Seattle's Waterfront Park releases summer events lineup
With the FIFA World Cup just over a month away, Seattle's Waterfront Park - dubbed by officials as the city's "front porch" - has announced a summer season of community events to welcome an influx of both out-of-town visitors and locals.
This summer season, running May-September, the park will serve as the backdrop to hundreds of free events, cultural festivals and programming for the World Cup, Friends of Waterfront Park announced Monday. Over 3.4 million people flocked to the waterfront in 2025 for its grand opening season after the city completed its multimillion-dollar renovation of the park, according to the Monday news release.
"This season is about going deeper - grounding our work in Indigenous knowledge and continuing to build the waterfront through community-led place-making," said Yoon Kang O'Higgins, senior director of community impact and programs at Friends of Waterfront Park.
In February, Waterfront Park was designated as one of several free World Cup fan celebration locations during the tournament, which will run June 11-July 6. The park is also partnering with Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Reign FC and Rave Foundation to bring public viewing experiences; full details will be jointly announced by the organizations at a later date. More information about World Cup fan programming at the park can be found at waterfrontparkseattle.org/world-cup.
Key events at Waterfront Park
On June 27, Pier 62 will host its fifth annual Indigiqueer Festival, an event during Pride weekend that celebrates two-spirit, queer and trans Indigenous artistry with live performances and workshops from creatives across the Pacific Northwest.
Waterfront Block Party will take over Pier 62, the Salish Steps and Pier 58 on Aug. 29 - the park's largest gathering that's expected to draw 15,000-18,000 guests. Musical performances and workshops - including reggae luminary Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band, Latin jazz group Todo Es and Bollywood dance with Rhythms of India - will take place across three stages.
Spotlight at Waterfront Park, the free series of Thursday evening performances at Pier 58 and the Salish Steps, will return July 23-Sept. 24. There, guests will be treated to performances from Seattle Theatre Group's More Music @ The Moore showcase and Theatre Off Jackson's companies, Arab classical music and folk dance, a hip-hop producers event from 206 Zulu and much more.
Later in the season on Sept. 19, the park will partner with Salmon Homecoming Alliance for the 34th annual Salmon Homecoming on piers 58 and 62. A longstanding tradition that celebrates the Coast Salish peoples and salmon populations returning to the waterfront, there will be vendors, a canoe welcoming on the water and more.
Friends of Waterfront Park will also collaborate with other partners across the city for a number of events. Shop for new and used books at Bookending Summer pop-ups on Overlook Walk on May 24 and Sept. 6, organized with Friends of Seattle Public Library. Seattle Aquarium will bring drop-in, family-friendly programming to Pier 58 and the Ocean Pavilion Rooftop on select dates throughout the summer, dubbed SEA You at the Waterfront. Plus, the Seattle Chamber Music Society will bring its concert truck to the Salish Steps on June 28 for a live chamber music performance.
Seasonlong programming at the park will return, including community markets, wellness and movement classes, historical walking tours and "Currents of Connection," a new public art installation from Snoqualmie artist Taylor Cameron. For a complete calendar of events and to plan a visit, go to waterfrontparkseattle.org.
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