Downtown (Center City) Parks

Another great season lies ahead for downtown (Center City) parks with arts, concerts, festivals and random acts of urban fun. Our park concierges have information to help you plan your visit and games so that you can play in the park.

2019 Schedule

Dancing

Salsa in the Park:
Two Saturdays:  7/27 and 9/21 at Bell Street Park (between 3rd and 4th). 6:30 pm - 10 pm. Enjoy hours of salsa dancing in the street!

Dancing 'Til Dusk
Thirteen magical evenings of free, live music and social dancing (no experience or partner required).
6:00PM-9:30PM
Visit www.danceforjoy.biz for more information.

  • 6PM - 1-hour beginner lesson
  • 7PM - Let the dancing begin!
Thursday 07/11/19 Hing Hay Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Zydeco
Tuesday 07/16/19 Occidental Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Honky Tonk
Thursday 07/18/19 Hing Hay Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Swing
Tuesday 07/23/19 Occidental Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Gypsy Swing
Thursday 07/25/19 Freeway Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Big Band Swing
Tuesday 07/30/19 Westlake Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Tango
Thursday 08/01/19 Freeway Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Blues
Tuesday 08/06/19 Westlake Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm West Coast Swing
Thursday 08/08/19 Freeway Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Salsa
Tuesday 08/13/19 Westlake Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Country
Thursday 08/15/19 Freeway Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Rock 'n Roll Revival
Tuesday 08/20/19 Westlake Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm Hollywood Movie Music
Thursday 08/22/19 Freeway Park 6 pm - 9:30 pm A Little Bit of Everything

Family Fun

Back to School BBQ w/ Sounders FC
Denny Park
BBQ, games and a backpack and school supplies giveaway!
Sat, Aug. 31 - 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
Block Party
Cascade Playground
Free raffle, BBQ, bouncy houses and music
Tuesday, Aug. 6 - 4-8 p.m.
 
Cascade Kids Days
Cascade Playground
Bouncy houses, games, art, and kids workshops
Saturdays, June 29, July 13, Aug. 3 - 12-3 p.m.
 
Family Fun Evenings
Donnie Chin International Children's Park
Join community center staff at the park to create some fantastic art and participate in games, enjoy kid-friendly concerts and entertainers, and other special activities.
Fridays, July 12-Aug. 30 - 6-8 p.m.
 
Family Water Day
Denny Park
Wear your suit, shades and get ready to get wet! Slip N' slide, music, food and other fun water activities for the family.
Saturday, July 27 - 12-4 p.m.
 
Fountain Festival
Freeway Park
Celebrate the heat of summer and our Park's greatest architectural features with water games, food, music, face painting and more.
Saturday, July 27 - 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
In Bloom
Freeway Park
Experience the bounty of our summer landscape with free flowers, food, tree tours, music and more!
Saturday, June 15 - 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
National Night Out
Denny Park
Come join neighbors in the park and streets for National Night Out!
Tuesday, Aug. 6 - 6-8 p.m.

Center City Outdoor Cinema

Join us for movies under the stars! Pre-movie activities start at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at dusk. Rain-out Information for Cascade Playground, Freeway Park and Hing Hay Park: call 206-684-7710

Please call rain-out line after 1PM on the day of event to inquire about potential weather cancellations.

Westlake Park movie nights are rain or shine.

Fri., July 12 Cascade Playground Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse
  Westlake Park Aquaman
Fri., July 19 Cascade Playground Up
  Westlake Park Christopher Robin
Fri., July 26 Cascade Playground Shrek
Fri., Aug. 2 Freeway Park Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse
  Westlake Park Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original)
Sat., Aug. 3 Hing Hay Park Crazy Rich Asians
Fri., Aug. 9 Freeway Park Best in Show
  Westlake Park Jurassic Park
Sat., Aug. 10 Hing Hay Park Iron Monkey (Cantonese)
Fri., Aug. 16 Freeway Park Won't You Be My Neighbor
  Westlake Park Captain Marvel
Sat., Aug. 17 Hing Hay Park Mirai
Fri., Aug. 23 Freeway Park Crazy Rich Asians
  Westlake Park Incredibles 2
Sat., Aug. 24 Hing Hay Park Up
Fri., Aug. 30 Freeway Park Labyrinth

Music and Concerts

Downtown Summer Sounds
Free live music at a variety of locations throughout downtown Seattle. All programs run 12-1 p.m.

Tues., July 9 City Hall Park
Fri., July 12 Denny Park
Tues., July 16 City Hall Park
Fri., July 19 Denny Park
Tues., July 23 City Hall Park
Thur., July 25  City Hall PLAZA
Fri., July 26 Westlake Park
Tues., July 30 City Hall Park
Thur., Aug. 1  City Hall PLAZA
Fri., Aug. 2 Occidental Square
Fri., Aug. 9 Freeway Park
Thur., Aug. 15  City Hall PLAZA
Fri. Aug. 16 Occidental Square

Happy Hours
Westlake Park - Occidental Square
Live music, adult beverages and fun!
Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 - 5-7 p.m.
Wednesdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 - 5-7 p.m.
Hot Spot
Waterfront Park
Soak up some sun with live music and DJ dance parties, food and family activities
Saturdays and Sundays, July 6-Sept. 1 - 12-8 p.m.
 
Lunch and Listen
City Hall Park
Free live music during lunchtime from local musicians
Tuesdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 - 12-1 p.m.
 
Seattle Chamber Music Festival - Music Under the Stars
Freeway Park
Live broadcast of the performance from Benaroya Hall on 98.1 Classical KING FM. Bring a picnic! BBQs are available for grilling.
Fridays, July 5, 12, 19, 26 - 7-10 p.m.
 
Summer Stage
Cascade Playground
Concerts in the park with talented local musicians!
Thursdays, June 13-Aug. 29 - 12-2 p.m.
Tuesday Brew and Tunes
Freeway Park
Live music, a beer garden, and a food truck every Tuesday in Seneca Plaza.

Tuesdays, Aug. 6-Sept. 24 - 4:30-6:30 p.m.

  • Aug. 6 - Kim Archer
  • Aug. 13 - DoNormaal
  • Aug. 20 - Sundae Crush
  • Aug. 27 - Wet City Rockers
  • Sept. 3 - Entre Mundos
  • Sept. 10 - Stucky Jackson and the Boys
  • Sept. 17 - Salt Lick
  • Sept. 24 - Guayaba

Arts and Crafts

Art on the Fly: Dance Performance
Denny Park
Seattle International Dance Festival performance
Saturday, June 8 - 12-3 p.m.
Drag Queen Teen Pageant
Westlake Park
Saturday, June 22 - 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
Festál Fridays
Westlake Park
Festival Sundiata, Brasil Fest and Festal Italiana
Fridays, June 14, Aug. 16, Sept. 27 - 12-1 p.m.
 
Kids Art in the Park
Cascade Playground
Weekly arts and crafts workshops in the park.
Fridays, June 21-Aug. 30 - 2:30 - 4 p.m.
 
Lectures and Storytelling
Hing Hay Park: Wednesdays, July 24, 31, August 7, 14 - 12-1 p.m.
Westlake Park: Drag Queen Storytelling: Thursdays, July 4, 11, 18, 25 - 12-2 p.m.
 
Paint in the Park
Show off your painting skills in the park! Paint a Seattle vista and take your artwork home!
City Hall Park, Thursdays, July 11-Aug. 29 - 4-6 p.m.
Denny Park, Thursdays, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - 4-6 p.m.
Occidental Square, Wednesdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 - 5-7 p.m.
Victor Steinbrueck Park, Tuesdays, Thursdays, June 4-July 30 - 4-6 p.m. (*No class on July 4) 
Westlake Park, Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 - 5-7 p.m.
Painting Parties
Freeway Park
Paint a kite to be included in Freeway Park's 8th annual art-kite installation
Fridays, June 21 - Sept. 22 - noon -2 pm.
Seattle ReCreative
Watercolors, rock painting, pastels, magic, puppet making and more!
Occidental Square: Tuesdays, June 4, 18; July 2, 16, 30; Aug. 13, 27  from 10 a.m.-12 p.m
Westlake Park: Tuesdays, June 11, 25; July 9, 23; Aug. 6, 20 - 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Silver Kite Community Arts
Watercolors, instrument making, visual arts workshop, magic and more!
Occidental Square: Tuesdays, June 11, 25; July 9, 23, Aug. 6, 20 - 12-2 p.m.
Westlake Park: Tuesdays, June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 30; Aug. 13, 27 - 12-2 p.m
SouthEast Alaskan Native Song, Dance & Storytelling Presentation
Victor Steinbrueck Park
Cultural presentations of the Tlingit people from Southeast Alaska including traditional storytelling, Tlingit language, song, dance and regalia
Saturdays, June 1, 15, 29, July 13, 27 - 12-1 p.m.
 
Urban Craft Uprising Presents First Thursdays Art in the Park
Occidental Square
Live music, art demonstrations, live model figure sketching and games for the kids!
First Thursday of June, Aug., Sept., Oct. - 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Gardening

Alleycat Acres Garden Parties
Cascade Playground
Learn about the giving garden and growing vegetables
Mondays, May 6 - Oct. 28 - 4-7 p.m.
 
Herbalism Classes
Cascade Playground
Join Moonlight Medicine to learn about herbal remedies for stress, immunity, and skin.
Wednesdays, June 19, July 10, 24 - 5-7 p.m.

Pet Fun

First Hill Fidos
Freeway Park
Join your friends and neighbors for the 5th Annual First Hill Fidos! Enter your dog to win prizes from Mud Bay!
Thursday, June 13 - 6-8 p.m.

Fitness, Games and Books

Book Carts
Freeway Park
Monday-Friday, June 1-Sept. 30 - 12-2 p.m.

Drop-in Activities
Badminton: Tuesday-Friday - Cascade Playground, City Hall Park, Denny Park
Bocce: Daily - Occidental Square. Borrow balls at information kiosk.
Chess: Daily - Cascade Playground, City Hall Park, Hing Hay Park, Occidental Square and Westlake Park
Cornhole: Daily - Cascade Playground, City Hall Park, Denny Park, Freeway Park, Hing Hay Park, Occidental Square and Westlake Park
Ping-Pong: Daily - Cascade Playground, Denny Park, Hing Hay Park, Occidental Square, Waterfront Park and Westlake Park
 
Chess Tournaments
City Hall Park
Fridays, June 21-Sept. 6 - 12 p.m.

Fitness Workshops
Denny Park (w/ The Duncan Connection)
Live DJ, spin and yoga, all in one session
Saturdays, June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17 - 2-4 p.m.

FIFA Women's World Cup Viewing
Occidental Square
June 7-July 7 - Any games at 12 p.m.

Mahjong
Hing Hay Park
Play Mahjong in the park and compete with other community members
Thursdays, June 6-Sept. 19 - 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
Ping Pong & Sports
Hing Hay Park
Ping pong tournaments and recreational play, along with other sport activities
Fridays, July 12-Sept. 27 - 12-4:30 p.m.
*Tournaments are July 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m.
 
Tai Chi
Hing Hay Park
Relieve stress with this graceful form of exercise!
Tuesdays, June 4-Sept. 24 - 12:30-2:30 p.m.
 
Yoga in the Park
Cascade Playground
Free drop-in yoga sessions. Mats provided.
Saturdays, June 1-Sept. 14 - 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
Freeway Park
Hosted by the Washington Athletic Club, all levels welcome to join. Bring your own mat. Water provided.
Wednesdays, July 10-Aug. 28 - 12-1 p.m.
 
Zumba in the Park
Freeway Park
Hosted by the Washington Athletic Club, all levels welcome to join!
Mondays, July 8-Aug. 26 - 5:30-6:30  p.m.