Can you believe that July is here? We’re still kinda in shock but happy that things are getting back to normal. With that in mind, we’re ready to make this summer the best one yet. So let’s all get out there and have some fun. Here are 27 of the best things to do in Seattle this July.
Neumos’ Grand Reopening Party
When was the last time you went to an album release? If you’re hankering to check one out you can head to Neumos to see what the grand reopening party will be like and see Spirit Awards album release. It’s sure to be a super fun night and a great way to support one of Seattle’s OG venues.
When: July 1st
Where: 925 E Pike St
Cost: $15
First Caturday at Cal Anderson
Have a leash-trained cat or know someone who does? You should consider taking yourself and your feline to Cal Anderson to enjoy a day of being outside with your cat. They can nap in the grass, chase bugs, and maybe even say hello to a cat or two.
When: First Saturday of every month, from July 3rd – September 5th
Where: 1635 11th Ave
Cost: Free
Fremont Dungeness Festival
You know us, we’re huge fans of seafood. This year you’ll be able to experience the ultimate PNW summer event with Fremont Dungeness Festival, hosted by Revel, Local Tide, and Aslan Brewing Company! Get ready to enjoy the best of both worlds.
When: July 10th
Where: 401 N 36th St. Ste 102
Cost: Varies
Kara Mia Fenoglietto: Ballad of the Dolls
This show by artist Kara Mia Fenoglietto looks at “how women experienced the performance of gender roles”. The pieces are made using vintage decorative fabrics and become “a mechanism for empathy and reconsideration of patriarchy”. If you want to see some textile art this is a great choice.
When: July 1st-31st
Where: 312 S Washington St
Cost: Free
Monet at Étretat
Seattle Art Museum is coming back with a bang! We’ve already seen several great shows this year and if you happen to be a fan of impressionism then you’ll want to see this. You can see SAM’s very own Monet and some work by Monet’s contemporaries.
When: July 1st-October 17th
Where: 1300 First Ave
Cost: $29.99
Read with strangers
We love The Stranger’s Virtual Silent Reading Party and highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already. After all, it’s a great way to enjoy a book with others, safely and quietly. So get out your books and get ready to sit back and read with people around the world.
When: Every Wednesday at 6 pm
Where: Online
Cost: $5+
Beat the heat
We’re hoping that July stays a bit cooler than the end of June. But if it doesn’t it’s important that you have places to go to cool down. Between public pools, cooling centers, and more, the city has lots of options for you to check out. We compiled a bunch of them for you to make finding the best spot easy.
Where: Click above to see our picks
PIANO O’CLOCK at Chophouse Row
Each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday you’ll be able to enjoy live music at Seattle’s Chophouse Row. It’s a great way to enhance your shopping experience or to simply come and enjoy. Either way, it’s a relaxing weekly event that you don’t want to miss, and be sure to bring your mask.
When: Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Where: 1424 11th Ave
Cost: Free/Varies
Trivia Night
We can always get down with a good trivia night. You can have groups of up to six people to enjoy four rounds of trivia questions at The George & Dragon Pub. You can either win big or just score some drink specials, either one is great if you ask us.
When: Every other Thursday
Where: 206 N 36th St
Cost: $2
Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume
We’ll bet that at least a few of you are into all things Disney or know someone who is. Well, you can check out a brand new exhibition at MoPOP featuring “more than 70 original pieces, including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, military uniforms, tiaras, and of course glass slippers”. You’ll get to explore the vision, process, and craft used to create the costumes worn by some of the biggest names in entertainment through the exhibition.
When: Begins June 5th
Where: 325 Fifth Ave N
Cost: $32.25+
Bloom: A Celebratory Dinner of Transformation
Dining events are coming back! We have to say they’re one of the things we miss most. Cafe Nordo’s Chef Erin Brindley is cooking up a few special events this month that focus on “new growth and transformation in the air after an impossibly difficult year”. So if you’re looking for an amazing dining experience this is probably it.
When: July 15th-17th & July 22nd-24th
Where: 109 S Main St
Cost: $100 per person
Queer and Dear
This is your opportunity to check out ceramic pieces by local LGBTQ+ artists. You can simply take a peek or you can go big and purchase a piece for yourself. Regardless of if you make a purchase or not, it’s a great way to learn about local LGBTQ+ artists.
When: Until July 31st
Where: 2206 N 45th St
Cost: Free
Drive-in Movies at Marymoor Park
If you want a break from your regular old streaming you should check out drive-in movies at Marymoor Park. This month you can watch films like Star Wars, Jumanji, Jurassic World, Jaws and more. Now that the weather is getting nice it’s the perfect time to get back into outdoor movie-going so be sure to check it out.
When: Throughout July
Where: 6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE Redmond, WA
Cost: $30 per carload
Plan what to do with your sunny day
Sunny days are here and if you like to plan ahead you might want to map out your next free day. Luckily there’s a ton to do in Seattle when the sun is shining and what’s best of all is that most of it is free. Don’t worry, we made a list of our top picks for you.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Take a road trip
Want to get out of the city? Take a road trip to a weird destination! Unsurprisingly Washington has a lot of them and we made a list of spots that you can check out within 4 hours of Seattle. So get in the car, grab some water and snacks, and hit the road.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Visit a botanical garden
If you just want to get out for a walk this weekend then we recommend checking out one of our cities stunning botanical gardens. It actually turns out that there are a ton and we’ve gone ahead and created a list for you so that you don’t have to look too hard. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem
This amazing show features work from 80 Black artists from the 1920s to now! You’ll be able to see works by artists like Barkley Hendricks, Lorna Simpson, Jacob Lawrence, and many more. This show is one of the best to come to Seattle this year so be sure to check it out while you can.
When: Until August 15th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
RhodZi & Church: Two Short Films By Charles Mudede
This is a great chance to check out two short films and see what’s going on at the Museum of Museums. Both films being shown are unique in that they’re collaborations between Mudede and multiple other artists. So get out there and check out some new films, you won’t regret it.
When: Until August 19th
Where: 900 Boylston Ave
Cost: $10
Phinney Food Truck Fridays
Food trucks are always a go in our books. If you feel the same then you definitely don’t want to miss out on Phinney Food Truck Fridays. You can enjoy eats from places like Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max, Panda Dim Sum, Bumbu Truck, Bean Fish Taiyaki, Delfino’s Pizza, Kiss My Grits, Falafel Salam, Seoul Bowl, and Off the Rez. It’s sure to be delicious.
When: Friday’s through August 27th
Where: 6615 Dayton Ave N
Cost: Varies
Dinosaur Discovery
Want to experience what it’s like to have dinosaurs walk the earth? Well, you can do just that this month at the Woodland Park Zoo. You’ll be able to see twenty life-sized dino animatronics that are sure to have you doing double-takes. And this one will definitely be fun for the whole family.
When: Through September 6th
Where: 5500 Phinney Ave N
Cost: $5
Summer Book Bingo
Seattle Public Libraries Adult Summer Bingo is back and better than ever! This year’s summer reading board has book slots like small press, QTBIPOC, Black joy, and more. We highly recommend participating as it’s a great way to check out new books. Plus if you finish your board you can mail it into the library for a chance to win prizes.
When: Until September 7th
Dawn Cerny: Les Choses
This exhibition by Dawn Cerny references the 1965 novel by French author Georges Perec and has to do with desires of material objects both tangible and intangible. The sculptures in the exhibit embody mindscapes and you’ll see lots of everyday objects that you recognize. We definitely recommend checking it out.
When: Until September 26th
Where: 1300 First Ave
Cost: $20-$30
See what’s new on Netflix
July’s Netflix additions are pretty big. So while we have these heatwaves it might be time to sit inside and enjoy a streaming sesh or two. If you need a movie or two or TV show, Netflix has you covered as always. We know you’ll all be watching the entire Twilight saga.
Where: Click above to see our picks
World War Bonsai: Remembrance & Resilience
This exhibition from the Pacific Bonsai Museum “traces the cultural practice of bonsai in location and time”. It looks at the art form in both Japan and the US, ranging from pre-war WWII to incarceration, and the time after. It’s an amazing look into the people who continued to care for bonsai “despite overwhelming hardships”.
When: Until October 1st
Where: 2515 S 336th St Federal Way
Cost: By donation
Alden Mason: Fly Your Own Thing
This show is a unique one for PNW art as it’s showcasing prolific painter Alden Mason’s work. Mason’s artworks helped shape the future of Northwest art through his work and also through his teaching. So if you’ve been curious about local masters, this is a great show to check out.
When: Until October 10th
Where: 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA
Cost: $15
Among Forests and Lakes: Landscape Masterpieces from the Finnish National Gallery
The National Nordic Museum might not be on your top list of local museums to visit but it should be. Right now you can check out a visual history of how “Finnish artists have depicted the landscape of their native country from the 1850s to the present day”. You can view 50 paintings and prints borrowed from the Ateneum Art Museum and we highly recommend checking it out.
When: Until October 17th
Where: 2655 NW Market St
Cost: $20
Crossing Boundaries: Portraits of a Transgender West
It’s Pride Month and a brand new and amazing exhibition is opening at The Washington State History Museum. This new exhibition “highlights historical narratives of transgender people in the West”. You’ll hear stories from the 1860s until the 1940s. These stories tell the history of individuals who defied gender norms and communicate the show’s themes of visibility, identity, acceptance, and history.
When: Until December 12th
Where: 1911 Pacific Avenue
Cost: $14
With that, we hope that you get out there and check out some of what’s happening around the city. We’ll see you all back here in August!
