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Hoodstock puts the music festival out to sea.
I spy summer: August has floating music fests, fun aboard the state fair Ferris wheel, and easygoing art festivals. This month is the time to go all-in on outdoor playtime, and the state has plenty of events for it.
Quincy | aug 1–3
The Gorge’s annual country music fest boasts a star-studded lineup with the likes of Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley. But the music is only half the fun: Festival camping in the Eastern Washington desert comes with community and themed contests for the best campsite decor.
index | aug 2
The banks of the Skykomish River come alive with creativity during Index’s annual art festival. Wander booths of local artist wares, dance to live music until you drop, and take in spoken word performances under stunning Cascade peaks. Need an art break? The Town Walls hold countless routes for experienced rock climbers.
vashon island | aug 7–10
Just a ferry ride away from downtown Seattle, laidback Vashon Island hosts an annual film fest of independent cinema. The curated lineup holds a handful of Pacific Northwest and West Coast premieres, from documentary Coroner to the Stars to French narrative A Second Life.
Whidbey Island takes its art outside for the Plein Air Paint Out.
Whidbey Island | Aug 11–14
Make like Van Gogh and haul a canvas outside for outdoor painting all across Whidbey Island; this annual event gathers artists to recreate the island’s many vistas. The stretch of en masse painting days culminates in a gala where the week’s work is sold to creatives and collectors.
Union | Aug 15 & 16
The traditional music festival gets an upgrade with a floating concert on Hood Canal. Boaters buy an official fest flag to join the party, while those of us without yachts or kayaks can board Alderbrook Resort’s cruise or opt for land-bound sets at Robin Hood Village Resort. All festivalgoers can take part in a history-imbued dinner—with live music and dancing, of course.
Burien | Aug 16
Not far from where the famous Maury Island incident occurred in 1947, UFO enthusiasts gather to discuss what’s out there. Burien Film Festival flicks screen all day, and the event includes live music and costume contests for Alien and Men in Black enthusiasts.
Tumwater | Aug 16
Tumwater’s hoppy roots from bygone Olympia Brewery manifest in a modern-day beer fest with over 100 pours, stein-holding competitions, and local food. A human-size beer pong game will make everyone feel like a college kid, but the event itself is 21 and over only.
long beach | aug 18–24
Long Beach‘s quintessential boardwalk almost always affords a view of kites flying above the Pacific, but a weeklong event boasts informal workshops, live music, a beer garden, and the most elaborate kites to grace the sky all year. International kite-flying teams perform synchronized routines, and anyone can get in on the action thanks to beachside kite vendors.
Test your aim—or luck—at the Evergreen State Fair with classic carnival games.
Monroe | Aug 21–26, 28–Sept 1
This state fair can be hard to distinguish from the one down south, but Monroe’s has been a Snohomish County fall staple for decades and has dialed in the right combination of carnival rides and unique forms of entertainment (chainsaw carving, anyone?). Monster truck shows hold down opening weekend alongside three days of classic rodeo events.
