Find a complete list of festivals in Seattle this spring on our Things To Do calendar.
March 3–5
Seattle Fringe Festival showcases local talent that doesn't often get play on larger stages. This a good thing for several reasons: (1) You get to see fun shows you may have missed throughout the year. (2) There's a bunch of weird stuff you're more likely to embrace in a festival-type setting than in an evening at the thea-tah-type setting. And (3) you can check out new work. RS
March 15–20
Now in its fifth year, the APRIL Festival (which happens every March!) celebrates the work of small press publishers by throwing innovative, substantive, and boozy book events that you actually want to attend. RS
March 25–27
Anime convention Sakura-Con returns for its 19th year, so expect downtown Seattle to once again be filled with people dressed as mecha, schoolgirls, and video game characters at the end of March. No, but really: There will be concerts, art, gaming, screening, panels, and "industry guests."
May 13–14
Experimental/noise mecca Debacle Fest returns for another year. The eclectic mystery lineup ("A variety of Debacle Records family, emerging PNW artists, and the unknown") features performances on two stages over two days.
May 19– June 12
Seattle International Film Festival
The 42nd year of SIFF brings 150,000 attendees to 25 days of more than 450 films from 90 countries.
May 27–30
Sasquatch! returns to the Gorge for another long Memorial Day weekend of great music, with a lineup including Vince Staples, Purity Ring, Grimes, M83, Sufjan Stevens, and a boatload of local talent like Tacocat and Wimps.
