Our arts and culture critics have already recommended 45 great things to do this week and our music critics have picked the 43 best music shows, but there are still tons more events happening. To prevent some of the quirkier and more extraordinary ones from slipping through the cracks, we've compiled them here—from Cafe Disco - A Dance Party for Fans of The Office to a Beatles Block Party, and from Nudestock to a Pike Place rooftop concert with the Head and the Heart. For even more options this week, check out our complete Things To Do calendar.
Found something you like and don't want to forget about it later? Click "Save Event" on any of the linked events below to add it to your own private list.
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- Obec Brewing Mural Viewing and Naming Event
Discover Jordan Atkinson's completed art nouveau-style mural Růže on the side of the home of Czech-inspired Obec Brewing. Atkinson will speak about the creation process and answer your questions about the 20-foot-by-70-foot artwork. FESTIVALS
- Ten's Summer Festival: Natsu-matsuri with Iichiko Shochu!
Enjoy a natsu masuri, or traditional Japanese summer festival, complete with a myriad of shochu drinks and games like yo-yo tsuri (a water balloon attached to a rubber string with a loop on the end so it can be bounced like a yo-yo) and senbonhiki (a game in which guests pull on long strings connected to treats and prizes). FILM
- Open Air Kino: Short Export—Made in Germany
Grab a seat outside and watch a series of German short films that each deal with "searching for and finding identity."Â - RiffTrax Live
The hosts of RiffTrax will offer their comedic roasts of B-movie classic Giant Spider Invasion.TUESDAY-SUNDAY
COMMUNITY
- Washington Week for the Animals
It's no surprise that Jay Inslee, the Washington State Governor and Democratic presidential candidate running on the issue of climate change, is an animal lover. The man has declared August 17-25 Washington Week for the Animals, where organizations across the state will raise awareness of animal-related issues like pet homelessness, vaccinations, and tons of adoption opportunities.WEDNESDAY
COMEDY
- Third Anniversary of the 10th Anniversary Duos Show
For their 30th anniversary, the Duos showcase will present an improv open mic night of "double duos," aka four people per act. COMMUNITY
- Atlas Obscura Society Seattle: Historic Murals of West Seattle
Public art isn't always just for decoration—tracing back to the 1980s, the murals of West Seattle depict important moments in local history, from Elliott Bay's once-thriving "mosquito fleet" to the "Old Mud Hole" of Lincoln Park. Join Atlas Obscura for a tour of these large-scale artworks. - Medical Angels
Meet two activists who took part in early gene therapy trials to control HIV. They'll talk mainly about their time at Medical Angels, a community forum led by people living with HIV. FILM
- $100 and a T-shirt
Joe Biel goes on a zine-themed bicycle tour around Portland, interviews local zine-makers, and peeks inside the Portland Zine Symposium in the DIY documentary 100 & a T-Shirt, screening for free at Central Library. FOOD & DRINK
- Guts & Glory at SkĂĄl Beer Hall!
Historian, blogger, and best-selling author Ben Thompson, who specializes in writing about historical badasses and was once named "Seattle's Sexiest Dungeon Master" by The Stranger, will regale the audience with tales of ferocious Vikings and their exploits. - No Bones Beach Club 5th Birthday Party!
Ballard's vegan beach shack will throw a party to toast to a half-decade of business. The first 100 customers will receive a free "amazeball" (a vegan and gluten-free jalapeño bacon mac and cheese ball) with purchase. - Send Noodz
Don't worry, this addo event won't ask you to send actual nudes of your bod—the "noodz" in this case refer to actual noodles, which will come in the form of a five-course family-style meal. GEEK
- Wild Thing Animal Trivia
A portion of beer sales at this conservation-themed trivia night will benefit the Snow Leopard Trust. MUSIC
- Beatles Block Party
The Beatles played for the first time in Seattle 55 years ago at the Seattle Center Coliseum, which is cause for celebration. This block party will feature live Beatles covers from the Fab Three, games, free food, and a cash bar. - Benefit for the Ballard P-Patch: The High Seagrass, Diamond Wolf, Julia Frances
Help keep the Ballard P-Patch—which produces tons of produce for the Ballard Food Bank and provides a lovely community garden space, among other things—up and running by dancing to live music from bluegrass jammers the High Seagrass, singer-songwriter Julia Francis, and Diamondwolf. - Still Life: Meditation & Community with Jessica Dobson
This mediation pop-up comes in the form of an evening of poetry, conversation, live music from Deep Sea Diver frontwoman Jessica Dobson, and "mindful stillness."Â
PERFORMANCE
- It’s Bingo, Babe! - A night of Drag Bingo
Win cash prizes for your bingo luck with local queens Jane Don’t and Eucalypstick. READINGS & TALKS
- Brian McDonald: Old Souls
Brian McDonald will present his new graphic novel Old Souls (illustrated by Les McClaine), in which a man explores his past Ebenezer Scrooge style with the help of a "grave robber" who has the ability to relive former lives. - Cassandra Overby: Explore Europe on Foot
See Europe without looking through a dirty window with the help of Overby's hiking guide, which includes itineraries in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. - Nancy L. Penrose
Born in New Orleans, sculptor Angela Gregory moved to Paris to master her style of cutting stone with French artist Antoine Bourdelle. Nancy L. Penrose tells of the artist's experiences in a male-dominated field in this memoir, composed of the author's interviews with Gregory. VISUAL ART
- Romson Regarde Bustillo: Proximity Modifier Project IV
Seattle artist Romson Bustillo, whose work tends to deal with the coexistence of public spaces, will lead drop-in art workshops.WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY
VISUAL ART
- Please Touch
Making advances in art accessibility, these blind and visually impaired artists present work you can run your fingers over.
Closing FridayWEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
PERFORMANCE
- Bright Star
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's bluegrass musical is about a young couple in 1920s North Carolina whose love affair has seemingly tragic consequences. Twenty years later, is there a possibility of reconciliation? Bright Star won a Drama Desk award and was nominated for a Grammy.THURSDAY
COMEDY
- Rachael O'Brien
Host of the popular comedy podcast Be Here For Awhile and actor on Bravo's Vanderpump Rules will swing into town to dish out some self-deprecation and perhaps a little obscenity. COMMUNITY
- Penny U: Combating Climate Change
Penny University will ask you, the audience, to come up with big ideas with the help of moderators (in this case, arts leader Anne Focke and Town Hall curator Edward Wolcher). You'll be given a scenario: Taking the part of the members of a Climate Crisis Response Team, you and your fellow attendees will take on the immense task of mitigating the effects of global warming. It's up to you! - Squad Up: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Happy Hour
While the gender pay gap exists for women across racial backgrounds, the disparity is particularly significant for women of color. Show your support for pay equity and learn about what local leaders are doing to close the gap at this series of presentations with Janice Jackson-Haley (Vice President of Human Resources and Equity at Planned Parenthood), Royce Evans (Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Amazon), Angelina Howard (Project Manager for Digital Video Games & Software and President of the Black Employee Network at Amazon), and T'wina Nobles (President & CEO of the Tacoma Urban League). FOOD & DRINK
- Final Summer Beers at the Boathouse
Soak up the fleeting rays of summer with free boat rides on the Center for Wooden Boats' electric boat Dora and enjoy guava-glazed short ribs from Manu's Bodega, drinks like fizzy Prosecco floats from Shug's Soda Fountain, and happy hour beer from Seapine Brewing. MUSIC
- Layne Staley Tribute 2019
The late Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley will get lots of love from local tribute band Jar of Flies, Chris Cornell tribute band Outshined, and Pearl Jam tribute Washed in Black. Proceeds will go toward the Layne Staley Memorial Fund benefitting Therapeutic Health Services. Jar of Flies will also play an additional Staley tribute at the Crocodile on Saturday. - No Logic
Show off your persistent obsession with Icelandic pop/electronica/alien icon Björk by dressing up (there will be a costume contest) for a night of performances, drinks, and dancing. Performers include Adé, EmperROAR Fabulous, Caitlyn of the North, Lady Drew Blood, and others. SPORTS & RECREATION
- Summer Slam 2019
Folks of all ages and skill levels can enter this climbing competition, or can just show up to play climbing-related games and eat food. VISUAL ART
- Summer at SAM Closing Celebration
Close out a season of Summer at SAM with a talk by performer and flutist Paul Che oke’ ten Wagner, a musical performance by Black Belt Eagle Scout, an exploration of Regina Silveira's Octopus Wrap, food trucks, and a kids' corner.THURSDAY & SATURDAY
PERFORMANCE
- Black D*ck Matters
Settle in for a series of monologues exploring "black manhood in the context of American history," how black male relationships have changed since the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and the effects of racist police brutality and the criminal justice system.THURSDAY-SATURDAY
PERFORMANCE
- How to Really, Really? Really! Love a Woman
Eleanor O'Brien will enlighten vagina owners and appreciators on matters of pleasure in this Vagina Monologues-esque solo show. - Peeling
Sound Theatre Company will stage this production of Kaite O'Reilly's meta, convention-interrogating play Peeling, in which three disabled actors are stuck in "an overproduced, postmodern production of Euripides' ​The Trojan Women."THURSDAY-SUNDAY
COMEDY
- Steve Gillespie with Brent Flyberg
Steve Gillespie will share his self-flagellating humor and social commentary live in Seattle. FESTIVALS
- Evergreen State Fair
Monroe's summer festival will once again bring carnival games and rides, Native dancers, live music, duck races, and more. PERFORMANCE
- The Antipodes
Short Order Theater Company presents Annie Baker's The Antipodes, which the Village Voice called a "paradoxical, puzzling, compellingly hypnotic work." It's about people telling stories about telling stories. QUEER
- Pacific Northwest Black Pride
Celebrate black LGBTQ+ communities in Seattle and beyond with four days of activities focused on health and wellness, equity, and community building. In addition to Pride parties and a film festival, the weekend also includes a trans symposium, multi-generational conversations, and more.FRIDAY
COMEDY
- The Stoner Monologues
The very funny stoned and sober women of the Stoner Chicks improv troupe will be back for more improvised scenes about pizza, paranoia, and other things that concern potheads. COMMUNITY
- TWIF Turns 10 - Adult Summer Camp
To celebrate their 10th birthday, local volunteer-run charitable club The World is Fun will invite adults to partake in some nostalgic summer camp memories. Bring camping gear, a floating device, and a flashlight; they'll provide food, drinks, and classic summertime activities like crafting and outdoor-adventuring. FESTIVALS
- WAV.fest
If your summer isn't hot enough, get sweaty dancing around to live chiptune music from LA electro indie-folk artist Azuria Sky, Idaho's Lateralis, Seattle's hellstar.plus, and others at this second annual dance party. FILM
- Monthly Horror Night
Gore Gore Girls will screen a trashy movie by the director of Basket Case and Frankenhooker:Â Brain Damage, in which a parasite burrows into a man's brain and promises hallucinatory pleasures as long as it's fed human brains. The organizers promise drink specials and candy, as well as "horror soundscapes" with Meridian Arc. - Outdoor Maritime Movie Night
Bring a picnic or buy a bag of popcorn and watch movies about maritime life (Captain Ron) while you take in a view of Lake Union. - Something Weird Trash-O-Rama Movie Night! Blonde on a Bum Trip!
Witness a 2K restoration of the trippy '60s sexploitation classic Blond on a Bum Trip, which documents New York's underground "hippie pot-holes."Â FOOD & DRINK
- The All Tomato Dinner, An 8 Course Tasting Menu Experience
Consume all kinds of tomatoes in a myriad of different preparations at this eight-course dinner. - Bar Crawl with Planned Parenthood
Hop around to Capitol Hill bars to raise money for Planned Parenthood. The organizers promise drink coasters and condoms, raffle prizes, and more. MUSIC
- Beyonce Vs. Rihanna
Dance to the hits of two R&B/hip-hop/pop icons, Beyoncé and Rihanna. - Bye Bye Bye — A Boy Bands Only Dance Party
Boogie around to the carefully choreographed sounds of the millennium with tracks from only boy bands all night long. - Emerald City Music Summer Cruise & Fundraiser
Raise money for future Emerald City Music events on this fundraising cruise that will feature live music, games, drinks, and food, with a panel discussion with Artistic Director Kristin Lee. PERFORMANCE
- Dolly and the DJ Drag Show
Hear songs by "Seattle’s own seven-foot-tall Dolly Madison" as DJ Al Griggs provides musical support. Also, get your psyche read by Auntie Sindy. - Killer Whale & The Black Rush
YTT Urban Native performing artists will present a play by Dylan Thomas Elwood as part of the ACTONE Festival, about a band of animal characters struggling for survival in a world rife with man-made disaster. Hannah Victoria Franklin will direct.FRIDAY-SATURDAY
COMEDY
- After Words: A Hilarious Improv
After UP Improv players act out scenes, the audience will come up with a word describing each, eventually combining them to retroactively create a theme for the night. Get in on the fun! MUSIC
- Fifth Annual Rock 'n' Roll Freaks Weekend
After spending Friday watching a Trash-O-Rama screening at Grand Illusion and partying at Cafe Racer, spend all Saturday rocking out to live bands the Fireballs of Freedom, Machine Animal, the Mants, the Vicious Cycles MC, and the Hauer Things at Darrell's Tavern. PERFORMANCE
- The Summer Circus Variety Show
Aerialists will swing above your head at this classical cabaret. - What the Funk?! Fest
Spend a whole weekend with POC burlesque talent like Egypt Blaque Knyle, Nox Falls, Tre` da Marc, the Luminous Pariah, and about 50 others at this festival of performances and classes.FRIDAY-SUNDAY
FESTIVALS
- Washington State Garlic Fest
Revel in a classic umami flavor, ward off vampires, and scoop up new recipes and facts to store in your brain at the Washington Garlic Fest, whose myriad offerings range from garlic fries to garlic ice cream. MUSIC
- Bass Canyon
Join up with your fellow celestial headbangers for three days of bass-heavy beats echoing through the Columbia River Gorge, featuring artists like Excision, 12th Planet, Boogie T, Blunts & Blondes, and many more. - WOMBO Music Festival
Electronic musicians from all over the Pacific Northwest will get the spotlight at this two-day, two-stage festival. Some of the many performers include Wombo buxom, 1ndev, Captain Folley, CreepyHandz, Jake the Cat, and Frogman.SATURDAY
COMEDY
- $10@10PM
Bring your old yearbooks to this improv show with locals Taya Beattie and Claire Jencks, who will choose some of the best improv theater groups in town and beyond for a cheap late-night show inspired by your school memories. - Fat Cats
Fat Cats describe themselves as "two fat feminist women who own fat feminist cats, but are not wealthy political donors." They've performed at Femprovisor Fest '19 in San Francisco and Detroit Women of Comedy Festival and at many venues throughout Seattle. - Merciless Mic
While most open mic performers are met with applause (be it genuine or polite), this event will feature a panel of judges that will roast each brave comic after their three- to five-minute set. Go for some lovingly brutal feedback, or just show up to watch. - This Improv Writes Itself
These improv performers promise to leave you with a "newly altered consciousness." COMMUNITY
- Summer Luau
Dress yourself and your dog in your favorite Hawaiian shirts for a pup-friendly luau, complete with a tropical photo booth by Say Woof Studios and hot dogs from Chavoyas. FESTIVALS
- HangarFest 2019
Aviation nerds can delight in aircrafts like the Concorde or the Boeing 787 Jumbo Jet, dance to classic rock, explore a futuristic transportation exhibit, and enjoy food and games. - Nudestock
Go au naturel and feel the breeze as you listen to live sets from Champagne Sunday, the New Rhythmatics, Jeff Herzog & the Jet City Flyers, and Auditorious. Before the music starts, enjoy a five-dollar breakfast and shop from vendors. FILM
- 'Cuddle: The Series' Screening Party
Binge-watch all five episodes of Cuddle, a Seattle-made, women-led original comedy web series about a professional "cuddle therapist" and her search for human connection. - Seattle Asian American Film Festival CID Summer Cinema
Watch Asian, Asian American, and Asian-starring films—wrapping tonight with Up. Before the films start at sundown, enjoy live performances and fun activities for kids. - Women’s Rights Day Film Showing
Watch Birthright: A War Story, a documentary about the threat to reproductive rights in the U.S. and those fighting to protect them. The screening will be followed by a discussion. FOOD & DRINK
- ANJU 1 Year Anniversary Party
White Center watering hole Anju, which specializes in Korean drinking food, will cap off its first year with Korean barbecue lunch plates loaded with kalbi, bulgogi beef, spicy pork bulgogi, rice, mac salad, and kimchi. Hawaiian bakery Patrick's Cafe will provide shaved ice, while macaron purveyor Macadons will provide their confections in unique flavors like durian and cookies and cream. - Marvel Trivia Bar Crawl
Comic books nerds can answer Marvel trivia questions at not one but five bars. GEEK
- Burien UFO Festival
Whether you're a UFO enthusiast, a skeptic, or an alien, you're invited to a big geeky space party in Burien. There will be guest speakers, live performances, a beer garden, a costume contest for both humans and dogs, custom alien drawings, and more. - Return of the Dragon
At this outdoor scavenger hunt in downtown Redmond, each team will get a map that leads to clues (which lead to dragons!). At the end of the race, you'll win prizes based on how many fire-breathing creatures you've collected. MUSIC
- Cafe Disco - A Dance Party for Fans of The Office
Get as wild as you would at a holiday party among your coworkers at this disco specifically catered to fans of The Office. - The Dan Band
Even if you don't know Dan Finnerty, you know Dan Finnerty—he's performed his foul-mouthed covers of hit songs in films like Old School, Starsky & Hutch, and The Hangover. (He also appeared as "Gigundocock" in something called Extreme Movie.) - Spellbound: Tombstone
This birthday party for DJ Voodoo will mash up old-school goth and industrial post-punks with the wild west aesthetic of Deadwood. PERFORMANCE
- Div@s
Latinx queens whose hips don't lie will parody stars like Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna in this drag show hosted by Intima Rosa Marchita. - Leftovers: A Drag Show—Birthday Edition
Kara Sutra will host a drag show celebrating "Nadja Sutra's first drag birthday." See performances by Nadja Sutra, Deja Nouveau, Catty Wompus, Brandi Marxxx, Thadayus King, and Vel Veeta. - Magic Mike Tribute: Magic Male XXL
Performers with bods so chiseled they could be Magic Mike extras will get sexy for a good cause—the St. Jude's Children's Hospital. - Tegan & Sara: The Drag Show
At last, drag artists (including Hoochiepapa, Kitty Glitter, and Rowan Ruthless) will pay tribute to queer pop icons Tegan & Sara. READINGS & TALKS
- 'I Like Totally Know What You Did Last Summer' Release Party
Celebrate the release of a frightening comic by Sarah Romano Diehl (From Crust 'Til Dawn) and Brandon Lehmann (Womp Womp). Lehmann writes: "For the event we made a skull bowl full of predictions about what you like totally did last summer." See if their guesses are right! SPORTS & RECREATION
- Axe Throwing at Ounces!
Take out some aggression medieval style by throwing axes in a controlled environment. - The Everett Yum Run (and Food Truck Festival)
Run or walk a 5K course through Everett, stopping to snack on tasty small bites at every mile mark. After the run, grab more food from local trucks and peruse handmade goods at a street market. VISUAL ART
- Jason Hirata: Splash
With the help of Levi Easterbrooks and Lucas Quigley, artist Jason Hirata overlays text onto cropped vertical images from postcards specific to various cities. In honor of the Puget Sound's beloved and endangered Southern Resident orcas, the Seattle show includes a photo of a whale flipping in the water. - Printing Zines with Risograph
Learn the fundamentals of risograph printings and make a couple two-color zines in this workshop offered by Short Run. - Ryan Henry Ward's Birthday Extravaganza!
Celebrate the birth of prolific Seattle muralist Ryan Henry Ward (aka Henry, whose playful public work you've no doubt seen on the sides of buildings throughout the city) with musical tributes and a possible performance from the artist himself. - Summer Splash Fest
Performance artists from Seattle, Portland, and LA will keep you entertained at this beach-themed party with live performances throughout the day. You can also get dropped into a dunk tank, enter raffles, and graze from food trucks.ÂSATURDAY-SUNDAY
FESTIVALS
- Arts in the Garden
Nearly 40 artists will display their for-sale art throughout the Bellevue Botanical Garden, so you can see how the 3-D pieces might look in your own flowerbeds. - Harvest Festival
Experience medieval history at this festival, where you can see sword fights, watch puppet shows, pet sheep, hear 14th-century music, taste traditional foods at the Harvest Feast, and more. PERFORMANCE
- The Empire Strikes Back in the Park
You're used to seeing Star Wars characters battle with the dark side and run frantically through sand dunes, but how do they deal with issues like commitment, domestic drama, and business? Hello Earth's Wars Outdoors series will explore these relatable themes in this performance in the park. SPORTS & RECREATION
- Leavenworth River Tubing Getaway
Board a "luxury bus" to the sunny Bavarian-style village, then transfer yourself into a mesh-bottomed innertube and float your afternoon away on the scenic waters. Once you're done with that, you can head back on shore to enjoy drinks, bratwurst, and other German delights in a beer garden. The bus will take you back home to Bellevue or Seattle.SUNDAY
COMMUNITY
- Dogs of Peddler Party!
Let your doggo roam free in an off-leash area while you sip some beer and hang out with other pups from Pasado's Safe Haven. Mud Bay and Suzanne Spratt Pet Portraits will be onsite. - What Houseplant Is Right For You?
Learn about light, temperature, water levels, pest control, and other things essential to keeping your plant child alive. FILM
- RadioActive Listening Party
A group of Seattle-area teens have spent the summer learning about audio journalism and creating their own stories in KUOW's RadioActive’s Radio Journalism Workshop. Now that they're ready to graduate from the program, you have the chance to hear what they've been working on. - Tribes on the Edge: A Film and Conversation with Celine Cousteau
Céline Cousteau sheds light on the land threats, health crises, and human rights issues of the indigenous peoples of the Vale do Javari in the Brazilian Amazon in her documentary Tribes on the Edge. See a screening and stay on for a conversation with Cousteau. FOOD & DRINK
- Carbs for a Cause: A Seattle Bake Sale for Reproductive Rights
Seattle bakers from Ayako & Family, Ben's Bread, Comadre PanaderĂa, General Porpoise, and others will whip up some tasty treats to raise money for Planned Parenthood. - Final All You Can Eat Pancake Brunch
It's the last chance to stuff yourself with as many vegan flapjacks as you can handle from food truck Cycle Dogs, with signature pancakes as well as chocolate chips and Reese's versions, coconut whipped cream topping, and plant-based sausages. Wash it all down with bottomless coffee, beer-mosas, and cold brew. GEEK
- BubbleFest
Since you can never outgrow the magic of iridescent globules, spend the day playing with bubbles in the courtyard, seeing live demonstrations, and participating in hands-on activities. - Dungeon Darlings
Improv performers will roll the dice and take on mythical roles in this live Dungeons and Dragons role-play show, with the leadership of DM Brendan Barr. MUSIC
- The GetAway
Make the most of a summer Sunday with an on-the-water day of live DJs and food presented by Monkey Loft, Train Car House Party, and JarrBar. - The Head and the Heart Homecoming Show
For their homecoming show, clean-cut folk band the Head and the Heart will play for free on top of the Pike Place Market roof. The show will also be live-streamed on Amazon Music's Facebook and Twitter pages. - The Karaoke Underground
This video karaoke night is for those whose favorite indie-rock and punk songs are hard to come by at other bars. Be free and gargle your favorite songs by Modest Mouse, Black Flag, Sleater-Kinney, Guided By Voices, or your other favorite band. You can also request any song you don't see in the books. - West Seattle School of Rock Adult Program: Brit Rock
The hard-rocking adults of West Seattle School of Rock will play the hits for all you Brit-pop fans (you know who you are). PERFORMANCE
- Toke of the Town
Whether you're a casual smoker or a full-blown stoner, "High Femme" Morgue Anne will put on a night of comedy, dance, and purported "magic" for lovers of the pot. QUEER
- Fifth Annual Alki Beach PRIDE
This late-summer West Seattle Pride celebration brings live music, food trucks, and an outdoor movie to Alki Beach. READINGS & TALKS
- The Griot: Musical Storyteller
The Griot, Amadanyo from Niger, melds music and words in cultural expression with support from "conga master" Aturo Velasquez and keyboardist Andy Post.