Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival is back and celebrating its 50th anniversary in the Emerald City. If you’re a fan of live music, local artistry, and delicious foods, there is no better place to spend September 2nd and 3rd than at the Seattle Center, near the base of the world-famous Space Needle. This week we’re shining a light on the legendary event that has carved out a name for itself in Pacific Northwest history. With five separate stages for musicians to perform, stalls for artists to show off their goods, and a staggering number of local food carts and caterers on site, there is more to enjoy at Bumbershoot than time will allow in one visit. If you plan to attend, we recommend visiting the Bumbershoot official website and selecting a few main attractions to help organize your time there.
Musical Lineup
Bumbershoot is an internationally recognized musical extravaganza that has drawn massive acts in the past, and this year is no exception. The lineup of artists over both days of the festival is too large to recount here, but some of the headliners to highlight include legendary UK DJ Fatboy Slim, Olympia punk/indie rockers Sleater-Kinney, and the Seattle-born alternative rock outfit Band of Horses. Other acts taking to the five stages across the site include The Revivalists, Jawbreaker, Phantogram, Zhu, and Brittany Howard, AFI, Sunny Day Real Estate, and many more. A diverse soundscape will capture and entertain festivalgoers throughout the weekend.
Directions
Driving to Seattle takes around 3 and a half hours on average. There is so much to see and do in Washington’s largest city; check out our Destination: Seattle article for recommendations on other attractions in the area. To get to the festival site, you’ll drive west on I-82 out of the Tri-Cities. Reaching Ellensburg, you’ll merge onto I-90 westbound following signs for Seattle. This interstate will take you over Snoqualmie Pass, a beautiful mountainous area in the Cascades. Follow I-90 through Bellevue and into downtown Seattle, where you’ll turn right to head north on I-5. Stay on the interstate for a few minutes before taking the Mercer Street exit, then continue west until you reach the base of the Space Needle.
Lodging
If you’re planning to attend the entirety of the festival and enjoy the city, you’ll be looking for a place to stay. Luckily, there are several excellent hotels in the immediate area of the Seattle Center within walking distance of the festival grounds and countless other attractions. We’ll list a few of our recommendations here, but it’s hard to go wrong with any accommodations in the downtown area.
Hyatt House Seattle | 201 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Homewood Suites by Hilton | 206 Western Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
Mediterranean Inn | 425 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
The Maxwell Hotel | 300 Roy St, Seattle, WA 98109
Hyatt Place | 110 6th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
