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. The festival features 20-minute showcases of works by 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   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   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. In conjunction with Maritime Gig Festival, there is the 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. 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   Puget Sound Bead Festival.  Held primarily around the second weekend in July, The Puget Sound Bead Festival began in 1996 and has been running ever since. Throughout all those years, the show has had to move venues four times to accommodate an ever-growing list of vendors, class selections and attendance. With a running vendor list exceeding 75 and bead classes exceeding 100, attendance has been swelling each and every year. It is currently the largest national bead show on the west coast. Drawing levels of beaders from all over the country, including Canada and Japan, artists & bead merchants and artisans bring beads from all over the world: beads made from glass, clay, semi-precious stones, silver, wood, and polymer. Beads range from hundreds of years old to contemporary one-of-a-kind glass beads made by local artists. Each year, the show progressively grows and class selections increase, along with the show’s national appeal. All workshops are taught by nationally- known instructors who teach glass bead making, seedbeading, wireworking, contemporary jewelry design and marketing. It is a function of the Puget Sound Bead Festival each year to bring high quality bead merchants and national bead instructors to the Pacific Northwest. Each year the Bead Festival tries to increase the quality of the show by adding features and services to enhance the attendees’ experience. With well over ten years of driving experience, the Puget Sound Bead Festival is the place to be for any beader who is fashion-driven and craving for high quality materials. Each year, classes are held in all the latest jewelry techniques where attendees are shown how to make fashionable jewelry and where that special beader-craving can be satisfied. Motto number one is to deliver a bead show unlike any other, with the highest quality vendors, classes & show services for the vendor, teachers, students and attendees. No matter how one is involved, attendees are treated like family to create an atmosphere that is inspiring, creative, and fun! For 2010, the Puget Sound Bead Festival is located in the Murano Hotel’s Bicentennial Pavilion at 1320 Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

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   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 -- and often including the Fort Lewis Army Concert Band. This event will typically draw some 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 old 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.

July   Mercer Island Summer Festival. Mercer Island’s annual Summer Celebration has run for over fifteen years. A premier community festival for the entire family, Summer Celebration! has become an island tradition and showcases summer at its best, with the idyllic beauty and diversity of Mercer Island. The festival offers a broad spectrum of activities for people of all ages and abilities – free admission with a minimal cost for ticketed activities. It is a period packed with fun and excitement that includes a fireworks show, community parade, music, entertainment, arts and crafts, food faire, children’s celebration, giant inflatable rides and games, boat rides around the island, teen battle of the bands, classic car gathering.

July   Chinatown/International District Summer Festival. Authentic international food, arts & crafts, community booths, and cultural entertainment, the Chinatown-International District Summer Festival is known to be the largest Asian-American Streetfair in Washington and offers a variety of Asian-inspired Entertainment including Japanese Drumming, Chinese Martial Arts, Filipino Dancing, Lion and Dragon dances plus live concerts featuring Jazz, New Age and Pop music. You'll find lots of hand-made Arts & Crafts, authentic Asian Cuisine and even a Karaoke Stage for those that feel inspired to showcase their vocal talents. It has taken place each summer since 1975. It has been delighting visitors of all ages with live cultural entertainment, authentic Pan-Asian cuisine, and beautiful Asian-inspired arts & crafts. The two-day event also includes a Children's Corner, Karaoke Idol Contest, car show, Sports Corner, Eco-Village, martial arts demonstrations and much more.

July   Kla Ha Ya Days Festival The annual Kla Ha Ya Days celebration began back yonder in 1938 and is still being held in downtown Snohomish. A former volunteer for the festival studied the history of the celebration and said Kla Ha Ya Days got its name from the Chinook term meaning "welcome." The celebration was a time for residents to gather and take part in games such as frog jumping, watermelon seed spitting, bed races and the baby crawl. Frog jumping is still a favorite part of the event. Other things going on include arts & crafts, antique shops, live music, silly contests, balloon flow, carnival, farmer's market, a hot-air balloon show, skydivers, circus clowns, fireworks display at dusk, street fair, food booths, games, entertainment and shopping, Salmon Bake, a five-mile river run, a one-mile run-walk, a kid's dash, soapbox grand prix, ice cream eating contest, baby crawl, pie eating contest, street chalk art drawings, drill team competition and classic car show.

July   Kent Cornucopia Days. Kent's Cornucopia Days celebration has been around for over 35 years and the City of Kent considers it to be the largest family festival in South King County. Events include skateboard and inline skate tournaments,  bike race, fun run, and several dozen other things including carnival, street fair, a Miss Cornucopia scholarship pageant, Old Timers King & Queen, "Cornucopia Cup" Soccer Tournament, Cornucopia Days Grand Parade, Dragon Boat Races (apparently now the largest race in the State of Washington).

July   Aquafest   Held at Lake Stevens in mid-July, Aquafest is a family-oriented community festival held on the shores of Lake Stevens and is one of Snohomish County’s largest community festivals seemingly getting bigger each year. 2005's festival drew an estimated 30,000 people to the shores of Lake Stevens for a jam-packed weekend of family fun. Participants indulged themselves in sporting events on land and lake, parades, food, arts and crafts and entertainment. The Aquafest draws hundred and hundred of athletes, coaches and triathlon fans from across the country to participate in the inaugural Lake Stevens 70.3 Triathlon, one of only 12 qualifying events worldwide for the Ford 70.3 Triathlon World Championships. The Triathlon will include a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. On the Aquafest "Race to the Finish" line-up: the Aquafest Idol contest, Grand Parade, Children’s Parade, carnival, live entertainment, fireworks, Proud Pet Show, diaper dash, Sunday Family Fun Fest, $50 sail boat race, Chalk It Up! chalk art contest, Aquarun, motorcycle show, disc golf tournament, waterski and wakeboard tournament and ski demonstrations. Aquafest also features a large arts & crafts fair and food court. Something to really watch out for is the wildly popular build-your-own $50 sail boat race.

July   Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair. A Celebration of Art, Artists and Community Spirit at Bellevue Square and Bellevue Art Museum, last full weekend in July. 2010 marks the 64th Anniversary of the prestigious Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair. As the premier art event in the Northwest, Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair celebrates excellence in art with a high quality and well attended festival featuring juried artist booths, art demonstrations, an award-winning Kidsfair, exclusive Patron Party, rousing live entertainment and delicious foods. In 2005, over 325,000 people attended the Fair and artists sold more than $1.66 million in art. Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair is a program of and fundraiser for Bellevue Arts Museum.

July   Mission Folk Music Festival. - British Columbia - Held at Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission, British Columbia you can discover one of B.C.'s musical treasures – the Mission Folk Music Festival. Located in the midst of the beautiful Fraser Valley, overlooking the majestic (and muddy) Fraser River, the Mission Folk Music Festival offers great music from all over the world in the intimate, pastoral setting of Fraser River Heritage Park. An eclectic gathering of musicians take to the stage over three days. A variety of food concessions, a coffee kiosk and a licensed bistro are available on site, including Folk Art & Import market kiosks with great local crafts and fascinating, beautiful and sometimes even useful items from around the world. Also available are festival souvenirs and CD sales (featuring Festival artists and many others). This is your chance to find the rare and wonderful.

July   Fern Hill Annual Classic Car Show & Street Fair.  - Tacoma - Beginning to be a long standing neighborhood community event, each year there is the Fern Hill Historic Business District's Annual Street Fair & Car Show. 2005 saw the community hosting its 8th annual event on Yakima Ave. between So. 83rd and 84th Sts. Each year promises to be a great day for fun, a classic car show, live music, children's fun and games and lots of great food.

July   Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival. Held in downtown Gig Harbor. It doesn't take long for a visitor or new resident to recognize the artsy orientation of the Gig Harbor Peninsula. Galleries and shops are filled with the work of talented local artists and craftspeople. The natural splendor of Gig Harbor has always attracted creative types, especially those working in the visual arts. For nearly a quarter century, Peninsula Art League has brought together many of the artists who live and work in our area. PAL sponsors exhibitions, workshops and classes and many other opportunities for artists to play, paint, learn and exhibit together and celebrate the creative spirit of the area. In 1984, PAL took a leap of faith and created the first Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival. By year two, the size of the festival doubled, and today the event includes over 160 booths. A scholarship fund from revenues was quickly implemented. Our goal of promoting arts education was realized, and it remains the fundamental mission of PAL. Other Art League activities include a variety of classes, a Plein Air Painting Group for the outdoorsy artist, a Portrait and Figure Group for those interested in portraying the human form, and special workshops taught by local and more widely acclaimed instructors.

July   Port Townsend Jazz Festival by Centrum. Summer jazz festival featuring internationally acclaimed jazz artists. Washington’s finest summer jazz festival featuring internationally acclaimed jazz artists. Enjoy a weekend full of jazz’s most electrifying artists performing in a WWI-era balloon hangar and in historic downtown clubs. Listen to participant combos from Centrum’s Port Townsend Jazz Workshop between the afternoon and evening shows.

July   Ritzville Blues Festival. Held on the second Saturday in July in downtown Ritzville (between Moses Lake and Spokane) from noon to midnight. For over a dozen years, the Ritzville Blues Festival has entertained and mesmerized thousands. It is a one-day event featuring top-caliber regional, national and international blues acts. Over 25 bands play at multiple venues including an outdoor stage located on the streets of Ritzville. The downtown location makes the festival unique for an outdoor event. Festival goers can roam the streets and choose from many different acts playing in different locations. Featuring the entire range of blues - from traditional southern blues, to boogie woogie, and Cajun zydeco - the Ritzville Blues Festival offers something for everyone. The music starts at noon on the outdoor stage and doesn't stop till 2 a.m. in the bars around town. Headline acts play 1½ hour long sets on the main stage. The regional bands perform at bar/restaurant locations - all located within two blocks of the outdoor stage. Many of these groups will play two sets during the day, giving everyone the chance to see lots of different bands. Besides the bars and local restaurants, numerous food vendors are set up to keep you energized for the long day. Booths at previous festivals have included BBQ Chicken, Pitchfork steaks, Chinese food, Pasta, and Sno Cones. Beer, wine, and liquor are sold at the indoor venues as well as numerous outdoor beer gardens.

July   Sky High Blues Festival. - Rock Creek, British Columbia. The Sky High Blues Festival had its 8th annual festival in 2005. This great outdoor music event takes place in late July. The entertainment is seasoned and up & coming blues artists, predominantly Canadian and is family oriented. There is a campground with private beach access. Children under 16 are free, half price for students with I.D. and seniors. Concession stand are open all weekend. Great music, great
weather and good times.

July   Methow Music Festival. In the Methow Valley near Winthrop - Chamber Music in the Methow. Its purpose is to present professional performances of, but not limited to, classical music in the barns and meadows of the Methow Valley. The Methow Music Festival is a magical, financially stable, famous and unique classical music series featuring artists of excellence and held in a spectacular setting. This well-endowed program is based in a permanent venue with indoor and outdoor seating. Educational opportunities and master classes complete this broad-based program. Each year goals are set which combine these documents, community feedback, and evaluations. Audience survey cards indicate that as a result of festival workers, the Festival is recognized throughout Washington, Oregon and California as producing quality classical music events in a unique, beautiful, serene, rural environment. In 2003, the Festival collaborated with Cascadia in presenting a concert to introduce young people to classical music. With the guidance and advice of Methow Arts, an organization that brings arts into the schools, underwriting from Cascadia, and a committee representing four nonprofit organizations, this young person’s concert was offered to the community free as part of an expanded Community Day. Since then, the Festival has been emerging strongly into newer stages of growth, including a delightful blend of chamber music, friendship, and gustatory pleasures. Management philosophy is that with innovative programming, varied venues and community partnerships, chamber music festivals can attract and satisfy like no other medium.

July   King County Fair. Held in Enumclaw at the King County Fairgrounds, it is the Oldest Fair West of the Mississippi. The King County Fair was founded in 1863 - when Abraham Lincoln was president and Washington Territory was 26 years from statehood! It began as a simple celebration of agriculture and originally took place in the Georgetown area south of Seattle. The King County Fair moved to Renton around 1900, and then to Enumclaw after World War II. Included in admission price, is access to all shows, with entertainment scheduled on three different stages. Over a dozen vendors offer an international array of dishes, from Hawaiian fruit skewers to the traditional barbecued beef, turkey legs, corn dogs, ice cream and double dipped chocolate strawberries. More than 43,000 passed through King County Fair gates last year. The King County Fairgrounds feature a number of historic buildings originally constructed for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair

July   Camlann Medieval Faire. At Camlann Medieval Village near Carnation. For almost a quarter of a century Camlann has re-created the every-day experience of a 14th century rural village typical of Somerset, England and a performing arts center for the study, interpretation and enjoyment of medieval arts and culture. Bringing modern man to focus on the importance of medieval culture brings the 21st century inhabitant to the awareness of something not so very well known. 14th century existence was not only colorful and fascinating, the accomplishments of the middle ages are the bedrock foundations of western society. Our language, values, customs, religions, governments, legal systems, calendars, astronomy, mathematics, tools, music, literature, art, fashions, architecture, even our personalities, are deeply rooted in European and Middle Eastern traditions in those formative times. Camlann Medieval Village is dedicated to the presentation and study of the artistic and cultural traditions and values which have shaped western society down to the present day. Believing that we must understand the past in order to shape the future, Camlann Medieval Village seeks to fuse the arts, crafts, and culture into a rich context that entertains, informs, inspires, enriches, reaches all age groups, and conjoins over 1,000 years of humanity. There are craft presentations, hand-made goods, food, drink, trumpets, fanfare, mounted jousting, equestrian games, foot combat, concerts, stories from medieval sources, using instruments and equipment of the types available before 1400, including the Lute, harp, shawm, symphonie, recorder, vielle, pipe & tabor, psaltry, and many others. Entertainment and history lessons at the same time.

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August   South Tacoma Business District Annual Classic Car Show.  The South Tacoma Business District merchants each year put on their own version of a summer car show and call it their Classic Car Show. 2010 marked their 14th annual show and takes place on South Tacoma Way between South 54th and 56th Streets.

August   Hotrod-A-Rama This great car show is held annually in early August in downtown Tacoma near the University of Washington Tacoma campus. This festivity brings together hundreds of the Northwest’s finest traditional hotrods and custom cars including vintage top fuel dragsters and midget racers. It is a celebration of the hotrod heritage (pre-1965) here in the Pacific Northwest and brings together cool cars, great people, awesome music, and food and vendors for a complete hotrod experience. Plan to attend, because you are surely invited to join in the celebration.

August   "Top of Tacoma" McKinley Street Fair & Arts Festival   Held annually in August, the McKinley Street Fair and Arts Festival has been going strong for over 10 years. Each year, this event brings together a multitude of folk -- artists, musicians, business folk, entertainers, vendors, crafts booths and food booths. The festival features "AnimaloCity Pet Parade" sponsored by the Dugan Foundation and a free kids carnival "Land of OZ" sponsored by Tacoma Christian Center with a school supply giveaway, which is expected to accommodate over 1,000 children. This free festival will fill the McKinley Hill Business District for several blocks at East 35th and McKinley and will feature two stages providing all-day live entertainment including music, dance performance, comedy and more. You can join in the AnimaloCity Pet Parade, build a float or walk along, enter the Art Contest to win a prize, see great crafts and art for sale and enjoy the food. It's a neighborhood festival that you really won't want to miss ~ The "Top of Tacoma" McKinley Street Fair and Arts Festival.

August   Lakewood International Festival   Lakewood, Washington's International Festival is a multicultural event that is held at the Sheila McGavick Student Center, Clover Park Technical College each year in association with the City of Lakewood's Sister Cities Association. Every year, there are arts and crafts booths, cultural food vendors and live entertainment. Family fun is a core of the festival and is for the benefit of the Lakewood community and surrounding areas. It is an opportunity to view and taste a variety of international foods, sing and dance to ethnic tunes, and to see traditional culturalcostumes. Lakewood's international city affiliates are: Okinawa City, Japan; Bauang, Philippines; Danzhou, P. R. of China and Gimhae, South Korea. It is an opportunity for folks to enrich their lives and to participate in forums for community involvement. It is an event that celebrates culture and diversity.

August   The Festival at Mount Si, formerly known as North Bend Alpine Days.  This Festival has changed its name and returns to the Si View Community Center Park, 400 SE Orchard Street in North Bend. The community center allows North Bend to put on a very large festival each year. In the past, over 30,000 people have come to the weekend long summer festival. The Festival at Mount Si , formerly known as North Bend Alpine Days, celebrates North Bend 's community spirit by preserving the past, celebrating the present and embracing the future. The festival hosts an array of exciting weekend events and activities for folks of all ages. People come from all around Puget Sound to enjoy the music and entertainment on two separate stages at Si View Community Center where you can groove to the rhythmic beats of jazz, blues, rock-a-billy, Caribbean and reggae music played by some of the Northwest's finest musicians. Many also come to take part in the Snoqualmie Valley Track Club 5K/i OK Run and 1.5 Mi. Walk that begins Saturday morning before the colorful Grand Parade. The parade features a Grand Marshal in a grand procession with over 100 floats, bands, equestrian riders, drill teams, and more. In addition, the Festival at Mt. Si will have children's rides & games, spectacular fireworks, a beer garden, Skate Jam, Silent Auction and rides on the historic Snoqualmie Valley Train.

August   Fort Nisqually Brigade Encampment - Point Defiance Park.  Reenactment of life in 1855 at the restored Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post in Point Defiance Park with participants in period garb demonstrating blacksmithing to candle making.

August   Bon Om Tuk Asian American Water Festival   This annual event is co-sponsored by the Cambodian American Support Network and by the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association Held in August at Thea's Park, 535 Dock St. in Tacoma, this Asian American water festival is a union of community and club crew dragon boat racing teams coming together........and creating blood-pumping adrenalin-enriched pure excitement. Live music, ethnic dances and elaborate costumes provide the cultural dazzle. Dragon boat teams will race each other representing American communities with heritage from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, the U.N. protected Khmer Krom, and more. The evening ceremony of sending lighted candles onto the water under the full moon is a remembrance for loved ones as well as the culmination of a celebration of the harvest season. You may well want to circle this joyful and colorful event in your calendar. Cultural costumes, dances, music, and foods will highlight this wonderful multi-cultural Asian festival throughout the day and into the evening. The name is Cambodian for festival of boat races. In 2005, more than 1,000 spectators watched the race and enjoyed the event’s international food and community resources booths. The festival is aimed to unite Asian-American communities and Washingtonians to promote diversity and to share culture, tradition and resources. The water festival is an ancient community event that took place annually in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. The festival continues throughout the day with cultural dances, youth performances and live music.

August   Seattle Chamber Music Festival.   The Seattle Chamber Music Society presents a summer festival of music at Lakeside School and an annual Summer Festival at The Overlake School in Redmond. Hear 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 players.

August   Proctor Summer Arts Festival.  The Proctor District in Tacoma was established in Tacoma’s North End nearly 100 years ago. Each year The Proctor District plays host to an annual arts and craft fest in its unique and convenient “village.” 2004 marks the district's 8th annual arts fest.

August   Courage Classic Bicycle Tour.  This is a three-day, 172 mile fully supported bicycle tour across Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens passes in Washington State that is a fund-raiser for the child sexual assault intervention program at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma and for the Children's Trust Foundation.

August   Whidbey Island Highland Games . Held annually in August. "Come and join us when the traditions of the Highland Games come alive at the Greenbank Farm, located in Greenbank, Washington on beautiful Whidbey Island. The centerpiece of the Games is competitions in four major areas, Highland Piping, Drumming, Dancing, and traditional Scottish Athletics. Bring your family and experience the Scottish music, culture and enjoy the variety of Celtic performances which are scheduled throughout the day on the Main Stage. Trace your ancestry as you stroll amongst the Clan Tents or enjoy browsing throughout the vender shops, which display traditional Scottish clothing, literature, music and much, much more. Thrill to the sound 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. Behold the grace and elegance of the Scottish dancers as they regale you with the traditional Highland and Nationals 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."

August   Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire. In Gig Harbor. Feel the ground tremble to the pounding hooves of great war horses charging down the list carrying armored knights jousting for king, queen, country, or the hand of a fair maiden. Hear the ring of clashing steel shatter the tranquility of our 16th century village. Be a part of the magic at the Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire. This long-running fantasy faire is held over a three-weekend period during August of each year at the Minter Creek Ranch, 10215 State Road 302, in Gig Harbor. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.  Enjoy jousting and equestrian events, sword fighting, gypsy dancing, Celtic dancing, wandering minstrels and story telling. There are children’s games, medieval musical performances, magicians, puppet shows and a caber toss, to name only a few of the many things happening each weekend of the period. Plus, The First Knight Academy will teach the art of sword fighting to all who wish to learn. Additional entertainment includes face painting, costume rental for all ages, Highland dancers, bag pipers, live chess competition, jesters and audience interaction. It is an event that you will enjoy from start to finish.

August   BrasilFest    Held in August. The rest of the world has nothing over Brazil when it comes to joie de vive. BrasilFest, with its upbeat rhythms, joyful dance, and spicy flavors, takes place at the height of Seattle's summer - escalating the fun, celebratory atmosphere. Brazilian Folklore Day, not typically celebrated outside of Brazil, gives reason for the festival's date, but the usually good weather lends an authentic feel to the mostly outdoor event. Both folk traditions and contemporary arts have expression at the festival, where some of Seattle's most vibrant performers take the stage, along with impressive visiting artists. A focus on a specific region of the vast country gives visitors both a cultural and geographical understanding of the diversity found there. Stay tuned for more information about this year's theme. BrasilFest is produced by ShowBrazil Productions and Seattle Center's Festal.

August   Tibet Fest  Held in August. Ritual and tradition are the heart of Tibet Fest, where the modern and ancient combine in an effort to preserve Tibet’s unique cultural identity. Not only just the country of Tibet, but neighboring Nepal, North India, Ladakh, Bhutan and Mongolia. Performing groups share centuries old stories and legends through lilting melodies and rhythmic movements, wearing symbolic masks and authentic costumes made of rich fabrics and brocade. A Tibetan-style bazaar with traditional handmade items, prayer flags and more, creates a festive atmosphere. Instruments include unique combinations of flutes, horns, drums, bells and cymbals. Tibet Fest is produced by the Tibetan Association of Washington and Seattle Center's Festal.

August   Omak Stampede. Always the 2nd weekend in August in Omak, Washington, is billed as the wildest ride in Washington State which includes the world famous suicide race. Featured events include a Motor Rodeo, Horse Rodeo and an Indian Encampment. The Omak Motor Rodeo is a mechanical mayhem with a western twist. The night gets an exciting kick start by opening with a full blown demolition derby. Between the rounds of crunching, twisting steel, the night continues to heat up with the lawnmower races. And this ain't your grandpa's old lawnmower either... these are souped up riding lawnmower chassis that resemble ATV's more than lawnmowers that burn up the track in this exciting event. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display. The Omak Horse Rodeo is just as wild, but with real life bucking bulls and horses plus all that smelly 'ol hay and straw that goes with 'em. THEN we have the Omak Indian Encampment & Pow Wow. And that little ditty is sponsored by the Colville Confederated Tribes. This annual Indian Encampment and Pow Wow is held at the Omak Stampede Grounds and is a traditional gathering featuring authentic teepee village, dancing, drumming and singing competitions and stick games - a Native American game of chance. The encampment grounds are open to the public throughout the weekend. Stroll on through and enjoy the beauty, grace and sacred traditions of our Native American culture. This is a bit of excitement learning.

August   San Juan County Fair. Held on San Juan Island, the aim and purpose of the San Juan County Fair is to showcase San Juan County and its diverse skills, talents and accomplishments in Agriculture, 4H and youth activities, arts and crafts, fabric and fiber arts, environmental stewardship, service organizations, local history and industry. The San Juan County Fair offers high quality entertainment, education, great food, good old fashioned fun and neighborly socializing.

August   Kitsap County Fair & Stampede. Held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. The first recorded Kitsap County Fair was held in 1923 in Port Orchard, some 15 miles from its present location. It moved to Bremerton, its present location, in 1958. In 1929 exhibitors at the Fair totaled 1,000; today there are more than 6,000 and annual attendance exceeds 80,000. In 1960, the Chief Kitsap Stampede sold stock certificates for $1 and constructed the Thunderbird Arena. When completed it held 12,000 spectators. In the late ‘70’s portions of the Arena were condemned. The covered grandstands were later added. Today the Arena holds 5,000 spectators and is used year-round for various events such as D-derby, Draft Horse Show, monster trucks and more. The complex has an annual overall attendance at its various events of more than 211,000.

August   Pierce County Fair. Graham, Washington. For over 60 years, the Pierce County Fair Association has put on an annual fair highlighting rural life, agriculture and good ol' family values. It is situated amongst the firs and green grass of Frontier Park. Each year, wide selections of tasty fair foods are offered up to those so inclined and interested while viewing some of the many free entertainment acts and attractions. The Pierce County Fair is a local link to an agricultural past and a fast paced modern life. Farm related projects are the emphasis of the fair. The 4-H Fair, as it was called then, had drawn youth members from all over the county. When it first began, there were few entrants and there were few categories. For the first three years, the fair was without a permanent home. From Benson Grange, it moved to Woodland School and then to the Fruitland Grange. The 4-H fair gave way to the Pierce County Junior Fair which gave way to the Pierce County Fair.

August   Thurston County Fair. The Thurston County Fair in Olympia, Washington is a family-oriented, old fashioned, five-day fair. The fair runs Wednesday through Sunday, always on the first weekend in August. Come join us and pet the animals, spin some wool, cruise the carnival, visit the exhibits, get dizzy on the rides, check out the commercial vendors, and feast on the fabulous fair food. And above all, duck in and have fun. Included in fair activity are 4-H contests where members learn how to "make the best better," or in other words, how to improve their projects. Contests and fairs also give members a sense of pride and accomplishment. 4-H'ers receive ribbons and prizes for their efforts. The Thurston County Fair is its showcase event of the year.

August   Skagit County Fair. Held in Mt. Vernon where there is live entertainment fun for the whole family. Each August people honor the Skagit valley’s rich agricultural history by attending the Skagit County Fair. Since the first fair in 1898 many venues have come and gone, but always at the heart of this summer tradition was the farm families and the crops and animals they raised. For over a hundred years, the Skagit County Fair has existed. Dozens of displays and exhibits flourish, from honeybee and flower displays to the sheep, goats, dairy cows and horses shown by 4-H and FFA kids, all honoring the agriculture foundation of the Skagit Valley. Savor cotton candy or a “fairburger” while watching the FFA dairy judging. Admire a pig. Check out the new rodeo. Enjoy some live music. Toss a dart at the carnival. As you explore the fair, relish the experience - then come back for more. Main attractions include stage shows, often ranging from country and bluegrass, to steel drum bands and Cajun groups. And for those who enjoy jump-starting their hearts, enjoy the spinning, sliding, whizzing, and lurching rides. There are also games of skill and chance for the opportunity to win your sweetheart a stuffed animal.

August   Grays Harbor County Fair. Held at Elma where there's Poultry in Motion. Activities include a Creative Kids Exhibit where children ages six through fifteen can exhibit their creativity and skill. It includes art, baking, creative writing, photography, sewing and bird houses/feeders. Additionally, there is quilt block contests and talent shows. The Fairgrounds is 68 acres in size and includes 15 major buildings and barns, 1200 parking spaces and two outdoor stages.

August   Hempfest. The Seattle Hempfest is billed as "the foremost cannabis policy reform event in the world," and "the world's phattest protestival." Seattle Hempfest 2005 was apparently a smashing success, as thousands of freedom lovers enjoyed the bright summer sunshine along the downtown waterfront. Established first in 1991, Hempfest now spans two of Seattle's downtown gems, Myrtle Edwards and Elliot Bay Parks and lasts for two days in August. Multiple stages, hundreds of vendors, and scores of political organizations come together at Hempfest to make the world's phattest protestival a safe and educational demonstration of people power. Hempfest contends it is a work party with a new permanent theme of education, with a specific additional focus on an individual topic each year.

August   Oldtime Fiddlers Contest   Held in August. For over 10 years, the Oldtime Fiddlers Contest has been held in Winthrop, Washington every August in the beautiful Methow Valley at the Winthrop Park Bandshell. Championship fiddlers and top notch acoustic musicians from all over the Northwest and as far away as Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado and Canada have competed here. Brad Pinkerton, contest chair, has attended and competed in oldtime fiddle contests since 1970. "We changed some of the standard fiddle contest rules to loosen our contest up and make it more fun for both the fiddlers and the audience. At most Northwest contests the fiddlers have a strict four minute time limit within which the contestant must play three tunes; a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice. Because of the time limit the audience is told not to applaud in between the tunes, just at the end of the round. At our contest there is no time limit for a contestants round and the audience is strongly encouraged to holler their encouragement to the fiddlers during the tunes and to just generally whoop it up! We also allow as many accompanists as the fiddler wants, so the dads and moms can play along with hot-shot accompanists behind their fiddling kids. And we allow cross tuning, so you can hear some of the old archaic tunes. Oldtime fiddling is a living folk art, one of the last. Some of these old tunes are 300 years old and have been passed down from generations. Where else could you see a kid playing a tune in 2005 that his great-grandpa played in 1902? The music is learned by ear, not sheet music. The oldtime fiddling harks back to when music wasn't made by celebrities, but by your uncle and neighbors. At a fiddle contest there are no 'stars' kept separate back stage. You can meet and greet some of the best fiddlers in the world here. It's just a different music scene." In addition to the fun of fiddling, a big draw for the fiddlers is the prize money. This is the best paying dinky contest in the country. All of the prize money is generously donated by local merchants and individuals. Bring your lawn chairs & blankets. Seating will be available for seniors under a shade tent. Divisions break down like this:  Pee-Wee (age 11 & under):  Senior (age 60 & over):  Junior (12 to 17):  Open:  Championship:  Accompanist division:  Miscellaneous acoustic division (open to banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass, accordion, tuba, banjo sexto, etc.)  If 'yer into fidlin' this is for you! This is definitely classic.

August   Seattle Tibet-Fest. Northwest Tibetans will gather to celebrate and display Tibetan culture, art, handicrafts, music, and traditional food for the general public. The spectacular music and dance of Tibet are the star attractions at this colorful two-day festival at the Seattle Center. Featuring arts, crafts, literature, lectures and plenty of food, TibetFest is a cultural feast of entertainment from the Land of the Snows that is guaranteed to dazzle all visitors. Members of the esteemed Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts from Dharamsala in India join local dance troupe Nyenchen Thangla to present traditional folk music and dances of Tibet. Dressed in stunning silks and brocades of many colors and dripping in silver and turquoise jewels, the dancers wow audiences with tales of nomads and farmers and dances of gypsies, stags and yaks. TibetFest has been running since 1985 and is brought to Seattle by the close-knit community of Tibetan refugees who live in the area, through a local organization called the Tibetan Association of Washington.

August   Makah Days. The grand parade, street fair, canoe races, traditional "slahal" games, singing , feasting, bone games, salmon bake, traditional dancing and a spectacular fireworks show are all part of Makah Days. This celebration is held every year towards the end of August at the Makah Indian Reservation, Neah Bay.

August   Anacortes Arts Festival. In downtown Anacortes, the Anacortes Arts Festival's mission is to promote the arts in the community, reflect a desire to expand the support of the arts and to continue to promote a high quality yearly festival with a commitment to produce an outstanding fine art show. For over 40 years, the Festival is one of the oldest and largest in the Northwest. Since the early 60’s the Festival has been building a Permanent Collection, which includes pieces from many Northwest artists. The Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival got its start in 1962 from the Parisienne Montmartre - a French open-air cafe. With the support of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the first festival in July of 1962 was billed as “the longest art display in the world”. In the 45 years since that simple beginning, the Festival has grown into one of the largest and most respected Festivals in the northwest.

August   Washington State International Kite Festival. The Washington State International Kite Festival has been held in Long Beach for more than two decades and is held during the 3rd full week of August each year. This event has been voted Best Kite Festival in the World. Its a place  where you can come and join in the fun during a colorful, friendly fun- filled week. Festivities start out with Kite Trains, Arches and Multi-line stacks and join the "engineers" for some fun. It includes a workshop for adults and children with special needs. Then comes Tubular Tuesday, followed by Red, White and Blue Day honoring our flag. On Thursday, there is Handcrafted Kite Day, which is a popular event for all with a variety of categories and three levels of competition. On Friday, there are Demos, Hot Tricks, Junior Dual Line Competition and Mass Ascensions. The night skies are lighted with the Night Fly and fireworks. Starting Saturday off are Fighter Kites, Rokkaku babbles and the cody Kite Fly. Then there are more mass Ascensions, the Pin Challenge and Showtime. Saturday evening brings the Kite Museum Auction / Festival / Awards and Fireworks on the beach. Sunday wraps things up with a Family Fun Fly.

August   Seattle Music Fest. Seattle Music Fest at Alki Beach is billed as Seattle's premiere summer event showcasing emerging Northwest bands and select national acts. It is a free, all-ages, three-day music festival with a beautiful waterfront stage at Alki Beach in West Seattle. Three days of amazing music at one of the most beautiful beaches around.   New music, new things to do, new foods to try, and an atmosphere like no other event. SMF is unique among NW festivals. • It focuses on the music. • It showcases extraordinary, emerging artists as well as featured headliners, giving some of the most carefully scouted bands an opportunity for us all to get to know them. • It's hip, but never hipper-than-thou.  All the cool music with a very welcoming environment.• It's truly all-ages. The beautiful surroundings and open tradition make this a show for families. Tattooed and pierced 19-year-olds stand next to retired folks. • It's a menu of good music.  If you'd like to go out more to see live music but have no idea who those bands are, here's your chance to see dozens of bands in three days and pick your favorites. • It's low-cost for those who need it.   SMF is free with a small, suggested donation.  Those who can't afford other concerts can attend here. Three Short Days to Discover Great Music.

August   Arts in Nature Festival. During August, experience jazz, folk, classical, and other music; dance and theatre; visual arts; and kids' activities held by the Nature Consortium at Camp Long in West Seattle. Arts~in~Nature Festival is a 2-day celebration exploring themes of nature through the creative arts. There is music, dance, theatre, an outdoor museum of sound, kids & family activities, food & drink and a whole lot more where creative artists of all genres "come out to play in the woods" during this funky annual celebration. From dancers scaling a glacier to an outdoor museum of sound, this festival will showcase an impressive number of locally renowned performing artists, sound artists and ensembles. This multidisciplinary event is nestled in the forested arms of Camp Long in West Seattle. Eight rustic cabins will house the "museum of sound" where artists will take up residency for the weekend, creating interactive sound and visual installations. Wandering musicians, characters and dancers will also infiltrate the forested landscape between the cabins. The festival will have 4 performance venues: in the Lodge, in a forested grove by the Pond, on the climbing "Glacier," and at the creative sound stage by the fire circle. There will be a wide array of eclectic and traditional offerings from experimental & improvised to classical, Javanese, traditional Latin American and indie/brit-pop. The event includes a 2-hour Kite Festival on Saturday and a Laughter Circle on Sunday. There will be hands-on interactive EcoArt workshops in the Family/Kids area and String Figure Art in the Woods by the West Shelter. In addition, there will be healthy, delicious food & drink. With a serious commitment to conservation, all festival marketing materials are printed on tree-free paper made from the kenaf plant.

August   Olalla Bluegrass Festival. Held in Olalla (on the Kitsap Peninsula, north of Gig Harbor and south of Port Orchard) here's an opportunity to "kick the city off your shoes" during mid-August of each year. Here you can experience old time fiddlers, hand-crafted arts and crafts, good country food, a kid's parade and a berry pie contest. Plus old-time craft demonstrations. "Olalla" means "land of many berries." What tastier way to celebrate roots than with a homemade berry pie. For those so interested, your best berry pie can be declared the tastiest in all the land. Olalla may be a small place, but it has a big appetite for good berry pie. If you think that you can tip the M-m-m-m Scale, give the Olalla Bluegrass Festival your best shot while enjoying good ol' bluegrass music.

August   Loggers Jubilee. Every year on the second weekend of August, the town of Morton, Washington opens it's doors and welcomes all to come and experience their past and present community history. The Loggers' Jubilee has become "the Granddaddy of all Logging Shows" and a celebration for people of all ages. From the Main Street Parades to the Lawnmower races, the world famous Logging show to the Jubilee Queen Coronation, Morton's Loggers' Jubilee promises a good time for anyone.

August   Evergreen State Fair. Held at Monroe, Snohomish County the last weekend of August since 1908.

August   Commencement Bay Maritime Fest   Held at Dock Street, Thea Foss Waterway, and the Port of Tacoma, the Commencement Bay Maritime Festival is a week long festival to celebrate Tacoma’s working waterfront. The Fest encourages all citizens to celebrate its waterfront by experiencing art, history, environmental education, music, trade, boat and train rides, cultural diversity and hands-on activities unique to the Thea Foss Waterway and the Tacoma Tideflats. Organized by the Port of Tacoma, featuring a celebration along Thea Foss Waterway, this event is held in September and features activities from parades to port tours, cruises to concerts, tugboat races to rip-tide rowers. The Commencement Bay Maritime Fest is a relative newcomer on the scene, yet the city's waterfront community has a long tradition of tugboat and steamboat racing -- going back over a hundred years. The setting for the Tacoma event is perfect, with activities taking place along Thea Foss Waterway, named, of course, after the woman who told the old man to get out there with that row boat and bring those square riggers and schooners in here! If you're a maritime fan, you will probably find something of interest along Thea Foss Waterway come the middle of September of each year. AND........ held in conjunction with the Commencement Bay Maritime Fest is the annual Dragons on the Foss Dragon Boat Festival, and definitely an eye-opening extravaganza. Corporate, city, and club crew dragon boat teams compete for trophies and medals in the most exciting spectator event on Foss Waterway. Each four-boat race brings 80 paddlers and four drummers pounding across the finish line. Lion dancing opens the festival. Sponsored and managed by the Tacoma Dragon Boat Association  This colorful racing event, which draws thousands of spectators, began as a demonstration race during Maritime Fest 1999. Rich in cultural history, dragon boat racing is an international sport. www.TacomaDragonBoat.org