Seafair President and CEO Emily Cantrell wants to set one thing straight: Seafair is more than just a summer festival. It’s a year-round celebration of everything that makes the Seattle area special.
Seattle’s celebrated summer festival and ExplorePNW are joining forces on Saturday, Feb. 21 for Seafair Winter by the Water, a brand new waterfront festival presented by the Downtown Seattle Association.
The event marks Seafair’s first major expansion beyond its traditional summer season.
“Our goal is simple. We want Seafair to be part of people’s lives all year. Even with 77 years of history in Seattle, many people still think of Seafair as something that only happens once a year,” Cantrell said. “An event like Winter by the Water helps change that. It keeps us visible during the off-season and gives people a reason to connect with Seafair in a different way.”
Winter by the Water invites residents and visitors to rediscover Seattle’s sparkling new waterfront as a year-round destination combining exploration, entertainment and local flavor in a celebration of winter in the Pacific Northwest. Fittingly, Seafair is producing this first-ever winter festival in partnership with ExplorePNW, a new local newsletter focused on encouraging people to get out and rediscover the region they call home.
“Many locals still haven't seen the new Waterfront Park or even some of the other work that's been underway for years,” said Emily Parkhurst, founder and CEO of Formidable Media, ExplorePNW’s parent company. “Plus, there are many new businesses that have opened alongside some of the great long-time businesses, so we hope people will discover their new favorite spot on the waterfront. Now that it's open and accessible, there's no better time than now to head down and explore this incredible gem.”
Rain or gloom, there’s always something to explore along the waterfront. Photos courtesy of Seafair
Winter by the Water will appeal to families, too. There will be face-painting stations, free meals for children at participating restaurants, educational programming at the Seattle Aquarium and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, visits from the Seattle Seafair Pirates and Seafair Clowns, more surprise guests and mascot appearances, and several locations where kids can play (both indoors and outdoors).
Anthony’s Pier 66 jumped at the opportunity to partner on this exciting new festival and will offer an all-day happy hour as well as an Oyster Bar. “The waterfront is such an important part of Seattle’s identity,” Anthony’s Restaurants CEO Amy Burns said. “We’re excited for an event that brings people back together to enjoy the flavors and traditions that make this place special. We hope to see everyone there."
Participants who purchase a Seafair Winter Passport can journey along the waterfront, collecting stamps at iconic stops that feature food, music, and experiences. Fill up the book and you’ll be entered to win one of several great prizes (like tickets to local sporting events or airline and/or cruise trips).
Along the waterfront route, attendees can sport a Seafair + ExplorePNW umbrella, or bring their own, to transform the waterfront into a wave of color and motion. At a set time, participants can join a coordinated umbrella photo moment that will be captured from above. The route concludes at Pier 66, where a live concert featuring Smokey Brights and The Talbott Brothers will serve as the festival’s finale.
“Seattle’s beauty doesn’t fade when the skies turn gray — it transforms,” Parkhurst added. “Through Winter by the Water, we’re inviting people to experience the waterfront in a whole new light. It’s about celebrating the spirit of the Pacific Northwest — creative, connected, and unafraid of a little rain.”
Harbor Foodservice, a fourth-generation, family-owned food distribution company, will also have fun activations throughout the day honoring restaurant and hospitality workers.
If you’d like to volunteer at Winter by the Water, you can register today.