The basics
One of the grand old daddies of American festivals, where music and the arts come together on an epic scale in the Northwest city.
The festival
Born in an early 1970s cocktail of free love and wild music, Bumbershoot has been there and done that so many times it makes most other festivals look positively foetal in comparison.
And it puts all this experience to good use, with innovative arts events (this year, writers of The Simpsons will be giving a talk and the creative minds behind satirical paper The Onion will be telling you why you’re stupid) sitting alongside a genre-hopping lineup.
The first ever Bumbershoot, in 1971, had Emmylou Harris and free-jazzers Art Ensemble of Chicago on the same bill, and the same spirit of eclecticism extends to the festival today, where alt rock, folk, hip hop, grunge (of course, this is Seattle), dance and soul all sit happily alongside one another.
And what’s a Bumbershoot, you ask? It’s an umbrella. Hopefully you won’t be needing one at this year’s festival.
Our tip
Seattle has a brilliant, burgeoning food scene, and Bumbershoot’s food stalls offer residents and non-residents alike a taste of the city’s eclectic cuisine. The local seafood is particularly brilliant.
Watch
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get there?
Flying: The festival is easily reached by flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Using the Metro: King County Metro offers many regular routes that run to and from the Seattle Center and surrounding areas. Please see the Metro trip planner for routes that service the Seattle Center. Please remember the Sunday schedule (reduced service) will be in effect on both Sunday and Monday of Bumbershoot, due to the holiday.
Travelling by Monorail: The Monorail runs daily every 10 minutes between Westlake Center and Seattle Center. Festival extended operating hours are 8:30 AM to 11:30 PM Saturday – Monday. For more information visit the Monorail website. Update on the Metro Bumbershoot Shuttle: King County Metro Transit is no longer able to financially provide the event shuttle that formerly operated from the Northgate Transit Center.
Tickets
Pricing
Advance Purchase 3-Day Pass - $122.80
Advance Purchase 3-Day Gold Pass - $344.00
Advance Purchase 3-Day Platinum Pass - $519.70
When can I get them?
Tickets on sale now
Where can I get them?
Tickets will be available via the website.