From sports to art, Seattle has a lot to offer its residents and guests. While you’re in the city, be sure to check out either the local sport scene, art scene, or both! With so many great options to choose from, these are our favorite entertainment options in Seattle.
Baseball
The Seattle Mariners baseball team plays 81 home games a year at Safeco Field. The regular season runs from April through September. The playoffs… never mind, the Mariners don’t make the playoffs. But that makes them no less fun to watch.
Nothing beats a warm Seattle night at the ballpark, enjoying a hot dog and beer and Safeco’s famous garlic fries (don’t plan on kissing anyone after) and fried grasshoppers (no, we’re not kidding!).
Rain delays are never a risk, as the stadium features a retractable roof. You can generally select from an array of seats on a walk-up basis, though you might plan ahead in order to have a larger selection when the Yankees or Red Sox are in town.
Advance planning is obligatory when the Toronto Blue Jays visit, as their arrival is seemingly accompanied by half the Canadian population. You can also search for discount codes online.
(American) Football
Seattle is crazy about the perennial championship contending (and 2013 Super Bowl Champion) Seattle Seahawks. The Hawks host eight regular season NFL games per year at Century Link Field (“The Clink”), where the din of the fevered fans registers on seismometers and frequently causes opposing players to jump offside.
The season is always sold out well in advance. Tickets are generally only available on the secondary market, with a huge markup.
Soccer
No U.S. city is more passionate about football (“soccer”) than Seattle. The Seattle Sounders faithful march en masse to the games, and stand for its duration as they chant ceaselessly from a sizable catalog of songs.
If you aren’t into soccer, you still might like to observe the passion and knowledge of the fans, which reportedly rivals those found in Europe.
The season is seemingly year-round, including Major League Soccer (MLS) games, “friendlies,” and contests against other clubs and countries. You can research the schedule and buy tickets at the Sounders’ website.
Women’s Basketball
The WNBA Seattle Storm play in Key Arena (at Seattle Center), formerly home to the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA. We haven’t been, but we trust it is fun. Tickets can be bought at the Storm’s website.
College Football
The University of Washington Huskies football team is the pride of Seattle. In 2016, they soared to a Top 5 national ranking. The team plays their home games each fall at the newly renovated Husky Stadium.
The open end of the horseshoe shape looks out on Lake Washington, where an armada of boats assembles each game day. The UW Athletics website posts the schedule. You can also look there for tickets.
If they are sold out, you can likely buy tickets on Craigslist or StubHub without breaking the bank.
Theater
Seattle has a small theater scene centered around several venues in and around downtown. For a complete listing of shows in the area, visit the Seattle Theater website. Among the theaters to check out are:
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- The Paramount Theater, where in the past we have seen The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Jerry Seinfeld, and President Obama… all equally funny.
- The 5th Avenue Theater, which shows primarily musicals.
- The Seattle Repertory Theatre
- Seattle Children’s Theater. If you are a group of six or more people, you can purchase a ticket package and save about 20%-30% per ticket. They also often have same-day rush tickets available for $18 one hour before the show.
Seattle Symphony
One of the country’s leading symphony orchestras, the Seattle Symphony performs downtown at Benaroya Hall. It offers a robust schedule throughout the year with a variety of performers. In addition to traditional programming, the Symphony also hosts a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year. If you have young children, look for a Tiny Tots performance or a Classical KING FM Family Concert.
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Founded in 1972, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, is one of the largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the U.S. The Company includes nearly fifty dancers and presents more than 100 performances each year. Its home is at McCaw Hall in Lower Queen Anne. If you are attending a midweek performance, be sure to allow plenty of time for rush hour traffic!
Seattle Opera
Also performing at McCaw Hall, the Seattle Opera is one of the leading opera companies in the country. As noted above, be sure to allow plenty of time for traffic if you are attending a midweek performance.
Movies
The nearest multiplexes are the Regal Cinemas Meridian 16 at 1501 7th Avenue and the AMC Pacific Place 11, located at 600 Pine St. For showtimes and tickets, we recommend Fandango.
For a uniquely Seattle experience, check out Cinerama at 2100 4th Avenue. The theater dates back to 1963 and offers reserved seating and local wines and beers.
Lastly, for more artsy films, the SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) Cinema shows films throughout the year. For information on the annual Seattle International Film Festival, see the Annual Events and Festivals section of their website.