Concerts & Events in Seattle

As winter departs for the year, western Washington begins to wake up. Trees start to bud, Mt. Rainier basks in the glow of gentle sunlight, and residents begin searching for ways to celebrate the coming of another glorious spring. Fortunately for them, they don't have to look very far: if it's April in Puyallup, there's bound to be a fair a-brewin'. Since 1990, The Spring Fair in Puyallup has celebrated the return of warmer weather with attractions designed to delight family members young and old. The sights of the season are most evident at Fair's Garden Show, where representatives from more than five dozen area nurseries, landscape firms, and garden shops honor the coming plant life with their wares and expertise.

Elsewhere, 4-H and FFA students show off stately sheep and prized pigs during the Northwest Junior Livestock Show. Porkers also get in on the act during the fair's pig races, outmaneuvering each other around the track in pursuit of a delicious Oreo cookie. More exotic members of the animal kingdom reside at the fair's brand-new Aussie Kingdom exhibit; there, a gaggle of kangaroos, kookaburras, and bearded dragons strut their stuff in true down-under fashion.

The fair's attractions extend far past farms and gardens. Motorsport Mayhem's demolition derbies, monster truck show, and classic car showcases treat guests to a shot of gas-powered excitement, and multiple performance stages fill the air with the sounds of festive live music. Two dedicated kids areas cater to the fair's youngest visitors; KidZone engages youngsters with everything from puzzles to reptile demonstrations, and KidZone, Too! treats them to refreshments from the root-beer garden and wearable art from professional face painters. As dusk falls on the fair's whirling midway rides, visitors are encouraged to look up: Friday and Saturday nights both end with the sizzling excitement of spectacular fireworks shows.

Chocolate lovers unite at the Northwest Chocolate Festival, an annual event dedicated not just to eating chocolate in its many forms, but to tracking its journey from cacao bean to confection. Visitors hone their expertise through seminars on trade equity and cacao farming, chocolate-making workshops led by confectioners, and tastings where palates learn to distinguish between milk chocolate and a chocolate bar clumsily forced inside a milk jug. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefits local nonprofits aligned with the festival’s mission. Recipients are announced yearly.