafair volunteers, hundreds of thousand of spectators who come out for the parades and hydroplane races, thousands more that participate in the half marathon, torchlight run and triathlon and the youth who participate in the Miss Seafair Scholarship. It’s about Drill Teams who practice for hours each week to synchronize their movements, hydroplane crews that fine tune helicopter turbine engines to perfection, the Pirates and Clowns that visit hospitals and convalescent centers in the “off-season” and marching bands that rehearse songs and steps for weeks in preparation of their performances in neighborhoods and through the streets of downtown. Seafair is for everyone. As someone once mentioned, it’s a part of what makes up a “Quintessential Northwesterner.”

July   West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival. HiYu is a non-profit organization, established in 1934 by West Seattle's service clubs to produce a summer festival to promote the West Seattle Community. The annual HiYu Summer Festival is held throughout the month of July. Dozens of events occur all around West Seattle during this time. The kick-off event is the Seattle Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach, and it finishes at the end of the month with the Miss West Seattle HiYu Scholarship Program and the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Named in 1934 (16 years prior to Seafair), in a community contest, HiYu means "much, plenty, abundance" in native Chinook jargon. It includes a kids fun fair, kids fishing derby, concert in the park, bowling tournament, kiddies parade and a grand parade. 

July   Renton River Days. Each year Renton River Days welcomes almost 50,000 festival-goers to discover Renton's amenities, enjoy lively entertainment, and participate in extraordinary events and has been running for 20 years. Renton has been home to summer celebrations for decades with Renton's first ever summer festival, Frontier Days, held in 1939. Frontier Days catered to the cowboy and Wild West culture that was popular at the time. Renton became a tourist attraction with events like a beard growing contest, parade, cowboy movies at the local theaters, and a competitive Rodeo featuring cowboys from all over the western United States and Canada. By the 1970's Frontier Days was renamed Western Days and was sponsored by Renton Western Wear. The new festival boasted a parade, sidewalk sale and street dance. Other events also took place throughout the summer season, including the Mile Parade and activities at Longacres. After twenty years, Renton River Days has become a fixture in our community, each year bringing together thousands of neighbors and friends for an incredible experience. Just as businesses supported Frontier Days in the '30s, nearly 100 businesses contribute to the success of Renton River Days and continues to be a family friendly event that grows and flourishes.

July   Taste of Tacoma. Held in mid-summer, Taste of Tacoma features the city's largest food festival, and is held in Point Defiance Park. Chefs and restaurants from the entire area participate. This event includes over 30 booths, offers goodies ranging from barbecue spareribs and ethnic dishes to heavenly desserts and Washington State wines and beers, plus live music and local artists. It has been labeled as The Ultimate Family Picnic. It is held on the fourth weekend in July of each year. Each year, there are More People, More Restaurants and More Entertainment making up Taste of Tacoma. Each year, attendance increases at Tacoma’s largest and most affordable family festival, and, in 2005, an estimated 240,000 people were drawn  to Point Defiance Park for a weekend of fun, food and music.

July   Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering. - King County Fairgrounds - Competitive Highland Dancing, individual Piping and Drumming, Pipe Bands, Scottish Athletic Events, delicious, traditional Scottish Foods -- you will see and experience it all, plus much, much more at the King County Fairgrounds, in Enumclaw. Will you join in for a few hours or the entire weekend? Are you a veteran or a novice? No matter, you will find yourself on the doorstep of experiencing a wee bit of Scotland right here in the Pacific Northwest! Thrill to the bourdon of the bagpipes and the cadence of the drums as you witness first hand the fine array of talented pipers and drummers competing before judges of worldwide renown. Behold the grace and elegance of the Scottish dancers as they regale you with the Highland and National dances of Scotland. Be amazed by the titans who deftly toss the caber and put the stone, matching skill and strength, against the odds on the athletic field of battle. And during your visit, you'll be able to sample a wide variety of traditional Scottish foods. Take a stroll through the Avenue of the Clans and the Glen of the Clans and delve into your Scottish ancestry and heritage. Wind through the Hall of the Vendors and observe the fine workmanship of Scottish artisans, and spend your hard-earned tuppence on lovely imported goods from the British Isles. You and your party will be able to witness a Scottish Farm with shaggy Scotch Highland, Ayrshire and Galloway cattle, Clydesdale horses, and Black Faced sheep. Complete your tour with a visit to the Celtic Kennel as Celtic dog breeds will be featured at work and at play. Plan to attend the Ceilidh - a traditional Scottish party with music, sing-along, stories and Scottish country dancing. It is a weekend full of fun, education and traditional Scottish activities where you can enjoy a wee bit of Scotland right here in the Pacific Northwest!

July   Chief Seattle Days. Annual pow-wow celebrating the life of the chief for whom Seattle is named with canoe races, art exhibits, and a salmon bake, among other events. Held at the Suquamish Indian Reservation on the Kitsap Peninsula, third weekend in July. "A Northwest Indian Festival," in honor of Chief Seattle. Held on the Celebration Grounds in downtown Suquamish, there is no admission charge and everyone is welcome. Among the festivities is a Salmon bake, Indian Art, Parade, Canoe races, Pow-Wow, Traditional Indian dancing, fireworks display, and a special memorial service to Chief Seattle. Don't miss the Princess Contest, Teen Dance and the multitude of events! Just think: a Miss Chief Seattle Days Pageant, Canoes arriving, Teen Dance, fireworks displays at dusk, a Memorial at Chief Seattle grave site, parade, canoe races, dance demonstrations by dancers from many northwest tribes, Pow Wow competitions, Salmon Bakes, Fun Run and canoe races.

July   Bite of Seattle. A Seattle mid-summer tradition for the last 23 years, held at the Seattle Center, on the third weekend in July. It is hailed as "The Northwest's Premier Food Festival." Out of the dozens of festivals and special events held at Seattle Center each year, the Bite of Seattle ranks among the most popular. Food is not the only attraction; you'll also be able to enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly entertainment. Visitors to "The Bite" have the opportunity to indulge in tasty treats of all kinds, including entrees, desserts, fruit drinks, microbrews, and wine. You'll be able to sample a variety of different ethnic foods, including Thai, German, Greek, Filipino, French, Russian, and Hawaiian. Adults can savor an alcoholic beverage at one of the Bite of Seattle's many beer and wine gardens. Beers of the world, Northwest wines, and brand-name cocktails can be enjoyed at designated locations throughout Seattle Center. You can rest your stomach between all those goodies by taking in live music and entertainment at one of Seattle Center's four stages. Rock-n-roll, swing, jazz, and reggae are just a few of the musical stylings that will be offered from noon to closing each day.

July   Ballard Seafood Fest.  This is Ballard, Washington's Annual Seafood Fest. Besides seafood, there is musical entertainment, craft vendors, eating & coverall contests and firemen rescue demonstrations. They even have an official Seafood Fest Song. Each year this festival is held in Historic Downtown Ballard, centered around NW Market St. and is presented by the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. AND DON'T FORGET The Annual Lutefisk Eating Contest. Once a year at two o'clock on Saturday during Ballard Seafood Fest, iron-bellied contestants challenge their physical constitutions and eat with gusto and attempt to consume as much Lutefisk as their appetites can muster. This is classic. Check out participants shoveling gelatinous white-lyed cod down their gullets under hot July sun for a $100 reward! Motivation? It's all about Tradition, Nostalgia, and Fortitude. For the uneducated, Lutefisk is a centuries-old Yuletide delicacy in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Most anyone of Scandinavian descent has fond memories of the steaming hot plate placed so lovingly in front of them on Christmas Eve; mushing up the glob of jellied cod into their mashed potatoes, topping it with good greasy bacon gravy, dolloping some dried green peas on the side and covering the whole concoction with mustard and pepper. A lot of pepper. Check it out.

July   Westport Windriders Kite Festival. Held on Grayland Beach, Westport, Washington. Not a lot of information on this other than the fact that it seems to happen.

July   Pig War Picnic. Held at Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island at the San Juan Historical Museum after the 4th of July parade. Come visit the San Juan Historical Museum's Annual Pig War Picnic at their grounds at 405 Price Street. Each year, there is food, music and entertainment, cake walk, pony rides, silent auction, egg toss, hay scramble and other old fashioned types of fun. Donations are gladly accepted for admission to this annual event.

July   Strawberry Festival. The Vashon Island Strawberry Festival is a treat for the senses. There is always an abundance of great food, refreshments and fun times for all ages! Some highlights include The Grand Parade, the Classic Car parade, the K2 Fun Run, Kiwanis Pancake breakfast, music throughout the day, both Saturday and Sunday, Saturday street dances and fabulous food & vendor booths to pour over.

July   Bon Odori. Bon Odori is a Seattle Japanese community celebration held at the Seattle Buddhist Temple. An officially sanctioned event of SeaFair, this annual event (in more recent years, sanctioned as a SeaFair community event) has attracted thousands of festival goers who help celebrate this summer tradition through song, dance and traditional Japanese foods. The highlight of the festival is the colorful folk dancing that takes place in the street where young and old come together to celebrate the Japanese and Buddhist traditions of remembering and thanking one's ancestors. The folk dancers, dressed in brightly colored traditional Japanese kimonos, yukatas and happi coats, dance to traditional songs that are accompanied to the beat of a large taiko drum. Everyone is invited to join in the dancing. Practices for those who'd like to become familiar with the dances before the event are provided during the two weeks preceding the event. In past years, the number of people who have joined in the dancing, outnumbered those watching.

July   Bastille Day  Held in June. Bonjour! Celebrate this annual Bastille Day at Seattle Center. The taking of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789 was the spark that ignited the events of the French Revolution, leading to the birth of democracy in France. Bastille Day is celebrated throughout France as its national holiday. Enjoy a summer's day at Seattle Center with all things French: food, wines, entertainment, a petanque tournament and shopping at French "boutiques." Bastille Day is produced by Seattle Center's Festal, the Consular Agency of France, the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest with the support of the Alliance Française de Seattle, the French-American School of Puget Sound, the French Immersion School of Washington, the Seattle-Nantes Sister City Association, the Mercer Island - Thonon-les-Bains Sister City Association and other French-American Community Groups throughout the State of Washington.

July   McCleary Bear Festival. The McCleary Bear Festival Was dreamed up in 1958 by Norman Porter, then editor of the McCleary Stimulator, the home town newspaper. It wasn't that he disliked bears, but he and other residents of this area knew that bears liked to eat the soft cambium layer of the inner bark of young evergreen trees. They especially crave this delicacy when they emerge from hibernation, and to satisfy their hunger they often strip a tree of all its bark, causing it to die, It started with a remark by a friend of Porter's by the name of Roy Craft, then editor of the Skamania County Pioneer in Stevenson, Washington, who claimed that Skamania bears, if properly cooked, were the world's most delicious. Porter countered with the claim that Grays Harbor's bears were the tops. The two agreed to meet head-on in a bear-tasting contest in McCleary. Civic minded McClearians got interested, formed committees and decided to stage something more than just a bear-eating contest. Working with Porter, they created the First Annual Second Growth and Bear Festival. It not only helped to rid the forests of unwanted surplus bears, but also supplied the Festival with bear for the barbecue. In 1966, fifteen bears went into the communal pot. Now selected portions of inspected bear meat is combined with beef to provide the distinctive flavor associated with McCleary Bear Stew. McCleary is a slumbering little lumber town 30 minutes west of the Capitol City, Olympia. By the ninth annual Bear Festival, 4,000 visitors were gathered in McCleary. The cooking crew by then had grown to several local sportsmen who started two days ahead of time to make sure the bear stew was ready on time. Recently, as many as 12,000 people have come from ail over the United States and Canada who have heard one way or another about the big three-day celebration on the second weekend of July. A total of 400-600 pounds of meat go into the stew with 50 pounds of that being beef for flavoring. There are also hundreds of pounds of potatoes, carrots, onions and a large kettle of "special" spicy sauce cooked just right with seasonings that are added just before serving. The stew is cooked in enormous iron kettles on outdoor stoves in the City Park. This is one case where too many chefs don't spoil the stew, for it takes about 40 people to handle the cooking chores; taking 'round the clock shifts watching and stirring and adding the right ingredients at the right time to make the stew just right. The menu also calls for a ton of watermelon, 6,000 rolls and baked beans by the kettles full. It is served immediately following the Grand Parade which always starts at 12:00 noon on the Saturday of the event. Although the Bear Stew is the big attraction to the festival, there is also a kiddies parade, grand parade, royal court ceremony, bands, dances, slow-pitch baseball, and many other events during the run of the festival.

July   Music In the Park - Olympia  A summer-long music festival on Wednesday evenings in Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia, Wash. during July and August. For over 25 years, this event has been organized by the Olympia Downtown Association and offers a range of musical genres -- ranging from traditional and patriotic to rock, soul, funk, hip, campy big band, blues, local talent, new talent, established talent -- including the Fort Lewis Army Concert Band and the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, which always draw the series' biggest crowds. This event will typically draw about 10,000 people during its run. It is not unusual to see families showing up with picnic baskets or with food from one of downtown local restaurants. From toddlers to grandparents, concertgoers mingle with ole friends they might not have seen all year and share space on their blankets with new friends.

July   Redmond Derby Days. Kid's parade, grand parade, live music, Derby Day Criterium, fireworks, and more. The Derby Days Carnival, including games and rides, runs outside the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. Redmond Derby Days, which has run annually for over 65 years, is a summer tradition that came to life at the end of the Depression. It began as a drive to raise money for downtown holiday decorations and school athletic equipment. The Redmond Bicycle Derby was the outgrowth of a small town's community spirit and is now the nation's oldest bicycle race. The event includes activities for young and old. The Redmond Derby Days is sponsored by the City of Redmond and many community businesses and organizations. It all started in July 1939 when the annual Derby Days bicycle race was inaugurated in Redmond, Washington. Redmond is located in King County and is on the east side of Lake Washington. Bicyclists race the 25-mile route around Lake Sammamish. The criterium is a multi-lap race on a closed course, and laps are typically shorter than one mile. This style of racing has bred a unique athlete, stressing speed and bike handling.