Seattle Activities

Celebrate in Seattle for Free: Top Free Activities and Events

Seattle is often seen as one of the most expensive cities in the country—but it doesn’t have to be. From iconic views to local art walks, outdoor adventures to quirky neighborhood festivals, there’s a surprising amount of things you can do in Seattle without spending a single dollar. Whether you’re a longtime local or a budget-minded visitor, here’s your guide to the best free activities and events in Seattle.

Seattle Parks

🌳 Seattle’s Parks and Natural Beauty

Seattle is overflowing with public green spaces, many of which come with million-dollar views for absolutely free.

✅ Discovery Park

Seattle’s largest city park offers over 500 acres of forest, meadows, beaches, and trails—including the stunning West Point Lighthouse.

✅ Gas Works Park

Overlooking Lake Union and the city skyline, this industrial-turned-urban park is perfect for picnics, kite flying, or catching a sunset.

✅ Green Lake

Walk or bike the 2.8-mile loop trail around this peaceful urban lake, or just relax and people-watch on the grassy shores.

✅ Olympic Sculpture Park

Free public art meets sweeping views of Puget Sound. This downtown waterfront gem features works by world-renowned artists.

🎨 Free Art Walks & Gallery Nights


Seattle’s neighborhoods love to show off their creativity, and monthly art walks are a great way to see what’s new in the city’s creative scene.

Seattle Art Walks

First Thursday Art Walk – Pioneer Square

On the first Thursday of every month, dozens of galleries open their doors for a free evening of art, wine, and community.

Second Saturday – Ballard Art Walk

Live music, pop-up shops, and local artists bring life to Ballard’s streets every second Saturday evening.

Capitol Hill Art Walk – Second Thursday

Catch up on local zines, experimental installations, and underground artists in Seattle’s most eclectic neighborhood.

West Seattle Art Walk – First Thursday

This walk combines great local art with fantastic food and drink deals. Dozens of businesses transform into micro-galleries.

Live Music

Live Music and Performances

Seattle’s music scene is legendary, and you don’t need to buy a ticket to experience some of its charm.

01

Concerts in the Park

Neighborhoods like West Seattle, Fremont, and Magnolia host free concerts in July and August. Bring a blanket and snacks.

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02

Downtown Summer Sounds

Downtown Summer Sounds offers free concerts with local and global bands, from indie rock to Cuban funk, soul jazz, and Americana.

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03

Buskers at The Market

Pike Place Market has daily street performances by incredibly talented local musicians and entertainers. Tipping is encuraged.

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Live performances

🎭 Live Theater, Movies, and Performances

Seattle’s music scene is legendary, and you don’t need to buy a ticket to experience some of its charm.

Summer Theater in the Park

Enjoy free Summer outdoor theater in Seattle parks with creative, energetic performances that thrive in open-air, unpredictable settings.

Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies

Catch classic and family-friendly films outdoors on the big screen at the base of the Space Needle and many other locations around Seattle.

🏛 Free Museum Days


Seattle’s museums aren’t always free—but on the First Thursday many do offer free admission!

Seattle Museums

Seattle Art Museum

Free general admission on the first Thursday of each month. Explore local, national, and international exhibitions.

MOHAI

Visit MOHAI on the First Thursday of every month for free admission to the museum’s permanent exhibits.

Museum of Flight

See aircraft and space exhibits for free during evening hours on the first Thursday of every month.

Asian Art Museum

Admission is free all day for the Seattle Asian Art Museum on the first Thursday and last Friday of the month.

Markets & Neighborhood Festivals

Seattle is overflowing with public green spaces, many of which come with million-dollar views for absolutely free.

✅ Seattle Farmers Markets

Stroll through some of the best year-round markets in the Northwest. While the food costs money, the community vibe is free.

✅ The Fremont Fair

Experience Fremont Fair’s summer celebration where art, music, and local culture collide in a vibrant fusion of creativity, community, and fun.

✅ Bite of Seattle

The Bite of Seattle is free to attend. While admission to the festival grounds is free, food and drinks are available for purchase.

✅ Georgetown Carnival

Free, family-friendly fun with music, art, food, drinks, and games at Georgetown Carnival on Airport Way S in historic Georgetown, Seattle.

✅ Seattle Pride Parade

Seattle Pride Parade celebrates LGBTQIA2S+ joy, justice & visibility with people marching in a vibrant, community-led event rooted in activism.

Go for a Hike (Yes, Inside the City!)

No need to drive to the Cascades—Seattle has free urban hikes for all levels.

Are you a naturalist eager to observe local flora and fauna? A trail runner looking for a training spot close to home? A dog owner in search of a scenic walk, a parent hoping to share the outdoors with your child, or simply an urban dweller needing a quick escape from city life? If so, Seward Park might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Nestled on the Bailey Peninsula in southeast Seattle, Seward Park has been a beloved green space since the city purchased the land in 1911. Over the years, it has grown into a hub for education, recreation, and cultural activities. The park features a 2.4-mile loop for biking and walking, forested hiking trails, a native plant garden, swimming beach, art studio, amphitheater, and picnic shelters—making it a versatile destination for nature lovers and families alike.

Carkeek Park, located in northwest Seattle between 3rd Ave NW and Puget Sound, is a scenic urban oasis that features forested hillsides, side streams, a beach, and the full length of Piper’s Creek. With multiple trailheads and an access road leading to a beachside parking area, the park is easy to explore from several points. Entry is free, and the park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hikers can enjoy a variety of routes, including a loop that follows Piper’s Creek and climbs the north and south ridges above it. Trail maps are available at the Eddie McAbee Entrance near NW 100th Place and can also be downloaded for convenience.

The Piper’s Creek Trail starts with a descent via short switchbacks to the creek’s headwaters, which grow larger downstream as water flows in from seeps, rivulets, and culverts. The Viewlands Trail joins in after a quarter mile, offering another route from the Viewlands Elementary School area. The trail winds through a steep-sided canyon filled with tall trees, past Piper’s Orchard, and across a historic irrigation creek where early-blooming snowdrops and native Indian plum can be seen in spring. While the trail eventually passes an unsightly Metro sewage pumping station, it doesn’t seem to affect the creek’s ecosystem. Carkeek Park’s mix of natural beauty, ecological restoration, and accessible trails makes it a rewarding destination for hikers and nature lovers alike.

Ravenna Park and Cowen Park form a continuous green corridor between Seattle’s Ravenna and University District neighborhoods. Together, they encompass a deep glacial ravine—up to 115 feet deep—through which Ravenna Creek flows. This ravine was shaped thousands of years ago when meltwater from the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet created Lake Russell, which then carved drainage channels through the region’s glacial deposits. As Lake Russell vanished, the area evolved into a network of creeks and lakes, including Green, Haller, and Bitter lakes. These bodies of water originally fed Ravenna Creek, which now emerges from seepage near Cowen Park due to watershed changes made in the early 20th century.

The parks’ histories are closely tied to two key figures: Charles Cowen, who donated the original twelve acres in 1906, and William Wirt Beck, a mining and real estate magnate who preserved the ravine’s towering old-growth trees and named the area after Ravenna, Italy. In the early 1900s, Cowen helped develop the surrounding neighborhood, building homes and the Ye College Inn to attract visitors during the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Ravenna Park once boasted ancient trees nearly 400 feet tall—remarkable even by global standards. These trees were a major attraction until their quiet and controversial disappearance by the mid-1920s. Though none of the original giants remain, the park continues to serve as a natural refuge rich with history and ecological significance.

Tucked in the heart of West Seattle, Schmitz Preserve Park is a rare urban treasure—offering a dense canopy of old-growth trees more typical of remote wilderness hikes than a city neighborhood. Covering 53.1 acres, the park was created from land donated between 1908 and 1912, before the area was completely logged. The largest portion came from German immigrants Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz, for whom the park is named. Entry is free, and the park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It features 1.7 miles of rustic hiking trails, though they are unsigned—so bringing a printed map from the Seattle Parks website is a smart move.

As you explore the trails, keep an eye out for massive conifers that serve as living reminders of the forests that once covered the Puget Sound region. In spring, the understory comes alive with yellow skunk cabbage, Indian plum, salmonberry, Oregon grape, bleeding heart, and trillium. Wildlife is abundant too—you may hear the drumming of pileated woodpeckers, spot flickers and squirrels, or notice signs of raccoons after dark. This glimpse of biodiversity is just a sample of the life that thrives in the preserve; for more detailed species information, visit the Friends of Schmitz Preserve website.

Final Tips for Enjoying Seattle for Free

  • Use Seattle Public Library: Attend free author talks, film screenings, language meetups, and more.
  • Check Seattle Event Calendars: Websites like The Stranger, Seattle Met, or Eventbrite often list free events happening every week.
  • Follow Local Parks & Rec: Seattle Parks and Recreation hosts free fitness classes, nature walks, and even paddleboard tryouts.

Pack Light, Spend Less, Experience More

Seattle proves that you don’t need a big budget to have big experiences. From cultural richness to natural beauty, the city is full of moments that cost nothing but mean everything. So put on your walking shoes, bring a tote bag (just in case), and see what free magic you can uncover.