Labor Day Weekend: Seattle’s 36th Annual Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot: a noun, another name for an umbrella.
Labor Day: a noun, the last 3-day weekend of the summer, and the time for Seattle’s Bumbershoot, the country’s largest music and arts festival.
Billed as the “mother of all arts festivals,” Bumbershoot was one of the good things to come out of Seattle in the 70’s, an otherwise turbulent and uninspired time in the city’s history.
Then Mayor, Wes Uhlman, formed a citizen’s group to create a citywide event that would both jumpstart the economy, and infuse people with a sense of fun and enthusiasm.
Originally billed as the Seattle Arts Festival, the FREE festival launched in 1971 on the Seattle Center grounds, and embraced a wildly eclectic assortment of activities.
In 1980, with a non-profit organization running the event, the festival added headline acts to the event, necessitating admission charges to some of the events. However, it never turned its back on the foundation of the festival ““ northwest talent and artisans. This was the time when the nation was starting to turn its eyes to the Seattle music scene.
The 90’s saw the Bumbershoot model being replicated in other cities around the country: New Orleans (Jazz and Heritage Festival) and Milwaukee (Summerfest).
The 2000’s have seen Bumbershoot take on an International flavor, as artists from around the world have appeared. The festival continues to be on the cutting edge of the music and arts scene, yet remains true to the belief that celebrating art is a community activity. There remains something for everyone at Bumbershoot.
This weekend, Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day, will be the 36th annual Bumbershoot. Tickets for the event range from $30-$80 (one to three days passes), and discounts are available for advance purchases. You can buy tickets online at Ticketmaster or through Bumbershoot. You can also get tickets at area Starbuck’s. Buying in advance is a very good choice as it allows you to avoid the lines on the day of the event.
Events at this year’s Bumbershoot include: comedy, film, dance, theater, performance art, visual arts, literary arts, indie market (arts, crafts, vendors), and kids programs. A full schedule of the musical acts and venues is available here, along with a handy outline for planning your weekend events.
Although there is public and private parking available in the Seattle Center area, the sheer volume of people attending Bumbershoot may make it difficult to find. Consider public transportation. A detailed list of options is available through Metro Online, but here are some basic suggestions:
- Bumbershoot Shuttle Northgate ““ leaves from Northgate Shopping Mall
- Bumbershoot Shuttle Downtown ““ runs every 10 minutes (10:45 am-11:30 pm) between 3rd & Pike and 5th & Broad at the Seattle Center
- Metro bus ““ Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 24, 33, and 74
- Metro Rideshare ““ Check the online service that also provides “ride matches” to regional events.
An added benefit for this year is that according to the weather forecast, you won’t need to bring your bumbershoot to Bumbershoot!
Photo credit: flickr
Tags: Art, b5media, flight+attendants, flyaway-cafe, Music, Outdoor Activities, Seattle, Shopping, theater, travel, vacationRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Events, Outdoor Activities, Shopping, Things to See & Do
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