Aug 01 Saturday
ABOUT TRADITIONAL BLUES Monday, July 27 - Sunday, August 2, 2026 Artistic Director: Jontavious Willis
In the depths of summer, Centrum goes deep into traditional blues. Now in its 33rd year, the Traditional Blues Workshop continues to offer a side of the blues that popular culture does not always recognize—its roots.
Immerse yourself in a creative community of artists from across the globe who share a passion for early blues traditions and moving the genre forward. Blues Week celebrates the music and traditions of African American folk blues—its roots, forerunners, and the stories they carried—while also welcoming fresh approaches that bring new life to the sounds of the past.
Join us for a memorable week of learning, connection, and extraordinary talent.
This year, participants can choose from three learning tracks: the Full Traditional Blues Workshop (open to musicians and singers of all instruments, with access to all learning options), Gospel Choir (a vocal-focused track, Tuesday–Friday), or our new Dance Track, designed for those who want to focus on traditional blues dancing. All three tracks include admission to all ticketed public performances.
Love hiking? Looking for a way to make a difference? 👀 Join Hike-a-Thon, Washington Trails Association’s community fundraiser!
Hike-a-Thon is for you if you want to …♥️ Give back to trails and public lands (and inspire others to do the same)🌲 Spend more time outdoors this summer, solo or with a team✨ Earn awesome prizes, including the official 2026 T-shirt once you raise your first $40
Everyone is welcome, no matter how or where you enjoy spending time outdoors. Register today to make the most of your Hike-a-Thon!
Free Registration to the Puyallup, 2026 Bubble Run Is Still Available!
Get ready, Puyallup – it’s time to run, walk, dance, and make a splash! The Bubble Run is heading back to town for another unforgettable day of foam-filled fun. This one-of-a-kind 5K combines fitness and festivity, sending participants through colorful bubble bogs and clouds of foam that guarantee smiles from start to finish. It’s non-competitive and untimed making it perfect for all ages to participate!
Join us at Washington State Fairgrounds on August 1, 2026, for this family-friendly event where runners, walkers, and strollers are all welcome. Dress comfortably, bring your crew, and get ready to cross the finish line in every color of the rainbow—covered in bubbles and memories you’ll never forget!
🎈 Perfect for families, friends, and fun-loving runners👟 All ages and fitness levels welcome🫧 Expect laughter, music, and mountains of foam🎟️ Registration is open now – spots fill up fast!
Get your tickets now at https://bubblerun.com/locations/bubble-run/seattle
Drop into Easy Street Records for an afternoon of crate digging. While you're there drop off your damaged or unplayable vinyl records to help support vinyl recycling efforts! Collection bins will be out through the end of September.
Event website: https://www.wmg.com/news/independent-record-stores-and-warner-music-group-launch-nationwide-pilot-to-explore-recovery-pathways-for-vinyl-records
Every Weekend in August Historic Downtown Issaquah transforms into a lively pedestrian playground every weekend in August! Explore car-free Front Street with live music, outdoor dining, local shopping, pop-up experiences, and activities for all ages.
Front Street closed: Saturday, 8 a.m. – Sunday, 10 p.m. Programming: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. – varies Outdoor dining & sidewalk shopping Live music & family-friendly fun Pop-up experiences & community activities Free to attend
Experience downtown in a whole new way!
Al Fresco on Front Kicks Off with a Weekend of Play August 1–2Bubbles, Mini Golf and Foam FunGet ready to get a little silly, a little sudsy, and have a whole lot of fun. Al Fresco on Front kicks with a weekend packed with family-friendly activities that turn Historic Downtown Issaquah into one giant playground.Challenge your family to a game of ping pong, or grab a board or yard game and make your own fun. Then, things get bubbly!The magic of bubbles takes over downtown on Sunday, Aug. 2, from noon to 2 p.m., while Foam Fun takes over from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get ready to run, play, and make a splash in a mountain of foam. Finally, try a little friendly competition on the mini golf course Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Times may vary, so keep checking back for more updates!
Seafair Weekend Festival is Seattle’s premier boating event, air show, and festival all rolled into one. It features live music, delicious food and beverage options, and various family-friendly activities. Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, Seafair Weekend promises to deliver an incredible experience that captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant culture and natural beauty.
The fun includes unlimited hydroplane racing, vintage hydroplanes, Boeing Air Show, U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue, and so much more. Seafair Weekend Festival is Seattle’s premier boating event, air show, and festival all rolled into one.
Known and loved as an unofficial Puget Sound holiday, this is the most anticipated event of the summer! Join in the fun and create memories that will last a lifetime!
In summer 2026, MOHAI will be one of only eight venues nationwide to host the Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation—a landmark exhibit from the National Archives created in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Inspired by the Freedom Train, which carried historic documents across the country during the Bicentennial, the Freedom Plane National Tour shares original founding-era records from the National Archives with a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide.
Selected as one of only eight venues nationwide, and the final stop on the national tour, MOHAI will host the Freedom Plane National Tour from July 30–August 16, 2026, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Pacific Northwest to experience these original records before they return to the National Archives vaults.
In alignment with MOHAI’s mission and the significance of America’s 250th anniversary, the Freedom Plane National Tour exhibit will be presented free and open to the public during its run at MOHAI. Additional visitor information will be shared closer to the exhibit opening.
MOHAI will showcase original founding-era documents on loan from the National Archives, central to the creation of the United States.
These fragile, irreplaceable documents are traveling together for the first time as part of the Freedom Plane National Tour. After appearing at a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide, the tour will conclude at MOHAI before the documents return to the National Archives.
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.
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.
