Fill your Labor Day Weekend with Music & Art

Bumbershoot to be held September 5-7, 2015

What’s your Labor Day tradition? In Seattle, we have a great one. Celebrating 45 years in 2015, Bumbershoot is Seattle’s annual Labor Day weekend arts festival, and one of the largest arts and culture celebrations in the country.

Bumbershoot is unique in many ways, from its easily accessible central city location on the 74 acre Seattle Center campus (home to notable icons the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass and EMP Museum), to its creative mix of music, comedy, theater, dance, film, visual arts and spectacle.

2015 music headliners include Faith No More, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Hozier, Chance the Rapper, Cake, Flying Lotus, Zedd, Social Distortion, Brand New, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Bassnectar, Fitz & The Tantrums, Flosstradamus, Lindsey Stirling and Neko Case.  New this year: the festival offers two mainstage locations, in both Memorial Stadium and KeyArena.

Hari Kondabolu

Comedy events feature former Seattleite Hari Kondabolu, The Office’s Kate Flannery in her send-up lounge act The Lampshades, and an impressive display of local and regional talent including Emmett Montgomery, who can be seen in this year’s installment of Last Comic Standing.

Bumbershoot’s popular Words & Ideas programming offers conversations, performances, and readings that explore the intersections between pop culture, new media, literature, theories, and trends. Highlights of this year’s fest include the writers of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The A.V. Club Live, and a special taping of Sherman Alexie and Jess Walters’ popular podcast, A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment.

Dance, theatre and visual arts offerings include the Reign Supreme Breakin’ Competition and Street Dance Showcase, performances curated by the renowned Velocity Dance Center, a timely Seattle-Havana-Tehran Poster Show, and theater programs ranging from the masters of Improv Unexpected Productions to Playlist Seattle’s original theatrical performances inspired by the songs of Seattle musicians.

Bumbershoot is also all-ages friendly. With Youngershoot (curated by Seattle Children’s Museum and aimed at children 10 and under) and all-ages programming curated and hosted by The Vera Project, Bumbershoot offers younger patrons a unique festival experience.

Come join us at Seattle’s end-of-summer party September 5-7. You’ll discover Seattle’s art and culture, and enjoy the rich and diverse talent of the Pacific Northwest alongside national and international acts. Save money by buying your tickets in advance at bumbershoot.com, and find and book your perfect hotel here. See you at the festival!

About the Author

Tracey Wickersham

Tracey Wickersham is the Senior Director of Cultural Tourism at Visit Seattle. A volunteer dj & host of a long running music program on KBCS 91.3 FM, she spent 6 years on the board of 4Culture, supporting arts, heritage, public art and historic preservation in King County. You'll often find her at the Tractor Tavern enjoying great bands, exploring one of the region's beautiful parks with her spunky blue heeler mix, or in one of Seattle's many live theater venues.

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