The Emerald Palate

Seattle food tours & retreats

Seasonal Activities, Things to Do ·

All the Best Things to Do in Seattle in September 2026

Best things to do in Seattle in September: Visit a national park on a free day

I loved compiling a list of the best things to do in Seattle in September. There’s more to do than most people realize, and fewer tourists to deal with too as kids are back in school. Plus the days are still long, with sunsets around 7:30 PM, and the weather is pleasantly in the mid-60s.

With fall around the corner, restaurants and bars are making use of their patios and hosting the last of their outdoor events, and fall activities like apple picking and fall hikes are finally beginning.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’ll love this list of all the best things to do in Seattle in September!

This post has affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you if you click on them and make a purchase. This is a small way I earn money to support this site. If links aren’t showing up for you, turn off your ad blocking software. Thank you for your support!

Best Things to Do in Seattle in September

Save this list to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update it when I discover more of the best Seattle September events! For a snapshot of more fun activities, check out my Seattle events calendar.

Attend Bumbershoot

website | Lower Queen Anne (get directions) | dates: Sept 5-6 | price: ~$100+ pp per day | best for: music festival

Bumbershoot is a major music and arts festival happening over Labor Day weekend. Expect a concert series featuring local and big-name performers, comedic performances, craft vendors, a beer garden, food trucks, and a local art show.

person filming a musician at Bumbershoot, one of the best things to do in Seattle in September
Image courtesy of ChetStThomas

Geek out at a video game or lego conference

Gamers and VR aficionados are going to want to head to PAX West from September 4-7. It’s a gaming convention highlighting cutting-edge technology with panels, demos, and tournaments. Or head to Seattle Indies Expo on September 6 to meat other game designers and indie game enthusiasts.

If you’re more into tactile games like Legos, buy a ticket to BrickCon September 12-13 and get a close-up view of life-sized Lego models, or start building your collection.

Find thrills at the WA State Fair 

website | Puyallup (get directions) | dates: Sept 4-27 | price: ~$13-$15pp admission, more for rides and games | best for: rides

swings at the Washington State Fair, one of the best things to do in Seattle in September

I make it a point to visit the Washington State Fair every year with my nieces so we can go on carnival rides until we get dizzy. To make it more economical, we always get the Dizzy Pass wrist bands for unlimited rides, as tickets per each ride add up quick.

If you’re not really into ride, there’s also a lot of other things to do at the fair. Music lovers should prioritize their concert series, while those who love animals can go to the petting zoo or various animal shows. There is also a ton of fair food, crafts, and carnival games to wile away the day.

Attend an arts fest or shopping event

Take advantage of the last few sunny days and check out the local art festivals. They’re usually free to enter, great for families, and often have live music and good food. These arts fest take place in September:

woman laughing in front of a tile mural in downtown Oly historic district

Indulge at a food & drink event

One of the most fun things to do in Seattle come September is to check out a local food and drink festival. Here are the ones happening in September:

Food events
Drink events

Note, many of these also have food!

Go on a food crawl 

With countless restaurants in Seattle, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time. Save yourself the trouble and do one of my self-guided food tours. They’re regularly updated and include tips on what to order, when to go, and honorable mentions so you can customize your tour.

If you prefer in-person guided tours, try one of these options:

Celebrate Oktoberfest

Beer lovers know one of the best things to do in Seattle in September is Oktoberfest. It’s the perfect excuse to check out the Seattle beer scene. Several Seattle neighborhoods take this holiday very seriously. Here are ones going on this month:

person holding cup of beer

Visit the Wooden Boat Festival

website | Port Townsend (get directions) | date: Sept 11-13 | price: ~$33+ pp | best for: wooden boats

The Wooden Boat Festival is a chance for families and boat lovers to learn about Port Townsend’s maritime culture. Tickets allow you to walk aboard the boats, attend presentations, and enjoy live music. There will also be food vendors and a kids’ corner. It’s the perfect excuse to explore all the fun things to do in Port Townsend!

Gawk at the Seattle Modern Home Tour

website | various locations | date: Sept 12 | price: ~$23+ pp | best for: interior design fiends

You don’t have to wait for open houses to snoop in some of the city’s most beautiful homes. The Seattle Modern Home Tour lets you inside 8 of the most meticulously-designed new builds from talented Seattle-area architects.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Nationally observed from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and impact of individuals with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It’s the perfect excuse to explore the Seattle’s best Mexican restaurants and street tacos.

Or dive in deeper and celebrate at these events happening throughout September and into October:

Immerse yourself in a cultural festival

Every month the Seattle Center hosts cultural festivals. They’re free to the public and designed to share the unique aspects of different cultures. In September, besides the Hispanic Heritage Month events mentioned above, there’s the Hawaiian Festival (Sept 13), the Latin American Sea Mar Festival (Sept 19-20), and the Italian Festival (Sept 26-27).

In addition to the Seattle Center events, there are a bunch of other cultural festivals happening around the city:

Cultural street performance, one of the best things to do in Seattle in August
Image courtesy of Alabastro Photography

Attend a neighborhood festival

Neighborhood festivals are a great way to explore Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods and highlight local artists and vendors through free, family-friendly activities. Here are some happening in September in Seattle:

Check out a music festival

Seattle is a city for music lovers, and fortunately, many outdoor shows are held in September. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Attend an orchestra concert by candlelight

Nothing says romance quite like surprising your partner with a candlelight orchestra of their favorite cover band. Catch covers of Michael Jackson (Sept 6 & 12), The Beatles (Sept 26), and my personal favorite, 90s Unplugged (Sept 20). I went to this last one and it was so nostalgic. Some of the songs were so haunting when played on orchestra music. For example, I almost cried at Zombie by The Cranberries!

pianist surrounded by candles on a stage
Image courtesy of Fever

See a band

Take advantage of Seattle’s music scene and catch one of your favorite performers live. Here are some that are on my list to check out:

Watch a theater or comedy performance

It’s safe to say there’s always a live performance in the city. Here are the ones happening in September:

Cheer at a sports game

September is when all the most popular major league sports overlap. Between the Mariners (baseball), Seahawks (pro football), Huskies (college football), Storm (basketball), Sounder (men’s soccer), Reign (women’s soccer), and Kraken (hockey) leagues, you have a lot of options!

view of the Mariners baseball stadium with Seattle skyline in the background

Visit the Edmonds Classic Car Show

website | Edmonds (get directions) | date: Sept 6 | price: free | best for: car buffs

If you’re a classic cars and motorcycles fan, you’ll want to check out the Edmonds Classic Car Show. It’ll feature 250+ classic vehicles alongside a beer garden, vendors, and bites served by some of the best restaurants in Edmonds.

Love monster trucks? The Monster Jam show is happening on September 19 at Lumen Field.

Go wine tasting

Seattle has no shortage of wine tasting rooms, especially in the SODO neighborhood where you’ll find most of the city’s urban wineries. If you’re up for a short drive, Woodinville is under an hour away and has over 130+ Washington wineries.

person pouring white wine into a glass

Go apple picking

One of the best things to do in Seattle in September is something I eagerly wait for each year: apple-picking at farms near Seattle. Most orchards are in eastern Washington, but there are a few in Snohomish if you’re hoping to stay close to Seattle, like Bailey Farm, Swans Trail Farms, and Skipley Farms.

There are also a number of farm stands and u-pick fields in Skagit Valley, like Pleasant Ridge Farms, Jones Creek Farm, and Gordon Skagit Farms. It’s the perfect excuse to explore all the fun things to to in Skagit and the best Skagit restaurants.

Or head up to Whatcom County around 2 hours north to go to the impressively large Bellwood Farms apple orchard and distillery. It’s the perfect excuse for spending the day in Lynden, a cute town nearby.

Visit a state or national park for free

In honor of Constitution Day, all national parks are free to enter on September 17. If you’ve always wanted to explore Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park, some of the best Pacific Northwest national parks, now’s your chance!

State parks are also free in September, but this time it’s September 26 for National Public Lands Day. It’s the perfect excuse to explore the best hiking spots near Seattle.

woman walking on Mt Rainier hike trail with beautiful fall colors

Attend Farm Fest

website | Rainier Beach (get directions) | date: Sept 19 | price: free | best for: urban farming festival

Farm Fest is hosted by Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands. Each year they host an urban agriculture celebration with activities and seminars geared toward green living, growing your produce, kids’ craft activities, and cooking demos.

Frolic at a flower festival 

I think one of the best things to do in Seattle in September is check out the sunflowers when they’re in full bloom. There’s also a flower festival in Skagit Valley with other blooms like dahlias. Here are the details:

woman on a swing at a sunflower farm, one of the best things to do in Olympia, WA

Watch your heart out at a film fest

Film festivals are a fantastic way to support local film schools and view films you might not otherwise come across. Here are some festivals happening in September:

Attend a boat show

website | Kirkland (get directions) | date: Sept 17-20 | price: ~$16+ pp | best for: boat enthusiasts

The Boats Afloat Show is the perfect excuse to browse that boat you’ve always been dreaming of. You’ll get to enjoy views of South Lake Union will touring boats of varying sizes and styles. There will also be free seminars, live music, kids’ activities, food, and a beer garden.

Go swimming with your pup

website | Kirkland (get directions) | date: Sept 12 | price: ~$10 per dog | best for: fun with the dogs

Celebrate the closing of pool season by bringing your pup to swim at the Peter Kirk Pool. This fun, family-friendly event will feature vendor booths, food trucks, and lots of soggy, happy dogs!

Husky swimming in a pool
Image courtesy of Prachya Singhto

Find peace at the Branch Out Bonsai Fest

website | Federal Way (get directions) | date: Sept 27 | price: ~$175pp | best for: bonsai trees

The Pacific Bonsai Museum is hosting their annual fundraising event and celebrating their 10th anniversary. Expect an evening of peacefully strolling past bonsai exhibits alongside live music, good food, and libations.

Get inspired at a sustainable fashion show

website | Kirkland (get directions) | date: Sept 18 | price: ~$90+ pp | best for: sustainable fashion show

The Kirkland Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual sustainable fashion show featuring local boutiques, creative outfits, and a silent auction. There will be complimentary bubbles and a plated lunch, and you’ll even leave with a swag bag of fun surprises.

woman walking a catwalk at a fashion show
Image courtesy of Peter Duhon

Embrace fashion at Bellevue’s Fashion Week

website | neighborhood: Bellevue (get directions) | dates: Sept 26 | price: ~$150pp | best for: fashion show

Celebrate fall fashion at the PNW’s premier fashion event. You’ll catch the latest trends live on the runway, and 100% of the ticket sales benefit local nonprofits like the Children’s Museum. Note, this is a 21+ event.

Visit a museum on one of their free days

Most Seattle museums offer free admission at least once a month so locals and families can enjoy the arts without spending a fortune. These museums offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month (September 3):

These are free Seattle museums every day:

a bunch of planes hanging in the Museum of Flight
Image courtesy of the Museum of Flight

More Seattle activities

After you check off all the best things to do in Seattle in September, check out my other guides to making the most of late summer and early autumn!

Join the club

You May Also Like

The Pike Place Market sign, a must-visit on any Seattle bucket listSeattle Bucket List: 70 Things to Do in Your Lifetime
couples watching burlesque dancers, one of the best Seattle date night ideasSeattle Date Night Ideas Perfect for New and Long-Term Couples
person holding cocktail above view of city skyline off one of the best rooftop bars in SeattleBest Rooftop Bars in Seattle

Copyright © 2026 The Emerald Palate · Theme by 17th Avenue