May 09 Saturday
Sponsored by KNKX. The 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival will take place May 7–17, 2026 at SIFF Cinemas and venues throughout the city. The unique feeling of being truly immersed in the world of independent film, sharing the theater with a vibrant community unlike anywhere else.
Discover the SIFF Effect for yourself at the 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival. You’ll be able to experiment with a lineup of films from over 80 countries, with the power to activate the full spectrum of emotions and sensations. The result is total engagement with film on every level. It’s all happening in person, May 7-17 in the heart of Seattle.
The Seattle International Film Festival will open for an electrifying 52nd year with Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters as the catalyst of the Festival's annual offering of cinema experiences from around the world. The film will be shown at the Paramount Theatre at 7 p.m., followed by the Opening Night afterparty at Cannonball Arts (1930 3rd Ave), a one-of-a-kind space for artistic experimentation. Guests are invited to explore the gallery exhibits, a signature photo activation, food, drinks, and a live set from DJ Eliogold, the artist behind the festival's official trailer music.
KNKX presents these films during the Festival:
Birds of War - May 8, 6:15 p.m. and May 9, 12:15 p.m. at SIFF Cinema UptownLebanese journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian activist and cameraman Abd Alkader Habak share their extraordinary love story, told through 13 years of personal archives spanning revolutions, war, and exile.
Powwow People - May 16, 2:30 p.m. at SIFF Cinema Downtown and May 17, 4:30 p.m. at SIFF Cinema UptownAs an immersive, observational story, Powwow People invites audiences to witness the unfolding of a powwow over the course of a single day. Emcee Reuben Little Head is the perfect guide, grounded, generous, and often hilarious. The film's final 30-minute long take is deeply inclusive, creating space for viewers to simply be present with community. It's a powerful reminder that to witness in this way is a privilege and a blessing.
Fresh Flower MarketBuy Local for that Someone Special!Valentine’s Day – 8 am – 3 pm – Thursday, February 13th, and Friday, February 14th.Easter Sunday – 8 am – 3 pm Sunday, April 5th.[Flowers are also available at the Farm Fresh Market 9 am – 2 pm on Saturday, April 4th].Mother’s Day – 8 am – 3 pm – Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th.
Where: Historic Shell Station
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society invites you to explore the history of building the State History Museum. 30 Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum is a special exhibition that uncovers the vision, effort, and community spirit that brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life.
Discover the bold ideas and architectural ingenuity that shaped the museum’s distinctive look. From early sketches to final blueprints, see how the building’s design reflects both innovation and reverence for Washington’s past. Go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction. Through photographs and artifacts from the building process, witness how a dream took shape—brick by brick, beam by beam.
Staff Picks: 30 Objects for 30 Years
In a special feature area, museum staff share their favorite objects from the collection—each one a personal reflection on the power of history to inspire, surprise, and connect us.
Discover the beauty and unique habitat of prairies at Glacial Heritage Preserve. This preserve, open to the public just this one day in the year, is over 1,000 acres and may now look much the way it did 200 years ago. There are over 20 educational booths, many with children's games. Take a hayride around the prairie, use the 4 mile walking trail, or take a much shorter loop yet still see the amazing birds and plants. There are native plant identification workshops and an early morning bird walk. There is a food truck and a gift tent. Please leave pets at home, but bring a food donation for the Thurston County Food Bank. The gate opens at 10 am and closes to new arrivals at 2 pm and visitors are asked to leave by 4pm.
The terrain is hilly, rocky, and uneven and is not suitable for strollers and walkers.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum proudly presents The Birth of the American Supercar, a groundbreaking exhibition guest curated by renowned automotive innovator Steve Saleen. This one-of-a-kind display invites guests on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of American supercars. From early speed pioneers to cutting-edge modern marvels, visitors will experience a stunning lineup of vehicles that have redefined engineering, speed, and style, built by a wide range of American automotive manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Saleen himself, and even some more obscure ones like Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey. From roaring V8s to sleek carbon-fiber bodies, discover how American automakers pushed boundaries, challenged European rivals, and redefined what a supercar could be. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most thrilling and historically significant American-made performance vehicles ever built—all under one roof.
Pacific Bonsai Museum's 8th annual BonsaiFEST! takes place on World Bonsai Day and Mother's Day weekend — Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 10 am – 4 pm. Due to popular demand, the festival features an expanded lineup of bonsai demonstrations by local artists (five demos each day), a juried bonsai show with public Best in Show voting, a captivating display of tiny mame bonsai, food trucks, bonsai shopping, a kids' art and coloring tent, and free custom poems written on the spot by poet Alexandria Manalo. With more than 150 bonsai on view across the grounds, seasonal blooms are possible depending on nature's timing. The festival also marks the opening of Bonsai United, a new exhibition that reveals how bonsai — the same ancient living art — grows into something distinct and beautiful in every culture it touches, from Japan to Mexico to Australia and beyond. Running through December 2027. Free admission thanks to support from 4Culture. Pacific Bonsai Museum, 2515 S 336th Street, Federal Way. pacificbonsaimuseum.org
Join us for three weekends of gift and card making at Hands On Children’s Museum! Give mom a much-needed break while the kiddos play.
• Copper & Tin Works Giftmaking (April 25 & 26): Make the mother figure in your life a hammered-copper suncatcher or a set of earrings for $15, or sculpt with tinfoil for free!• Tie Dye Giftmaking (May 2 & 3): Design a Tie Dye Tea Towel for $15 or craft a colorful coffee filter flower for free!• Felted Fun Giftmaking (May 9 & 10): Felt a colorful design on a bar of soap for $15 or experience making a felted ball for free!• Photobooth (May 9 & 10): Say cheese and take a family photo for mom!
Mother's Day activities sponsored by Seattle Children's Olympia
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a visit to the garden at peak bloom! Enjoy an art market featuring local artists, food trucks, and a beautiful selection of plants available for purchase in our onsite nursery.
