See our 2019 Veterans Day guide here.

Veterans Day—which falls on Saturday, November 11, this year—might not be the first November holiday that springs to mind, but there are plenty of events in the Seattle area to honor those who served in the military. From concerts to readings to parades to specials at restaurants, we've rounded up all of the events open to veterans, their families, and/or the general public below. You'll also find them all on our Veterans Day calendar.

TALKS

FRIDAY

Indigenous Voices & the Veteran Experience
Join Haliehana Stepetin, an Alaska Native Veteran, and Micronesian and Samoan UW student researchers from military families as they reflect on their experiences with US military service. Visitors can also visit the ethnology workroom in the Testing, Testing 1-2-3 exhibit.
University District

SATURDAY

Red Badge Reading
Celebrate women veterans of the Red Badge program, which "supports Wounded Warriors in the journey to reconstruct their individual sense of purpose, understanding of self-worth, and place in community," by hearing their stories at this annual reading.
First Hill

Veterans Day Open Mic
Veterans and non-veterans are invited to "share the pride, grief, or quiet appreciation of life that war bestowed upon them" at this open mic.
Central District

Washington at War: The Evergreen State in World War I
Historian Lorraine McConaghy will discuss the immigration, wartime industrialization, women’s rights, social change, radical labor, epidemic disease, and worldwide turmoil of World War I in the Northwest. Also on display will be a pop-up exhibition of the museum's new traveling exhibit, Washington’s Great War.
Tacoma

MUSIC

SATURDAY

Bremerton Symphony: Victory at Sea
In celebration of Veterans Day, the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will perform Rodgers’ Victory at Sea, along with John Williams’ Hymn to the Fallen, a Mozart cantata, and witty selections from the Gilbert and Sullivan catalog.
Bremerton

Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra: A Veterans Day Celebration
For this special Veterans Day concert, the Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform Samuel Barber's "Commando March," Ewazen's "Bass Trombone Concerto" (with soloist Chance Gompert), and Tchaikovsky's 1812 "Overture." For the second half of the program, the orchestra will present the Seattle Children's Chorus music director Kris Mason and Shorewood Aeolian Choir director John Hendrix, who will play "inspirational patriotic music."
Downtown

FILM

SATURDAY

Last Flag Flying
Veterans can bring one guest to a free screening of Richard Linklater's latest film, Last Flag Flying, about three Vietnam War veterans, Larry "Doc" Shepherd, Sal Nealon, and the Reverand Richard Mueller, who reunite to bury Doc's son, a young Marine killed in Iraq.
Belltown

WEED

SATURDAY

Soulshine Veterans Vendor Day
Soushine Cannabis will talk to veterans about their strains and their partnership with Emerald City Pet rescue.
Belltown

CEREMONIES

FRIDAY

Washelli Veterans Day
Spend Veterans Day placing flags on the marble markers in the Veterans Cemetery to recognize those who died in service. There will also be a band concert and a guest speaker.
North Seattle

SATURDAY

Auburn Veterans Day Parade
The 52nd annual Veterans Day Parade, one of the largest of its kind in the country, recognizes veteran service organizations and their auxiliaries, the military and reserve military, the National Guard, and ROTC. Join high school marching bands, military vehicles, veteran units, honor guards, and community members in showing your support.

Lynnwood Veterans Day Ceremony
Join the veterans of Foreign War Post 1040 and the Northwest Junior Pipe Band for this annual Veterans Day ceremony.

Mill Creek Veterans Day
Mill Creek community members are invited to honor veterans by gathering around the library park's monument, which will be flanked by "Native plantings in reds, whites, and blues to enhance the natural beauty of the site and monument." Afterward, there will be a parade in the town center, featuring floats, bands, drill teams, equestrian teams, kids groups, dancers, and more.

Shoreline Veteran's Day Program
Veterans of any US military service (and those who want to honor them) are invited to this annual recognition event.

Tukwila Veterans Day at the Museum of Flight
Honor veterans with live music from the Boeing Employee's Concert Band, a ceremony with Tukwila Mayor Allan Ekberg and Tukwila city council member Joe Duffie (who served with the National Guard for 31 years), and a new exhibit featuring the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Tulalip Veterans Day
At this annual event, celebrate with a number of ceremonies, lunch, lectures with army veterans, and a veterans healing forum.

UW Veterans Day
UW's Veterans Day festivities include the recognition of the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award—this year's recipient is Raymond D. Emory, a veteran of the attack on Pearl Harbor. There will also be speakers, a "presentation of the colors," a performance by the Husky Band, and a reception with coffee and cake.

FREEBIES FOR VETERANS

SATURDAY

Blue Moon Burgers
In honor of Veterans Day, Blue Moon will offer burgers, sides, and drinks for half-off to those who have served or are currently serving in the US military.

Ivar's
Ivar’s Seafood Bars will offer up three-piece fish and chips, baby prawns and chips, four-piece pollock and chips, shrimp caesar salad, and a clam chowder bread bowl to veterans.

Lunchbox Laboratory
In honor of the holiday, Lunchbox Laboratory locations are offering free meals to veterans all day long. The offer is good for one $16 entree, and vets can also enjoy buy-one-get-one-free deal on burgers.

Neighborhood Grills
Veterans are invited to eat an $18 entree for free at all Neighborhood Grill locations—Green Lake, Eastlake, Lake Forest, Bremerton, and Maple Valley. Or, vets can buy one entree to get their next one free.

Pratt Fine Arts Glassblowing
Veterans can learn how to make beautiful glass art in this free class.

Salty's
Veterans can stop by Salty's for lunch or dinner for a complimentary slice of their White Chocolate Mousse Cake and a $20 gift card for their next visit.

West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Veterans Day Dinner
Local veterans, active-duty personnel, guard and reserve members, and their families are invited to celebrate the holiday with a free Italian dinner.

Woodland Park Zoo
All active, retired, and veteran US military personnel and their spouses can enjoy free admission to the zoo.

Seattle Pops
It may be chilly outside, but it's never too cold for a popsicle. All veterans and service people of the US Armed Forces can enjoy free pops at all Seattle Pops locations this Veterans Day.