You never know how 4th of July is gonna go around here, and especially with this weird Year Without a Spring we’ve had so far. However. The forecast is professing a rare, perfect Independence Day weekend in Seattle, with temps in the high 70s and zero rain whatsoever, and we want to believe. We’ve put together a fully loaded guide to outdoorsy activities to help you maximize the lovely holiday weather, just in case this is actually true…but look. If it rains, it’s not our fault. Here’s hoping these venues know the Seattle score and plan on partying anyway, rain OR shine.
For more options, check out our comprehensive Fourth of July calendar or our guide to places to get food for the Fourth of July. Like List
IN SEATTLE
Seafair Summer Fourth Past Event Like List
North End of Lake Union
The classic, the original. They don’t even bother putting “July” in the event name, because everybody knows what’s up. This is Seafair’s annual big-ass fireworks show at Gas Works Park, with the pyrotechnics exploding up above Lake Union and “choreographed” (that’s so cute) to a very loud pre-recorded musical score. There’ll also be two beer gardens, scads of food vendors, live bands, and a glow-in-the-dark dance party that ends when the fireworks begin. As long as it doesn’t rain—not our fault if it does!!—this event will almost certainly be a mob scene, so you may wanna get a fresh COVID booster beforehand and definitely wear your mask, even though it’s outside. The park spans 19 acres, though, so maybe you can find a secret nook with a visible patch of sky to watch the show from. Gas Works is the best place in the city to find sexy secret nooks, for real.
(Mon July 4, Gas Works Park, Wallingford, $0–$70)
South End of Lake Union
If standing around at Ground Zero of Seattle fireworks isn’t your thing, Lake Union Park on the opposite side of the water offers a picture-perfect view of the same show, and probably the same caliber of mob scene. Masks, please. There’ll also be DJ music, food trucks, and a beer garden, plus you can walk to about a million restaurants and bars. FWIW, the promo copy claims that this vantage point offers a darker view of the sky, facing north, and therefore a brighter, more vivid view of the fireworks than the south-facing Gas Works Park party, which… is this true? Because of the light pollution from downtown? Or the location of the moon? Or some other reason?? We had no idea, but we’re delighted to know it.
(Mon July 4, Lake Union Park, South Lake Union, $0–$85)
Art Marble 21 Fourth of July Weekend and Block Party
Past Event
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Art Marble 21, South Lake Union’s premiere multi-level resto-bar and events space that used to be a granite showroom 100 years ago (literally), is whooping it up for the 4th, with DJs, a beer garden, and plenty of of games, both indoor and outdoor, for the whole neighborhood to enjoy. From Friday through Monday, there’ll be DJs every evening (this part is 21+), and Monday’s festivities run until right before the fireworks start. It’s sort of interesting to think of South Lake Union as a community, since it’s so… corporate-flavored, but yeah, okay. Hella people live in those towers, not just companies, and they need a block party as much as everyone else. This is really nice.
(July 1–4, Art Marble 21, South Lake Union, free)
Black Book In The Park
Past Event
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Los Angeles event producer AMFAMFAMF, which stands for “All My Friends” (uh, times three) and local producer Studio 4/4 are the impresarios behind Black Book in the Park, a formerly annual house music event at the Mural Amphitheater that’s back this summer after a three-year hiatus. (Possibly because they played house music outside and it canceled itself out?) Labelmates from Black Book Records will be performing, including British DJ (and Black Book owner) Chris Lake, L.A.-based electronic dance act Noizu, and Australian electro-swing duo Yolanda Be Cool.
(Mon July 4, Mural Amphitheatre, Uptown, $65)
Monkey Loft July 4th BBQ Rooftop Party
Past Event
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Down in the dark industrial bowels of SoDo, the Monkey Loft is gonna be featuring at least 10 DJs, headlined by DJ Mark Farina, and two rooms of music, plus a rooftop barbecue. That counts as outdoorsy, right? Chef Chris Eiman from Saru Sushi and Sando, Monkey Loft’s building-mate, will be manning the sky grill. He’s like the headliner of the barbecue. Or maybe DJ Mark Farina is the chef of the DJ sets. At least one of those things is definitely true.
(Mon July 4, Monkey Loft, SoDo, $20–$30)
Red, White & Bollywood Party with DJ Prashant
Past Event
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This is marketing genius, first of all. Bollywood Dreams is celebrating India-pendence Day (we’re calling it that, not them) on Sunday night with DJs Prashant and Lakshay, who’ll be spinning Bhangra and Bollywood bangers all night. There’ll be themed cocktail specials, and guests are asked to dress in red, white, and/or blue, OR as their favorite Bollywood character. “Let's celebrate the things that make America great: immigrants, diversity, music, and DANCE!” says the promo copy. We couldn’t agree more.
(Sun July 3, Nectar, Fremont, $22–$30)
Naturalization Ceremony
Past Event
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Every Fourth of July, the public is invited to welcome Seattle’s freshly minted Americans, as the Seattle Center hosts the swearing-in of dozens and sometimes hundreds of new citizens from around the world. Seattle’s annual naturalization ceremony is one of the largest in the nation. As previously mentioned, immigration is what actually makes America great, and the naturalization process can take years or even decades, so this humble-seeming party’s a big deal for many folks. Bring your little tiny flags for wavin’!
(Mon July 4, Fisher Pavilion, Uptown, free)
OUTSIDE SEATTLE
Oak Harbor Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
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Oak Harbor, on the north end of spectacular Whidbey Island, is hosting not one but three days of Fourth of July festivities–and you can drive to it! There’s a bridge! No ferry required! In addition to a fleet of 15 food trucks, there’ll be a street fair, a parade, live music, and a fireworks show on Monday night. This event will be super adorable and delicious, but we’ll tell you right now that traffic is gonna be fucked in and around Deception Pass on any of the three days, like it is every holiday weekend, so we recommend coming early and keeping an eye on the traffic view on Google Maps. It’ll be fine; just plan ahead.
(July 2–4, Windjammer Park, free)
The Bainbridge Island Grand Old 4th of July
Past Event
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Guys, is there anything more adorable than a small-town street fair? Before you respond, the answer is: There is not. Out on Bainbridge Island, the sweet seaside town of Winslow is dishing up a big bowl of old-timey Fourth of July family fun: They’ll have a street fair with local vendors, a mile-long parade, a 5K run, an antique/classic car show, live music, and a giant slide!! Plus there’s picnic areas, shuttle service, a beer garden, kids' games, pony rides, bouncy houses, and lots more. Also, the whole thing kicks off with a pancake breakfast at 7 am. This place has everything.
(Mon July 4, Downtown Winslow, free)
Lake Wenatchee Rec Club’s Fourth of July Weekend Flea Market
Past Event
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Every year, the Lake Wenatchee Rec Club hosts a massive day-and-a-half-long flea market, and…this year is no exception. It’s open to the public, sellers and shoppers both, with tables going for $10 per vendor. The Rec Club is by the southeastern end of the lake, near Lake Wenatchee State Park, with plenty of close-by options for swimmin’ and fishin’ and picnickin’ to chase your afternoon of treasure-huntin’. By the way, crystal-clear, glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee is a great example of Washington State’s natural splendor at its finest, and it’s only two hours away from the city by car, on a gorgeous, mountain-studded path via scenic U.S. Route 2. If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s your excuse.
(July 2–3, Lake Wenatchee Rec Club, free)
Ascend Prime 2022 Epicurean Summer Soiree
Past Event
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Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi is a Vegas-flavored ultra fine-dining spot in Bellevue’s schmancy Lincoln Square, which just so happens to be celebrating its fourth birthday on the Fourth of July! The deal is that, for $250, you get access to seven “culinary stations” that feature 20+ dishes and beverages as well as live chef demonstrations, drink credits for bespoke cocktails and vintage wines, a live band, and a sweeping 31st-floor view of the downtown Bellevue fireworks show. Hm, not bad. Probably the kind of thing you’d dress up for. They don’t offer hints as to what’s being served, but the name of the game at Ascend seems to be uni and foie gras and A5 wagyu, stuff like that. It’s okay; you love surprises.
(Mon July 4, Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi, Bellevue, $250)
