Jan 07 Wednesday
KNKX has always valued the recordings in our vast KNKX Studio Sessions series--these audio and visual recordings capture moments in the history and careers of artists and bands.From Chick Corea and Judith Hill, to up and coming regional creators, these time capsules are important in the lineage of their art forms.
KNKX hosted two studio sessions with composer-trumpeter Roy Hargrove at our Seattle studios which have become legendary and world renowned (one was recorded in 2017, a year before Hargrove’s untimely passing at age 49).No trumpet player of his generation has been more impactful and his legacy continues to resonate with fans around the world.
The exclusive songs from Hargrove’s KNKX studio sessions were never released on any of the artist’s albums. That’s why we’re so excited these time capsules are now being released as a digital EP by Hargrove's estate--Roy Hargrove: Live at KNKX. They reveal the emotional depth and spontaneity that made Hargrove one of the defining jazz voices of his generation--bridging bebop, soul, and groove with effortless authenticity.
Join us for a special KNKX benefit event on January 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Triple Door in Seattle, as we celebrate the EP's release. The event, hosted by Abe Beeson, features video on the big screen from the studio sessions, and members of Hargrove’s bands and family, sharing stories and memories about what makes these previously unreleased works so important in jazz. We'll share the video recordings from Hargrove's studio sessions on the big screen along with messages from his bandmates and heirs.
The evening caps off with a performance by the D’Vonne Lewis Trio (with trumpeter Owuor Arunga and bassist Evan Flory-Barnes) performing some of Hargrove’s music. A t-shirt with the album cover art will be available for sale at the event.
GET TICKETS HERE. Ticket prices are $50, $65, and $80 (not including ticketing fees) and are available at The Triple Door's website. The Triple Door is located at 216 Union Street in downtown Seattle.
Dec 31 Wednesday
Sponsored by KNKX. Bundle up in your favorite sweater, put on a cozy hat, tie on your skates, and celebrate the season at the annual Oly on Ice, a pop-up ice skating rink in Olympia. As the days grow colder and holiday season begins residents and visitors of Olympia will see a large white tent pop up in Isthmus Park. Enter the tent and prepare to have a blast as you join the group of ice skaters making their way around the rink. The annual Oly on Ice event brings together people of all ages and skill levels for a memorable winter experience.
Jan 06 Tuesday
Sponsored by KNKX. Join us for an engaging panel discussion previewing the upcoming legislative session in Olympia, featuring leaders from the Washington State Legislature.
Hear from House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27th Legislative District) and Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R-20th Legislative District) as they discuss their parties’ top priorities for the session and the potential impact on individuals and communities. Austin Jenkins, award-winning journalist at Pluribus News and veteran host of Inside Olympia on TVW, will moderate the discussion.
This is a free event, but tickets are required. https://www.pugetsound.edu/events/washington-state-legislative-preview-2026
Celebrating over 45 years since their founding in 1977, the GRAMMY Award-winning New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional foundation of brass band music and incorporated it into a blend of genres, including bebop jazz, funk and R&B/soul. This unique sound, described by the band as a “musical gumbo” has allowed the Dirty Dozen to tour across five continents and more than thirty countries, record twelve studio albums and collaborate with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones. Forty-five plus years later, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world-famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.
Jan 30 Friday
Sponsored by KNKX. The 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Festival returns January 30–February 1, 2026, bringing three days of electrifying performances to Washington’s capital city. This year’s festival features funk powerhouses Tank and the Bangas, MonoNeon, and George Porter, Jr., alongside an all-star lineup of regional and national artists. With over 100 performers across 22 bands, the event continues to grow as a major cultural celebration in the Pacific Northwest.
KNKX returns as a proud media sponsor, supporting the festival’s mission to create an inclusive, joyful, and family-friendly experience that keeps live funk music thriving. The festival's venues include The Historic Capitol Theater, Olympia Ballroom, Olympia Center, and Ilk Brewing. Ilk Brewing will host free, all-ages programming including funk DJs and the Passing the Torch youth stage, while The Olympia Center will be home to free, educational masterclasses for aspiring musicians.
Beyond the stage, Olympia Funk Festival prioritizes affordability and access. Children 15 and under attend free, and tickets remain among the lowest priced for a multi-day music festival of this caliber — all to ensure that families and fans from across the country can experience the magic without breaking the bank.
KNKX is proud to support Olympia Funk Festival 2026 as it continues to cultivate the next generation of funk lovers and musicians through education, cultural exchange, and pure dance floor joy.
Experience the wild wonder of the holiday season as you traverse through the Mystical Forest where stunning creatures gleam brightly! Here, behold the magical forest train, mystical tree fairies and fantastical unicorns. Embark on a Journey on a Bright Desert Highway and see desert flora and fauna before discovering Marvelous Mammals where spectacular Northwest animals are vividly portrayed in lantern form. Family-favorite Interactive Lanterns are spread throughout the WildLanterns spaces. Let your imagination take flight in the Birds of Paradise zone, swan into this area where magnificent peacocks flaunt their flamboyant plumes and birds of a feather perch on enchanted branches. Finally, embark on a journey Under the Jungle Canopy and spot all the mischievous monkeys hiding in the foliage!
The stars are descending from the night sky. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Immerse yourself in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars before they return to the sky above.
Astra Lumina at Chinese Garden is the 21st experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.
Astra Lumina welcomes you to an extraordinary place, a garden right here on earth that shares a special connection with the sky above. Come nightfall, the garden sets the stage for a phenomenal event: a visit from the stars.
Stroll through a magical world with over 1.5 million sparkling lights. A classic holiday tradition, Zoolights has dazzled our community for 39 years. Online timed tickets are required. Our aquariums are closed and animals are sleeping during Zoolights. Visit during the day to see your favorite animals. Closed Dec. 24 & 25.
See the zoo transform into a colorful winter wonderland with over 1.5 million lights. From the giant Pacific octopus to the Narrows Bridges, the Flame Tree to the Seahawks tree, and a magical tunnel of lights, come find your favorite displays... and don’t forget to hunt for Sasquatch!
Meet our magnificent herd of goats! During this one-of-a-kind holiday-themed private animal encounter, you’ll get up close and personal with our playful goats. Give the goats festive enrichment and then head into the zoo to enjoy all the sparkling lights. Space is limited.
This year's Dog Nights are sold out!
The Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink presented by Symetra returns for its 28th year! The region’s largest ice-skating experience boasts over 9,000 square feet of real ice in a fully covered, open-air venue at Bellevue Downtown Park. Join for a season of festive fun featuring free skate lessons courtesy of Microsoft, themed skate nights, on-site concessions, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a novice eager to learn, get ready to bundle up for an unforgettable time on the ice.
Ring in the New Year and celebrate our first anniversary in style! Come vibe with us as our DJ spins your favorite R&B jams all night long.
This event is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED — arrive early to secure a table! NO COVER!
Join us for:
Exquisite wines
Delicious bites
Soulful beats
Laid-back vibes
It’s the perfect night to sip, savor, dance, and vibe. Bring your crew or roll solo — good energy guaranteed.
This New Year's Eve, leave basic behind and step into a night of unapologetic queer extravagance. EAT THE RICH is not just a party—it's a revolutionary toast to queer joy, chosen family, and the fabulous future we demand.
Sink your teeth into a full-course experience featuring:A decadent dinnerDazzling drag performancesGut-busting queer comedyA live band to heat things upA DJ spinning until you forget capitalismA midnight burlesque spectacular that'll make your jaw dropDress like the elite we’re feasting on—opulence, rebellion, and unrepentant glam encouraged. This isn’t just NYE, darling. It’s a riot in heels.
Come hungry. Leave legendary.
Join Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party for our New Year's Eve happy hour!
Welcomed by KNKX. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for the Wall Street Journal.
His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.
Pasquale Grasso - It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master. “This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult. “Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of [John Scofield] and a little bit of [Bill Frisell],” he continued. “What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model—which is an incredible model to have—is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”
Kenny G has a way with melody. That’s not necessarily a revelation, but more like a huge understatement, and it really comes into focus at this point in Kenny’s amazing career. This is a musician who has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, owns the best-selling instrumental record of all time with 1992’s 12-times-platinum Breathless, has the number one Christmas record of all time with 1994’s 8-times platinum Miracles, and whose song “Going Home” has, improbably, become the official end-of-work-day anthem in China. At the heart of those achievements is Kenny’s ability to convey deep emotional resonance with his saxophone, a skill never more apparent than on Innocence, his 20th studio album and fifth for Concord Records.
The 12-track project’s theme is lullabies, which have existed for thousands of years not only as a means of soothing babies to sleep but also to impart cultural and familial traditions. “Lullabies are very special to me,” says Kenny, who has been mulling an album with this musical focus for several years and even mentioned the idea in passing in Penny Lane’s acclaimed 2021 HBO documentary on him, Listening to Kenny G. “They hold a special place in my heart. It’s the melodies. They are beautiful and timeless and whenever I hear them, wonderful memories start rushing back to me.”
Special menu available.
Jan 01 Thursday
