Celebrate and soak up culture in Seattle

Welcome the arrival of the autumn season in Seattle where there’s a host of festival, exhibitions and culinary events offering exciting new reasons to visit.

Fantastic festivals

Savour local craft beer at Seattle Fresh Hop Beer Festival

The arrival of the fresh hop season sees the return of the Seattle Fresh Hop Beer Festival, 7-8 October, at the Warren G. Magnuson Park aircraft hangar. Visitors will be able to try beers by some of the best breweries in the Pacific Northwest, feast on local street food, and enjoy live music, competitions and games. There’s even a Hoppiest Hound contest where dressed-up pooches can win prizes. freshhop.com

Glass art festival, Refract, returns

Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience has announced it’ll return to Seattle 13-16 October. The event features live demos by talented artists, architecture tours, exhibitions and glass blowing lessons. More than 70 creatives will be showcased across 50+ events taking place throughout Seattle and the neighbouring cities of Everett, Bainbridge Island, Issaquah and Tacoma. refractseattle.org

Pike Place Market’s Harvest Festival

Pike Place Market hosts the annual Harvest Festival on 29 October. The family-friendly event will see a full day of festivities in the form of live music, cooking demos and activities for the little ones. Vendors will also show what’s new in season. www.pikeplacemarket.org

Exciting exhibitions

Learn about AI at MOHAI

Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine opens at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) on 15 October. The first travelling museum exhibit in the US to focus on artificial intelligence, the exhibit outlines what AI is, how it works, its significance and how it may evolve and develop over time. Running until 8 January 2023, there’ll be a number of interactive displays, games and puzzles. mohai.org

Indigenous tattoos at the Burke Museum

The Burke Museum will welcome Body Language: Reawakening Cultural Tattooing of the Northwest from 6 November until 16 April 2023. The exhibition will explore the rich history of Indigenous tattooing in the Pacific Northwest through photographs and works of art. Visitors will be able to learn stories of Indigenous tattoo artists and how the once banned practice is honoured in a traditional way. www.burkemuseum.org

Delicious dining

Michelin-starred Sushi by Scratch Restaurants opens in South Lake Union

The highly anticipated Sushi by Scratch Restaurants opened its first Seattle location on 1 September. Located in the South Lake Union neighbourhood, the intimate, 10-seat restaurant serves a 17-course omakase menu alongside craft cocktails and Japanese whiskey. The restaurant is headed up by Chef Phillip Frankland Lee who has four other Sushi by Scratch Restaurants in the US, one of which has a Michelin star. www.sushibyscratchrestaurants.com

Support local producers at Seattle Restaurant Week

Seattle Restaurant Week is a bi-annual event returning to the city 23 October – 5 November. A celebration of local chefs, diners can feast on discounted dishes at partner restaurants, food trucks and pop ups. Visitors can support the community further by donating to Good Food Kitchens which provides free, nutritious meals to those in need. srweek.org

For more information, visit www.visitseattle.org.