28 of the best free & cheap things to do in Seattle this September
September is nearly here Seattle, and that means summer is (almost) on the way out. Now that being said, there is still plenty of time to have fun and enjoy the weather on a budget. Here are 28 of the best free & cheap things to do in and around Seattle this September.
Center City Cinema
Center City Cinema will be screening FREE movies in the park at 12 locations across the city, and if you haven’t checked one out yet, there is still time to do so! There will be food trucks on site, and it runs until September 14th.
When: On now until September 14th, 2024
Where: Locations across the city
Cost: Free
Downtown Summer Sounds
From hip-hop and folk-pop to psychedelic punk rock and bluegrass, there’s something for everyone at Downtown Summer Sounds this year! Concerts take place at different locations including Westlake Park, Occidental Square, Bell Street Park, Union Square, Harbor Steps and more!
When: On now until September 10th, 2024
Where: Various parks in the city
Cost: Free
Washington State Fair
The Washington State Fair or Puyallup Fair for real Washingtonians is probably the biggest fair of the year. It’s your classic American state fair experience with plenty of farm animals, rides, live performances, and, of course, fair food.
When: Friday, August 30th to September 22nd, 2024
Where: 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA
Cost: $12+
The Olympia Harbor Days Festival
The Olympia Harbor Days Festival is a free, family-friendly experience taking place over Labor Day Weekend. It showcases many of the vintage tugboats of the Puget Sound, and visitors will also find tall ships, steamships, other historic vessels of twentieth century commerce, tribal canoes, and current recreational small watercraft.
When: Friday, August 30th through to Sunday, September 1st, 2024
Where: 405 Columbia Street NW, Olympia
Cost: Free to attend
Bremerton Blackberry Festival
Another annual event that starts in August and heads into September is the The Blackberry Festival in Bremerton. Check out this celebration of blackberry-themed foods, with live music, and a marketplace of local vendors.
When: Saturday, August 31st to Monday, September 2nd, 2024
Where: Bremerton Boardwalk and 2nd Street, Bremerton
Cost: Free to attend
Free 1st Thursday Public Tour
The Washington Park Arboretum hosts free public tours on the first Thursday of each month. So kick off your month walking through seasonal themes, collections plants, and learn about the history of the organization.
When: Thursday, September 5th, 2024
Where: The Graham Visitors Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive East
Cost: Free
San Gennaro Festival of Seattle
This big Italian Street Fair is back! And like previous years, you can expect vendors with food and Italian wares for sale, beer and wine garden, childrens activities, and a stage with Italian music or music performed by people of Italian heritage!
When: Friday, September 6th to Sunday, September 8th, 2024
Where: South Angelo Street in Georgetown, Seattle
Cost: Free
NorthWest Ukrainian International Festival
This September, check out the largest Ukrainian cultural event on the west coast. Founded in 2016, the annual Northwest Ukrainian International Festival is a celebration of the Northwest’s Ukrainian community and culture, and it returns on the 7th.
When: Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Where: Bellevue Downtown Park
Cost: Free to attend
Arts-A-Glow
Discover art all around Burien at the 2024 Downtown Arts-A-Glow Art Light Festival! Check out downtown Burien and discover light installations and performers, visit a fabulous night market and museum, find art in businesses, dine at local restaurants, and more!
When: Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Where:Town Square Park (480 SW 152nd St), Discover Burien Movie Wall (153rd St and 6th Ave SW), and downtown Burien
Cost: Free to attend
NPA Fall Plant Sale
It’s almost fall, and what better time to buy a new plant?! Buy plants from a select group of local small nurseries and specialty growers who sell amazing perennials, shrubs, ferns, grasses and more.
When: Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Where: 12001 Main St, Bellevue
Cost: Free to attend
Newcastle Days
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary as the City of Newcastle! Head to Lake Boren Park in September for their annual community festival packed with activities, food, games, music, and fun for all ages.
When: Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Where: Lake Boren Park, 13058 SE 84th Way, Newcastle
Cost: Free to attend
Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Get ready for some hula performances! Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival is taking place in Seattle next month, bringing with it free performances.
You can expect the festival to share cultural roots and contemporary influences of Hawaii through music, hula, ono food, marketplace, workshops, and more.
When: Sunday, September 8th, 2024
Where: Seattle Center
Cost: Free to attend
Edmonds Classic Car Show
The Edmonds Classic Car Show has been entertaining crowds for over 20 years. It returns in September, and you can meander through downtown Edmonds admiring over 250 of the coolest classic vehicles while also dining and shopping.
When: Sunday, September 8th, 2024
Where: Edmonds Town Fountain, Edmonds
Cost: Free to attend
Mariners Value Games
There are several promotions for the Seattle Mariners this month, including Value Games you can catch. Tickets for these games start at $10!
When: Tuesday, September 10th, Wednesday, September 11th, and Thursday, September 12th, 2024
Where: T Mobile Park
Cost: $10+
Edmonds Oktoberfest
The Edmonds Oktoberfest will take place over two days, and it includes a beer garden, corn hole and roll-the-barrel games. There will also be food vendors and a kids corner.
When: Friday, September 13th and Saturday, September 14th, 2024
Where: Edmonds Civic Playfield, 598 Edmonds St., Edmonds
Cost: $8.80
Beacon Arts Street Fair
On the second Saturdays from May to September, the Beacon Arts Street Fair takes place. As it is the last one this year, be sure to check it out! There will be live music, garden share, dance, an art market, food and family fun.
When: Saturday, September 14th, 2024
Where: South Roberto Maestas Festival Street, Seattle
Cost: Free to attend
ChuSeok Korean Festival
Derived from the Korean words for “autumn eve,” ChuSeok is a time-honored harvest festival observed globally, it is also considered to be Korean Thanksgiving. And now, you have the opportunity to experience its essence firsthand at the APCC’s annual festivities.
Taking place on September 14th, Tacoma is getting its 8th annual Korean ChuSeok Festival, and on September 21st, the 4th annual Korean ChuSeok Festival will be at Gig Harbor. Both are hosted by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC).
When: Saturday, September 14th and September 21st, 2024
Where: 4634 S, 74th St Tacoma, and 3211 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor
Cost: Free
Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias
This two-day festival at Seattle Center will include delicious traditional Latin American food and cooking demonstrations, live music, traditional folk dance performances, art exhibitions representing Latino culture, free health screenings, children’s activities and more.
When: Saturday, September 14th and Sunday, September 15th, 2024
Where: Armory Food & Event Hall and Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center
Cost: Free to attend
Seattle Summer Series
Check out an evening of FREE music, circus arts, acro yoga, dance, flow, visual art, and anything else people want to share! All are welcome and participation is encouraged.
When: Friday, September 19th, 2024
Where: Gasworks Park
Cost: Free to attend
CID Night Market
After bring canceled in 2023, the CID Night Market is back. The free, all-ages street fest will celebrate the Chinatown-International District neighborhood through street vendors, food trucks, and cultural performances.
When: Saturday, September 21st, 2024
Where: In the center of the Chinatown-International District
Cost: Free to attend
Luminata
The Fremont Arts Council celebrates the autumnal equinox with this sweet and illuminating lantern procession around Green Lake. There will be a lantern shop to purchase lanterns, and the procession following that starting at 7:30 pm. At the end of the parade, some illuminated art will be on display for your enjoyment, and photos!
When: Saturday, September 21st, 2024
Where: Green Lake
Cost: Free to attend
Walk the Block
Walk the Block takes place over two days, with Walk the Block Institute occurring the day before the Walk the Block Art Festival! According to organizers, “Walk the Block Institute brings together artists, community members, organizers and subject matter experts to apply creative thinking and ideation to the concrete challenges Wa Na Wari addresses through its many different programs.”
Walk the Block is Wa Na Wari’s annual outdoor visual and performing arts festival that transforms Central District homes, businesses, parks, porches, and other common spaces into art installations and performance sites. It is free, and you can sign up ahead for the map!
When: Friday, September 27th and Saturday, September 28th, 2024
Where: Wa Na Wari, 911 24th Avenue, Seattle
Cost: Free to attend
Great Prosser Balloon Rally
Ok, it is not in Seattle, but it is a spectacular sight! Have you ever wanted to watch the magical sight of balloons filling up Washington skies? You can do just that during the annual Great Prosser Balloon Rally, which returns this September.
From Friday, September 27th to Sunday, September 29th, spectators can watch sunrise balloon launches at the Prosser Airport. If you can’t justify waking up early or can’t make it during the morning, there’s also a night flight with glowing balloons. The “Night Glow” portion of the rally starts around 7:15 PM with gates opening at 6 PM.
When: Friday, September 27th to Sunday, September 29th, 2024
Where: The Prosser Airport, 111 Nunn Road, Prosser, WA
Cost: Free/$1 raffle tickets
U District Chow Down & Street Party
The U District Chow Down & Street Party is scheduled to return next month, bringing an end of season celebration to the area. According to U District, “The U District celebrates the end of summer with a neighborhood-wide food walk and street party celebration.” Organizers say you can expect to find affordable small bites from over 70 businesses, which will give you a “true taste of the U District.”
You can try everything from ice cream, noodles, bubble tea, fried chicken, sliders, pretzels, and more!
When: Saturday, September 28th, 2024
Where: Along Univeristy Way / The Ave
Cost: Free to attend/ $5 bites
2024 Discover Pass Free Days
On these select days this year, visitors can access state parks without requiring a Discover Pass, which is usually required for vehicle access to state recreation lands. This allows visitors to explore the natural beauty of the parks at no cost! One of those days is on September 28th, for National Public Lands Day.
When: Saturday, September 28th, 2024
Where: Any Washington State Park
Cost: Free
Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
Similar to Washington State Parks, National Parks is celebrating National Public Lands Day by offering free entrance.
When: Saturday, September 28th, 2024
Where: National Parks
Cost: Free
Festa Italiana
Festa Italiana is back and taking over the Seattle Center with its 37th annual festival for a full weekend in September. It’s a celebration of Italians and Italian-Americans in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s free to attend.
When: Saturday, September 28th, and Sunday, September 29th, 2024
Where: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street
Cost: Free to attend
Northwest Tea Festival
Love tea? (Not the gossip kind) Check out the fourteenth annual Northwest Tea Festival. The two-day event showcases the multifaceted world of tea. And you can sample some of the finest teas from all over the world.
When: Saturday, September 28th, and Sunday, September 29th, 2024
Where: Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center
Cost: $20
Have a great September!
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