KIRO Radio Highlights
Stories and features from the news staff of KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM.
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Memorial Day Fun: What's happening this weekend
Memorial Day weekend is here, the sun is shining, we are in for a good one!
Throughout the weekend at the Seattle Center is the Northwest Folklife Festival, and the event website says "the annual Northwest Folklife Festival is a community-powered celebration of the arts, culture, and heritage" that has been funded through donations for over 50 years. Live music and art, panels, workshops, art installations, and plenty more! Learn more right here.
At the Neptune Theatre on Sunday it is Massive Monkees Day! If you are a fan of dancing, especially, breakin, you will want to check this out! This dance battle will feature competitors from across the world in a variety of solo and group battles, plus there will be MCs and DJs keeping things moving and grooving, plus there will be giveaways! More details can be found right here.
It is an absolutely loaded sports weekend here in Seattle, while the first place Mariners aren't in town, if you are a soccer fan the Seattle Reign and Ballard FC have home matches tonight and the Sounders have a home match on Saturday. The Seattle Seawolves also play tonight and the Storm have games tonight and Sunday. I'd imagine there's a lot of families who are heading off to some sort of tournament this weekend as well.
If you are looking for Memorial Day celebrations, there will be plenty across the region, here are a couple for you to plan for: Monday at 1 PM there is a ceremony at the Tahoma National Cemetery with a musical prelude starting at noon. There will be speakers, a wreath laying ceremony and more at the Joint Services Memorial Day Ceremony at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Lakewood, Monday at 2. In Seattle, the annual Memorial Day Celebration is being held at the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, where over 6,000 flags will be placed and there will be a Memorial Day Walk. These are just a couple of examples, if you are looking for something in your area, just search online for Memorial Day events in your area.
The Seattle International Film Festival is underway and heading into it's final weekend. There are a wide variety of movies from filmmakers from across the world showing throughout the weekend at multiple theaters. They have a helpful guide on how to enjoy the festival on their website and the big finale will be tomorrow during the Closing Night celebration. After the screening of Sorry, Baby at SIFF Cinema Downtown, the after party heads to MOHAI for drinks, food and dancing.
Here's an event sent to me by a listener!
It's time for the World's Longest Yard Sale on the Long Beach Peninsula this weekend! There will be sales across the roughly 28 mile peninsula, perfect for those looking for the next cool thing for their place or a cool gift idea!
Lots going on this holiday weekend, what are you getting involved with? Lemme know at paulh@kiroradio.com
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What to do this weekend: Street Fair season, full contact sports and the Seattle Saunter
Summer is right around the corner and things are really starting to get cooking here in our region!
Feel like putting on your walking shoes this weekend? The Seattle Super Saunter has returned and if you are asking yourself what is that, the event's website says it is a "self guided roughly 20 mile adventure from the city's northernmost point to the southernmost point". It's not a race, you aren't required to finish, the idea is all about getting out and exploring the city by foot and gaining a new perspective! It also raises awareness about issues regarding walkability in our region and country. You can find out more and RSVP for the post saunter function on the event's website.
If you are looking to do some shopping this weekend and want to do it at some of the great street fairs and markets, there will be plenty. The Columbia City Night Market will have food trucks and vendors, plus live music and a beer garden on Saturday night starting at 6. In the U-District there will be hundreds of booths on University Way this weekend for the U District Street Fair! 50 food trucks, free live music, the kids zone, it's the perfect kick off to the summer!
The 17th of May is an important day for Norway, as it is Norwegian Constitution Day! To celebrate, there will be a parade through the heart of Ballard, plus lots of live entertainment and specials at multiple locations throughout Ballard! The fun is getting started at 11 AM, get the full run down of events and locations here.
There's a lot of stuff going down in Tacoma and Pierce County this weekend! Saturday from noon to 5, There's the Gig Harbor Beer Festival, which will have everything you need for a beer festival, local breweries and cideries, live music and food! Also on Saturday, there's roller Derby at Pierce College during Mayday Mayhem. There will be two bouts with doors opening at 5. The Tacoma Book Fair is underway at the Waterfront Market at Ruston and Saturday is Children's Day which will have story time, snacks and lots more. Get more information right here.
Here's a couple of events sent to me by a listener!
There's a big music festival underway in downtown Everett and when they reached out, they told me that this festival is a launching pad for artists from Washington. It's called Fisherman's Village and it's three days of music across three stages! The fun started yesterday, but there's still plenty of music, art, food and fun ahead! Get the full lineup and more right here.
Also, listener Mike reminded me that we have professional rugby here in Seattle, there's a Seattle Seawolves match Saturday at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila! Tickets are still available for the match which starts at 6 PM.
How do you like to kickoff the summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com
What to do this weekend: Celebrate Mom for Mother's Day!
Mother's Day Weekend is here and the top priority should be spending time with Mom and the moms in your life, if you still need ideas on what to do, we got you covered!
Pick the perfect bouquet at the Flower Festival at Pike Place Market! There will be 35 local farmers selling and there will be live music all day. This is going down on Saturday and Sunday from 11-4.
On Capitol Hill this weekend it is Pierogi Fest! In addition to tons of tasty food to enjoy, there will also be polish clothes for sale, a beer garden and a performance from a Polish choir! This is going on at the Polish Cultural Center from Noon to 4 on Saturday.
In the Beacon Hill neighborhood on Saturday, you can check out the first of four Beacon Arts Street Fairs! It's free to attend and it's all about Mother's Day. There will be music from female-led bands, poetry writing, family fun like story time, art projects and dance workshops, plus food, an art market and a garden share for those working on your yards.
In Edmonds at the Frances Anderson Playfield on Saturday, it is the Edmonds Spring Fest! This free all ages event has over 100 vendors, plenty of food trucks and the perfect place to find something for Mom!
If you want something a little more tranquil for mom, check out BonsaiFest at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way. This event is free and there will be hundreds of bonsai to check out and appreciate the craft that goes into each one. There will also be live bonsai making demonstrations and special exhibitions that highlight all things Bonsai. You can grab a Bonsai for mom, enjoy food trucks and there's fun for the kids as well.
Seattle Beer Week is underway starting today and running through next week. One of the headline events is tonight at 5 at the Beveridge Place Pub where there will be ten casks of beer from ten different Seattle Breweries on tap for people to enjoy. Not to mention events and specials all week long at a ton of spots around Seattle. Don't forget to try the Official Beer of Seattle Beer Week as well, the Group Project! Get more details on all the events and schedule right here.
This is one of the cooler community events of the spring if you ask me, Saturday in West Seattle is the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! Over 500 homes will be hosting sales and if you are looking for something in particular, you can use the helpful search features on the West Seattle Blog to find listed items.
At the Evergreen State Fairgrounds on Saturday you and the family can learn about the wonderful world of reptiles at the Seattle Metro Reptile Expo! This event has been going on since 2009 and for those that are a fan of these creatures, you'll be face to face with reptiles, bugs, arachnids and amphibians! You can find more details right here
Take your mom out to the ballgame as the red hot Mariners are back in town. The Toronto Blue Jays come to town and there's promo events for every game this weekend! Also in the world of sports, the Seattle Reign take on the Houston Dash Sunday at 5 at Lumen Field.
Here's an event sent by a listener!
The US Airforce Woodwind Quintet is putting on free concerts this weekend, one in Bellingham tonight at Western Washington at 7:30 and Saturday on Mercer Island. They are also offering a masterclass at WWU at 5 before the performance.
What are you getting into this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com
What to do this weekend: Dancing, Earth Day and Street Festivals
Welcome back to the weekend!
Let the music take over and enjoy the World Rhythm Festival at the Rainer Arts Center on Friday and then Columbia Park on Saturday and Sunday. This event is free and loaded with live music, drum circles, workshops and of course PLENTY of dancing! You can find more details right here.
Saturday is the Family Day Celebration at the Discovery Center. This event is free and will have hands on activities that will teach families about sustainability and the role it plays in the future. There will also be a guided tour and pop up chats for quick information sessions. Earth Day celebrations continue this weekend. There's a park cleanup at Magnuson Park from 10 am to noon on Saturday, Snohomish County Public Utility Department is putting on their energy block party at the PUD Headquarters in Everett and it's the Friends' Earth Day Celebration at Saltwater State Park, which will have educational activities and a beach walk. These events are free and open to families, but I do suggest seeing if you should RSVP!
There's a street festival in White Center on Saturday. It's the 22nd Annual Khmer New Year Street Festival and here you will learn more about the Khmer community through food, music, fashion and more, there will also be games and plenty more fun! You'll want to head to White Center between 15 and 16th Ave SW on Saturday to find the fun.
It's a weekend full of art in Olympia during the spring edition of Arts Walk! Over 100 artist exhibits will be available to enjoy and that means paintings, sculptures, music, dancing, comedy, circus art, drama and that's to mention all the other art forms that you can check out! There will also be a hands on activity area, an arts market and some special processions as well! This art walk is on both Saturday and Sunday.
Over 200 vendors will be selling their goods at the Quality Flea Center on Capitol Hill this weekend during the Punk Rock Flea Market. The event's website describes it as "The Pacific Northwest's favorite underground shopping experience". There will also be music and drinks as well, and this runs all weekend long.
Here's an event sent to me by a listener!
If you are up for a drive to the coast this weekend, the 2025 Long Beach Razor Clam Festival is this weekend and it's the perfect event for the seafood fan in your life. There's clam digging and cleaning lessons, chowder tasting, oyster shucking contests, cook offs and plenty more! This event runs Saturday and Sunday.
Lots of things to do this weekend and only so much time... what do you have going on? Let me know at pholden@kiroradio.com
What to do this weekend: Free days at National Parks, Motorcycles and Anime
Happy Easter weekend and are we in a prime time for our region or what? Longer days, sunnier skies, and an absolutely LOADED calendar of things to do.
Anime fans will be packing the Seattle Convention Center this weekend for three days of fun at Sakura-Con! This convention has all the staples, panels, guests and vendors, plus cosplay events, a black tie ball and plenty more! More details are on the event's website.
A reminder that two big spring events are underway, the Washington State Spring Fair is open through the weekend and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival rolls on with the Tulip Festival Street Fair that will be all weekend long.
While there might be some rainstorms to avoid this weekend, the temperatures should still be warm enough to enjoy free entrance to National Parks! Saturday is the first day of National Parks Week and that means you can get in for free to Olympic, Mount Rainier and all the other National Parks on Saturday. If you are making the trip, you'll want to check out the National Parks website for updates on what's open, what's not and any other details you may need!
It's another busy sports weekend, especially if you are a fan of soccer! The Seattle Reign are in town taking on the Portland Thorns tonight at 7 and tomorrow at 4:30 the Sounders take on Nashville SC. The Seattle Seawolves, our Major League Rugby team takes on the Chicago Hounds tonight at 7:30 in Tukwila, the UW Huskies baseball team has a home series against Illinois throughout the weekend and the Everett Silvertips take on Portland tonight at 7 in Everett.
Learn more about the city and the buildings that make it up with the Seattle Architecture Foundation's Walking Tours! These are two hour tours that are guided and will teach you about the architecture, landscapes and urban design practices of Seattle! A perfect way to see the city through a different lens.
Here's an event sent to me by a listener!
The Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association is celebrating 51 years of racing in Washington State with a free event! There will be races on Saturday and Sunday at The Ridge Motorsports Park for the start of their racing season. It features top of the line bikes, vintage models and races for pros and amateurs. You can find more information on the event's website.
From motorcycles to bicycles as there's a big bike swap going down in Pierce County at Tacoma Community College on Saturday. According to the event's website, the Pierce County Bike Swap is a free event where anyone can buy or sell used bikes and bike parts. There's also a practice area to try out your new ride, food trucks and vendors, and a practice transit bus to get the hang of putting your bike on the bus rack!
There will also be Easter specials going on throughout the region, so see if your local spot is doing something for the holiday!
As always if you know of cool things going on in your neighborhood, Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com
What to do this weekend: Spring Fair, Packed Sports Weekend and Record Store Day
The wonderful world of the weekend has returned yet again and there is plenty to do!
If the sunshine already has you dreaming of summer days at the State Fair, well those dreams can now become realities at the Washington State Spring Fair! It's the 35th anniversary of the Fair and it has all your favorites from the fair, plus MONSTER TRUCK RIDES and other motorsports like a demolition derby and monster truck shows. There's also plenty of other entertainment like rides, animal shows and fair food. The Spring Fair runs this weekend and next.
While the rain and wind might have impacted the cherry blossoms, that won't stop the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival. This free event is at the Seattle Center today through Sunday and throughout the weekend you'll see art, cooking demonstrations, Japanese Wrestling, music and honestly it'll take too long to list all the fun. You'll want to check out the Seattle Center website for a schedule and more details.
Something that I learned when moving to Seattle is that there is in fact an entire city underneath our streets! If you want to immerse yourself in some Seattle history, the Beneath the Streets Underground History tour has returned and tours are once again being offered. You'll take a walking tour with a local guide who will teach you about the city's history and how much things have and will continue to change. You can get tickets right here.
We are still celebrating the spring flowers and Sunday in Tacoma you'll be able to see decorated boats and more as part of the Daffodil Marine Festival and Parade! The boats take off from the Tacoma Yacht Club and from there folks will be able to catch a view of the parade along Ruston Waterway and the Dune Peninsula Park. The parade starts at 11:30 AM and you can get more details here
Speaking of flowers, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is also underway and runs through the month!
The sports calendar continues to be jammed packed and we got a lot of home games this weekend. The Mariners have a weekend series against the Texas Rangers, there's a promo item for EACH game this weekend, so check out the team's website and pick your favorite. The Kraken take on the St. Louis Blues Saturday at 7, The Seattle Reign have a home match tonight at 4:30, but if pro sports aren't your thing WWE Friday Night Smackdown is tonight at Climate Pledge arena. Tickets are still available for all of these events!
If you are someone who collects records or has their eyes on a special record, you'll want to keep an eye out on all the Record Store Day deals! There are TONS of awesome shops to check out around our region, my recommendations are Easy Street Records in West Seattle and Sonic Boom in Ballard. Plan ahead and make sure you know when and where to get those special items! Record Store Day is Saturday and you can find information about record store day right here
If arts and crafts are your thing, Hanger 30 at Magnuson Park will be the place you want to be this weekend. Best of the Northwest has returned and here you will find over 100 artists showing off their work, workshops, food trucks and plenty more. Show off your work, or learn a new skill Saturday and Sunday from 10-5.
Lots of things to do this weekend and only so much time... what do you have going on? Let me know at pholden@kiroradio.com