Bumbershoot Festival first started in Seattle in the year 1971. It is held on the Labor Day weekend. Since then this event has been showcasing the best music, dance, film, theater, comedy, performing arts and visual arts. The venue for Bumbershoot Festival has been the Seattle Center positioned in the lower Queen Anne neighborhood of northern Downtown Seattle. This event is considered to be North America's largest urban arts festival. More than 150,000 visitors gather in the 74-acre Seattle Center to see national and international celebrities who come to perform during this festival. The Bumbershoot event is alike mecca for art gluttons. One Reel jointly with AEG Live and Seattle Center produces and presents this famous Bumbershoot Festival.
Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle is an interesting cultural festival of the city. Bumbershoot, one of the most popular summer time events of Seattle showcases plethora of music, food, performing arts and some weird but exciting activities. This festival collates all the smaller events of Seattle and thus offers a massive ground for experiencing the cultural life of Seattle. All the popular musicians and well known bands of Seattle perform on 20 stages constructed at the festival. Every year, this festival brings upon innovative themes and occurrences. Some performers of Bumbershoot Festival, who have already given applauding shows include Tracy Chapman, Bo Diddley, Joan Jett, Ben Harper, Joan Osborne, Motorhead, Ani DeFranco, Sugar Ray, Savage Garden, Etta James, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker and many more international known artists.
This four day festival incorporates a book fair, a comedy stage, a poetry slam and art exhibitions. Sculptors, actors,
film makers, bookbinders, poets, acrobats and disc jockeys also take part in this
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festival. Youngsters get attracted to the crazy activities like three-wheeled bike races and walking on the tight rope. The young couples often visit this festival to get married under the shade of the Seattle Space Needle.
The word 'Bumbershoot' was selected as the festival’s name, since it personified an umbrella for the various arts and music performances in Seattle. Initially this festival was known as the Seattle Arts Festival. Later in 1980, One Reel production house began sponsoring this event, inviting world-renowned artists, finest Northwestern musicians and literary personalities. Since then this festival has earned a global recognition as the premier art related festival.
The festival hours each day starts from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Any individual above 6 years have to purchase a ticket to the Bumbershoot Festival. A special entry system is there for the senior citizens ( 65 years and over), disabled visitors and kids within 6 to 10 years. These entry details can be availed only at the gates during the festival. Tickets prices vary according to the number of days the visitors attend the event. People can save money by purchasing 2 day passes costs and paying in advance or four day passes and do the same. Ticket counters are at Western Washington Starbucks stores, Mercer Street and Thomas Street.
A huge parking area is kept reserved for the visitor vehicles during the Bumbershoot Festival. The King Country Metro and monorail are the best public transport that can be availed to reach the venue for this festival. The visitors are strictly prohibited to bring any audio and video recording gadgets, alcoholic beverages, glass bottles, chairs, cans and laser pointers. This annual festival offers an incredible spectacle with swarming crowd and superb stage shows in Seattle Center.
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