Colors of Seattle - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Seattle is an interesting city with unique culture and a lot of amazing features. One of the most striking features of the city that is sure to be point out by all travelers is an abundance of coffee shops. It is believed that Seattle locals were the first to use this flavored drink, and later this culture has spread to the other cities of the United States. It was in Seattle were network of popular cafes was established first; today it can be found in various cities of the country. To attract the attention of visitors many coffee shops have to come up with amazing surprises. You can say that visitors are never served two identical cups of drink; coffee will differ not only with a special taste, but also with an interesting decoration.

Seattle is one of the largest centers of education in the country; every local resident has a diploma of higher education. Among indigenous people there are many famous personalities, including Bill Gates. Not everyone is aware that Microsoft was found in Seattle. Returning to typical tourist topics, it is worth noting the presence of unusual attractions in the city that won’t be seen anywhere else in the world.

One of them is The Gum Wall. The history of this attraction is quite unusual. A few decades ago, at a local theater there appeared a new rule - all visitors had to leave chewing gum before entering the cultural venue. First visitors outraged by innovation have stuck a gum directly to the wall of the building. Their example was followed by other citizens. As a result one of the walls of the theater was completely glued by colored chewing gum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Attraction is very popular among tourists that want to contribute to the formation of this unique attraction. An interesting fact is that Seattle has the largest monument to Lenin in the country. It was brought to the city by one of the local residents of Czechoslovak city of Poprad. The monument was destroyed during the Velvet Revolution, and a teacher of English, Lewis Carpenter, resided in Poprad at that time decided to save the historic construction and take it to teacher’s motherland. Today it is one of the prominent attractions of Seattle.

Festivals are brightly and colorfully held in the city: it is enough to visit one of them to understand what this means. One of the most interesting events for music lovers is the Capitol Hill Block Party fest, which takes place in the middle of hot July. The venue chosen for the festival is the central district of Seattle, Capitol Hill, where four platforms are organized for music concerts. The festival is significant in the world of music, as it gives a chance to promising DJs and musicians known in certain circles, to become world famous. Besides the fact that four platforms are put in place in the region, concerts are also held in the bars and clubs of the district during the festival.

Lovers of classical music will be thrilled to learn that the city hosts the Seattle Chamber Music Festival twice every year: the first one takes place in the middle of January and accordingly is called the Winter Festival, while the second takes place in early July. As you might guess, the conclusion of the latter corresponds to the Summer Festival. The venue for these events is always the concert hall of the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital, where you can listen to quality chamber music from famous musicians, many of whom are winners of international competitions. In the middle of July, another event dedicated to classical music takes place. We are talking about the Olympic Music Festival, where young musicians show all their mastery of musical instruments. You can also listen to talented performers at Fort Worden State Park.

Several festivals dedicated to jazz are held in Seattle, which has long become a kind of classic. Improvised jam sessions are the main “flavor” of the Seattle Improvised Music Festival event, which takes place in early February at various locations in the city. Some locations are art cafes, museums, and theaters, which are located in the central regions of the city. Among other jazz feasts, it is worth highlighting the Ballard Jazz Festival event held in late May (the venues are the Conor Byrne pub, the Nordic Museum, and the Cathedral), Jazz Port Townsend festival held in April (the stage where the fest takes place is the concert hall Centrum), as well as the most long-lasting jazz event – Earshot Jazz Festival. The latter festival is the most famous and always brings together famous jazz and bluesmen, and it is for this reason that concert stages for the event are located throughout the city.

Festivals dedicated to traditional American music bluegrass, are quite popular. One of such events takes place in the middle of February in Bellevue, the surrounding city of Seattle, in the theater of the Tateuchi Preview Center. The Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival lasts for four days. Famous country and bluegrass musicians visit the fest with the main goal of entertaining the visitors who enthusiastically listen to each guitar riff. The Darrington Bluegrass Festival is another event held in the environs of Seattle in the wonderful Squire Creek Park. The weather conditions favor it as the time of the event falls at the end of hot July or early August. Therefore, you can combine visiting the music event with an active outdoor amusement, picnic, and camping – to get impressions as bright as possible.

Mid-April is “devoted” to the World Rhythm Festival, where you can listen to all genres of folk music. The venue of this event is the large-scale Seattle Center Park, which is also one of the most beautiful sights of the city. At this time, it is filled with the sounds of Latino, calypso, Middle Eastern, African, Indian, Brazilian music – which together form a bright cocktail, which more than a thousand visitors want to “drink” all in an attempt to have a good time. In addition, the festival features master classes, thanks to which you can learn to play the traditional instruments of a particular people. Another interesting event is the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival, where the visitors can choose the genre of their liking. It takes place in Tolt-McDonald Park in the middle of the second summer month.

The huge popularity of another festival is evidenced by the mark of 95 thousand visitors. We are talking about the Emerald City ComiCon event, which is traditionally held in early or mid-March at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. The festival is so popular that in 2008, it had to be extended for 3 days so that everyone could admire or show their colorful costumes from movies, anime, TV shows, and games. In addition to the costumes competitions which are traditional for such events, the event also features autograph sessions, meet-and-greets, an interactive program with table games, conferences and discussions, art exhibitions and fairs (where you can buy unique figures of your favorite heroes).

Restaurant Week is a gastronomic festival traditional for the United States, and Seattle is no exception. The culinary week starts in early April, with all the major restaurants of the city participating. They prepare a special menu for the whole duration of the event. You should think about whether or not you will participate in advance and make a reservation because the participating restaurants are always full during the festival. The Bite of Seattle festival attracts visitors not only by the fact that you can try a variety of dishes and arrange for yourself a “belly feast”, but also because it is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your family thanks to its atmosphere. For this reason, the event is known to be one of the most popular summer festivals. It is usually held at the end of July in the Seattle Center Park, where food courts open at this time and an interactive program for children is organized.

Beer lovers will enjoy the Seattle International Beerfest, which takes place in the middle of hot July in Seattle Center Park. Hundreds of the best sorts of the intoxicating beverage from major producers from across the country are displayed at the fest. The craft beer also deserves to be mentioned separately. You will be delighted to learn that you can also taste the beer at the festival. Seattle International Beerfest is one of the funniest summer events, thanks to which you can have a great leisure time in the company of friends and also enjoy your time outdoors. The South Lake Union district is the venue for the beautiful Seattle Street Food Festival, during which food courts are opened and tourists can enjoy wonderfully prepared street food.

In late August or early September, on the eve of Labor Day, a large-scale event called Bumbershoot is held. In the most popular Park of the city which has often become a venue for large-scale events (this is, of course, the already mentioned Seattle Center), special stages are put up for musical concerts and stand-up performances. Here also in the enclosed sites, are launched art exhibitions and trade fairs. Since the festival is popular not only among locals but also among travelers, those who want to attend it should definitely resolve the question of tickets in advance. Cinema fans have probably heard that in the middle of May, another festival called the Seattle International Film Festival is celebrated. Thanks to this event you can watch independent and foreign films, as well as documentaries.

February is the month of the museums in Seattle (Seattle Museum Month): at this time special programs and thematic exhibitions are being organized in cultural centers that participate in the large-scale event. During the event, cultural sights become the most sought after “points of attraction”. The Nordic Museum organizes an entertaining event called Viking Days in the middle of August. During the event, visitors will be able to plunge into the atmosphere of the time when draccars traveled the seas. It was this draccars that the brave Vikings traveled on, in search of new land. The holiday marks the opening of the Vikings’ camp where, an interactive program is organized for children, traditional Viking crafts are demonstrated, and weapons of the tribe and the ability to use it are displayed. Visitors will also have a chance to eat northern dishes.

The Seattle Maritime Festival has an attractive family-friendly atmosphere. The celebration opens its doors to everyone in the middle of May when the fishing season begins. In addition to thematic excursions you should definitely try during the fest, small visitors can also have a great time here, since attractions (including a submarine simulator), master classes, and an interactive program are organized for them. It is held in a place most suitable for the festival – the port of Seattle, and more specifically, at the Fishermen’s Terminal. At the beginning of the school season, children are delighted by a specially organized theatrical program at the Seattle Children’s Festival. Culinary master-classes, as well as interactive and family entertainment, are also organized. The festival takes place in the Seattle Center Park.

Since many people of different nationalities live in Seattle, colorful parades dedicated to one nation or the other are often held here. The liveliest events are the Irish Saint Patrick’s Day (held in mid-March), Jamfest demonstrating the diversity of the Chinese people (marked in the middle of July in the Chinatown area), and the Chinese Culture and Arts Festival (celebrated in the middle of May in Seattle Center Park). There are two festivals that pay tribute to African heritage which you will also find interesting. It is about such festivals as the Umoja Family Festival which traditionally takes place in early August in the Judkins Park, as well as about the Spirit of Africa Festival. It can be attended in May in the Seattle Center Park. During the festivals, music, dance and craft traditions of cultures are demonstrated.