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Dubbed "the party with a purpose", Green Festival is held annually at Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle. It welcomes green businesses and visionary speakers to cover a range of aspects regarding sustainable living.

From tantalising literature to steamy interactive installations, the three-day Seattle Erotic Art Festival explores the erotic energy of intimate human expression. The educational event is held at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, with highlights including an extensive festival store.

First held in 1972, when Northwest Folklife was formed, the Northwest Folklife Festival takes place on Memorial Day Weekend at the Seattle Center. The popular event includes traditional music, crafts, dancing, films and food from around the world.

Around 130 international beers from more than 15 countries can be sampled at the annual Seattle International BeerFest. The three-day event is held at Seattle Center's Mural amphitheatre and includes live music and food stalls.

Seattle Aquarium's annual fundraising event, Splash! combines glamour and education for a fun-filled night. The themed event sees silent auctions, live entertainment, spectacular animal exhibits, delicious foods and cocktails and plenty more. All proceeds benefit the aquarium's educational programmes.

Festival Sundiata celebrates African and African-American culture. It is held over two days at the Seattle Center and showcases the rich diversity of African music, dance, food, arts, crafts and plenty more.

The local LGBT community comes together for Seattle Pride. The parade starts on the corner of Union Street/4th Avenue and proceeds in a burst of colour and noise to Westlake Park while Pridefest takes over the nearby Seattle Center.

Paddle, steam or row back in time at Seattle's annual Lake Union Wooden Boot Festival. The themed event, at the Center for Wooden Boats, features demonstrations on boat making, contests, children's activities, boat rides and plenty more.

Every year around Independence Day, Seattle's Amy Yee Center plays host to the Seattle Classic tournament. This Gay and Lesbian Tennis Association competition draws enthusiasts from all over the world for a competitive yet very sociable event.

In the northwestern part of Seattle, Ballard has a rich Scandinavian and maritime heritage. Every year this area of the city hosts a fun-filled festival with live entertainment, truck loads of seafood and plenty of family-orientated activities.

At home in Benaroya Hall, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra has become one of the fastest rising in the classical music firmament. Maestro, Gerard Schwarz, has been musical director since 1985.

Be prepared to party hard at this annual music festival which turns Seattle's Capitol Hill neighbourhood into an edgy festival ground complete with four stages. The three-day Capitol Hill Block Party showcases over 60 of the best Northwest and national independent bands.

Seattle's Seafair is one of America's biggest community festivals and fills the streets, skies and waters of the city with parades, planes and a whole fleet of objects. The event climaxes with a weekend air show but events run in the weeks running up to it.

Under the direction of Toby Saks, the Seattle Chamber Music Society presents an eclectic summer festival packed with stellar chamber music. Held in Seattle's Benaroya Hall, the festival features free pre-concert recitals.

The lively world of Brazilian arts and culture fills the Seattle Center with a celebration of South American soul for one day every summer. The Brasil Fest offers free music, dance and theatre as well as food and films.

The annual Seattle Tattoo Expo is where lovers of the art form come to check out the latest designs. The three-day event at Seattle Center includes competitions among tattoo artists, seminars, art exhibitions and many after-show events.

The spectacular music and dance of Tibet are the star attractions of this colourful festival at the Seattle Center. Featuring arts, crafts, literature, lectures and plenty of food, TibetFest is a cultural feast of entertainment from the Land of the Snows.

The annual Seattle Hemp Festival is held over two days at the city's three waterfront parks, including Olympic Sculpture Park. It features demonstrations, displays, music, arts and food, as well as panel discussions on issues relating to cannabis.

Go wild at Zoo Tunes at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. Held throughout the summer, the event features excellent bands, vendors and many free samples. Concerts are held on a sprawling lawn and special activities keep the kids busy.

Enjoy classic and contemporary cinema at this annual event in Seattle where free movies are shown every Saturday night on a 45-foot screen at the Mural Amphitheatre. Visitors are also welcome to bring picnics!

Bumbershoot, one of America's most exciting arts festivals, returns to the Seattle Center for another year. The festival draws over 200,000 visitors and is host to as many as 2000 performers including poets, actors, writers, dancers, filmmakers and acrobats.

Every year the International Conservation Photography Awards is given to one exceptional nature photographer. This exhibition at the Burke Museum of Natural History showcases over 75 of the remaining juried photographs, representing the best of conservation photography around the world.

From crickets to bees and beetles, Burke Museum's annual Bug Blast celebrates bugs of all shapes and sizes. Those attending the event can hug, hold and even taste-test several different flavours of fried mealworms and crickets.

There is no buyers remorse at the Annual Bungalow Fair where attendees see antiques for sale set in the majestic halls of Town Hall Seattle. The two-day fair also features new work by some of the nation's leading designers.

Every year for a weekend the Festa Italiana Seattle transforms the Seattle Center into a little slice of Italy. A traditional mass in Italian opens the festival before visitors are treated to an intoxicating brew of culture, entertainment and cooking.

Safeco Field is home to the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team and stages regular games from April to October. The Mariners compete in the tough American League West, which includes the Oakland Athletics, Anaheim Angels and the Texas Rangers.

The annual Feast at the Market celebrates the bounty of the season while supporting biodiversity and the social interaction that food provides. The event presents a range of delicious foods from over 20 of Pike Place Market best restaurants.  

Founded as a two-night event with local groups in 1999, SketchFest Seattle has grown to become a three-day affair featuring groups from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Canada. This year's event is held at Theater Off Jackson.

Archaeology Day might inspire your kids to be the next Indiana Jones! Held annually at Burke Museum in Seattle, the hands-on event welcomes archeologists who discuss the profession and features a range of interactive activities mimicking situations Archeologists deal with.

Mexican cultural association Taller Mexicano para la Cultura y las Artes presents Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) every year. Part of Seattle Center's annual Festál programme, the event celebrates Mexican culture with food, arts and performances.

Hmong originated in Laos, Vietnam, Burma and Thailand, but its unique culture has spread worldwide. The traditions and practices of the Hmong New Year are celebrated at the Seattle Center as part of their annual calendar of multicultural festivals.

The Earshot Jazz Festival welcomes over 100 contemporary jazz luminaries to Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Meany Theater, amongst other city venues. The bill includes educational programmes and panels, a film series, poetry and author readings, art exhibits and live music.

Downtown Seattle's annual Tree Lighting Celebration & Holiday Parade is held at the Westlake Center a day after Thanksgiving. A popular seasonal event, the day ends with a spectacular fireworks display.

There are no excuses not to run the Seattle Marathon & Half Marathon as the annual event features various races including the Marathon Walk. Contestants take in a course with scenic views of downtown Seattle and Lake Washington.

Enthusiasts can admire hundreds of street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers and ATVs from all the leading manufacturers at the annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show. The popular show is held at Qwest Field in Seattle.

The Christmas Ship Festival is a magical holiday celebration in Seattle, Washington that has become a local Northwest tradition since its inception in 1950. The brilliantly lit ships run nightly from the end of November to just before Christmas.

The Seattle Seahawks play their NFL games at impressive CenturyLink Field. The regular season runs from September to January and welcomes plenty of adoring fans who cheer the team on.

Commit to New Year resolutions while enjoying a spectacular view of a lit-up Space Needle from the grounds of Seattle Center. The premier event sees lights switched on at the stroke of midnight.

Seattle celebrates the holiday season with a series of festivals over the five-week period of Winterfest. During this time, the Seattle Center hosts everything from ice skating to concerts, dancing and fireworks.

Tet Festival is an annual themed event at the Seattle Center celebrating Vietnamese culture. The festival features exhibits, interactive arts, crafts, various musical programmes for the whole family and a range of delicious foods.

The Seattle Boat Show takes place at the Qwest Field Event Center every January. Held over ten days, it welcomes more than 400 exhibitors and also features boating accessories and services, ranging from marine engines to financing and insurance.

The Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater is an annual performing and teaching exposition of long-form improv comedy. Held at the Historic University Theater and Market Theater, it welcomes around 15 different improv groups from across the US.

The annual Spring Seattle Home Show at Qwest Field Event Center prepares you for any home improvements! The show features over 600 home and garden displays, free daily symposiums on DIY issues and a huge array of products for sale.

The Northwest Women's Show returns to Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington. More than 500 exhibits cover seminars on health, wellness and finance, fashion shows, food, home improvements and a grand rose show.

The Seattle Center's annual celebration of Irish culture takes in a film festival, the parade on 4th Avenue and the St Patrick's Day Dash. While the festival centres on the Seattle Center, various events are held across the city.

Sample the offerings of Seattle's best restaurants and wineries at the annual Taste! Washington at the CenturyLink Field. The two-day festival includes seminars by wine and food experts and a Grand Tasting where delicious morsels accompany mouth-watering wines.

Diversity reigns during Seattle's annual Moisture Festival at Hale's Palladium. Local, national and international acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, musicians, clowns and comedians join in a three-week celebration of variety and comedy.

The Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival is the Seattle Center's celebration of the long-running friendship between Seattle and Japan. The fun-filled festival features a range of activities including tea ceremonies, puppet shows, music and martial arts performances.

Whirligig is a 17-day carnival for kids held every Spring Break at the Seattle Center. With fun activities that range from percussion workshops to inflatable water rides, storytelling and juggling, there's enough to stimulate even the most challenging of kids.

FIM World Championship Supercross comes to the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle for the 15th race of the season. The series combines outrageous jumps with flat-out speed, making each and every race a spectacular event.