From vibrant arts & culture to worldclass sporting events, new attractions, and lively celebrations—the Emerald City is buzzing with experiences all year long.
Whether you’ve made a promise to travel more in the new year or are a local who wants to explore more in your own town, here are 25 things to add to your 2025 Seattle Bucket List.
We know we haven’t captured all there is to do in this dynamic city. Feel free to suggest more bucket list items in the comments below!
1. Cirque du Soleil KOOZÅ and Teatro ZinZanni
Prepare to be dazzled by Cirque du Soleil KOOZÅ, an innovative journey viewed through the perspective of The Innocent, an endearing yet naïve clown looking for his place in the world. The fun takes place under the Big Top at Marymoor Park from January 19-March 16.
A mesmerizing mix of cirque, comedy, and cuisine, Teatro ZinZanni has returned to its hometown of Seattle for a brilliant show. SIZZLE! runs through March 30 in SODO at Emerald City Trapeze.
Burke Museum Dennis Wise
2. Seattle Museum Month
For the month of February, visitors staying at participating downtown hotels enjoy 50% off admission to some of the region’s top museums and cultural institutions during Seattle Museum Month. From pop culture to history to aviation, there’s a museum for everyone.
3. Musical Theater
Seattle’s performing arts shine throughout the year at theaters across town. Here are just a few of the incredible offerings:
Paramount Theatre: Some Like It Hot (Sep 16-21) Shucked (Nov 4-9), Disney’s The Lion King (Dec 4-Jan 4, 2026)
The 5th Avenue Theatre: SUFFS (Sep 13-27), Chicago (Oct 22-Nov 2), Elf: The Musical (Nov 28-Dec 28)
4. Seattle Children’s Theatre
Opened in 1975, Seattle Children’s Theatre’s 50th season features programming including Fancy Dancer (Sep 18-Nov 2) and The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! (Nov 20-Jan 4, 2026).
5. Live Music
Seattle is a city of music. From jazz and classical to hip hop and country, musicians of all genres come to play in the Emerald City. Here is just a sampling of what you can hear this year:
Climate Pledge: Jonas Brothers (Sep 22), Dua Lipa (Oct 15-16), Heart (Nov 23)
The Crocodile: The Chameleons (Sep 26), Good Neighbours (Nov 3), An evening w/ ZEPPARELLA (Dec 12)
Neumos: DJ Lex (Sep 27), Smallpools (Nov 12), Lasso (Nov 24)
Seattle Symphony: Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton (Sep 27-28), Coraline (Oct 30-31), Holiday Pops (Dec 12-14)
Photo: Andrew Jacob Media
6. March Madness
Cheer on your favorite teams and experience March Madness first and second rounds, March 21 & 23 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
7. Keith Haring, A Radiant Legacy at MOPOP
MoPOP presents Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy, a special exhibition offering an in-depth celebration of the iconic artist’s life, work, and activism from NYC to Seattle through 240+ Haring artworks and objects, a selection from Haring’s personal art collection, 20 objects from Angel Ortiz (LAII), and a community youth partnership. View the exhibit through March 23.
8. Cherry Blossoms
From mid-March through early April, cherry trees color the city with their delicate pink blooms that typically thrive for two or three weeks. These beautiful blossoms are a sight to behold throughout the city, but you can see the greatest concentration on the University of Washington’s Quad.
9. Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei at Seattle Art Museum
From March 12-September 7, explore over 100 works created by Ai Weiwei across four decades, from the 1980s to the 2020s. This career-spanning exhibition highlights Ai as a provocateur and identifies his key strategies for disrupting artistic canons and challenging political authoritarianism.
Taste Washington Grand Tasting 2023 © FrontRowSociety.net, Photo: Andreas Conrad
10. Taste Washington 2025
Taste Washington—the nation’s largest single-region wine and food festival—returns to Seattle March 13-17, celebrating its 25th anniversary. Events will take place across the region, including the always popular Grand Tasting at Lumen Field Event Center.
11. Women’s Professional Sports
Seattle is lucky to have two women’s professional teams: Seattle Storm (WNBA) and Seattle Reign (NWSL). Catch a game at Lumen Field where the Reign kick off from March-October, or make your way to Climate Pledge Arena May-September to watch the four-time WNBA champions take the court.
12. Seattle International Film Festival
Experience the magic of film at the 51st annual Seattle International Film Festival held at SIFF Cinemas and venues across the city from May 15-25. The festival spotlights over 80 films from new and established directors, showcasing sensational hit independents, and films that have yet to break through to the US audiences.
Bumbershoot 2023 Rachael Jones
13. Outdoor Arts & Music Festivals
Celebrate Seattle’s vibrant arts and culture with outdoor festivals including Northwest Folklife (May 23-26), Day In Day Out (Jul), Capitol Hill Block Party (Jul 18-20), and Bumbershoot (Aug 30-31).
14. Cruise from Seattle
Take in the wonder of the Puget Sound as you sail from Seattle to Alaska on a memorable cruise during the 2025 season from April-October. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will sail out of Seattle for the first time in 2025 for her annual Alaska season. Voyage itineraries will range from seven to eleven nights, taking place between June 12 and September 25, 2025. For ideas on things to do in Seattle before and after your cruise, check out Visit Seattle’s cruise info page.
15. Seattle Waterfront
Seattle continues to improve its already impressive downtown walkability and attractions with the Waterfront redevelopment project. Enjoy a scenic bayside promenade featuring shops, bike lanes, and the Washington State Ferries terminal. Effortlessly stroll between Pike Place Market and the waterfront using Overlook Walk, an elevated park connecting the two for the first time ever. And make sure to take the family to Pier 58 where a massive jellyfish playground sculpture invites people to play.
16. Cannonball Arts
The producers of Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival, New Rising Sun, is partnering with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe created a new arts venue that opened to the public in August of 2025. Cannonball Arts will offer two stories of contemporary and performing arts space spanning two city blocks (Third and Fourth Avenues).
Seattle Pride Parade 2022 David Newman
17. Seattle Pride Month
Break out your colors and celebrate Pride all through June in Seattle. Community events span throughout the month and culminate with the lively Pride Parade and Pridefest celebration on Pride Weekend June 28-29. Learn more at pride.visitseattle.org.
18. Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder at Seattle Art Museum
The exhibition Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder runs through June 1 and features large-scale wood sculptures of contemporary artist Thaddeus Mosley, as well as Calder’s iconic hanging mobiles, a standing mobile, and a wall sculpture.
Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion Seattle Aquarium
19. Seattle Aquarium’s New Ocean Pavilion
Come face-to-face with sharks, rays, schooling fish, mangroves, seagrasses and nearly 30 species of coral in the new Ocean Pavilion. The space also features art from Dan Friday (Lummi Nation), that honors the Aquarium’s location on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, who have stewarded these lands and waters for generations.
20. FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Watch as the Seattle Sounders take on some of the world’s best teams during group-stage games of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ at Lumen Field from June 15-25. Lumen field will host six matches in total when the most globally inclusive club football tournament in history is held in the United States this summer.
21. Seattle Art Fair
From July 17-20, explore dozens of contemporary and modern art galleries from around the world al, plus special projects and innovative performances at the 9th annual Seattle Art Fair! The fair takes place at Lumen Field Event Center and offers a unique look into the vibrant arts community of the Pacific Northwest.
22. Tidelands Native Art Gallery
Native art gallery meets production studio meets boutique at this new space near the Seattle waterfront. Tidelands‘ vision is to create a thriving, Indigenous-owned creative space that redefines the narrative of Native America. Stop by to view their latest exhibition, partake in a workshop, or peruse their beautifully curated pieces of art, wares, and customized merchandise.
23. Picklewood Paddle Club
Combining pickleball, food, drinks, and community, Picklewood in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood is one of the latest endeavors of local restaurateur Ethan Stowell. Enjoy a lively game of pickleball while noshing on courtside food at this lively club. Picklewood is slated to open in fall 2025.
Minhi England demo at Refract 2022
24. Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience
The Pacific Northwest has long been known as the epicenter of studio glass in the US. Visit Seattle October 16-19 for Refract, a four-day festival that allows you to explore this fascinating art, meet artists, tour studios, see special demonstrations, mingle at art parties, and more.
25. Seattle Holidays
Plan your holiday getaway to the Emerald City and enjoy everything from dazzling light displays and festive markets to theater performances and special events during November and December.