09.26.2024

Today’s Forecast

🎃 May the biggest pumpkin win

Gear up for Seattle’s Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Beer Festival

People stand in front of a massive pumpkin (about head height) which is intricately carved with a skeleton face and more designs.

Nothing says fall quite like giant gourds, spiced brews, costume contests, and pumpkin everything. | Photo via GPBF

If those pumpkin spice lattes aren’t quenching your thirst for fall-flavored fun, listen up — Seattle’s Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Beer Festival are baaaAAAck.

This dual-event venture by Elysian Brewing merges the best elements of autumn for a one-stop celebration of the season — all of which benefits The Vera Project’s community efforts with collaborative engagement in music and art.

Listen, the pumpkins aren’t the only hefty items around here — get ready for massive servings of carnival food, beer pints (or pitchers), and more. Here’s what’s coming up:

The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off

Open to all, the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off invites farmers from around the region and their prize pumpkins to see who has the biggest in the patch.

After the weigh-off, the largest of the pumpkins will then appear at next weekend’s Great Pumpkin Beer Festival — where they will be tapped and filled with beer.

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 12-4 p.m.
Where: Elysian Taproom, Georgetown
Cost: Free
Activities: Live music, face painting, pumpkin carving

People donning orange clothes hold big plastic pitchers up to a giant pumpkin, which has been hollowed out and tapped to dispense beer. — It’s scientifically proven that beer tastes better from a pumpkin... just don’t ask where we got that stat.
|
Photo via GPBF

The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival

The 21+ pumpkin madness returns with the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival’s second decade in action. Taste from a selection of 80+ beers and ciders from local and national breweries — eight of which are new, exclusive brews from Elysian Brewing (and will only be available at the festival — oh my gourd).

Sip on beer straight from a several-hundred-pound pumpkin, peruse food trucks, and try beer floats served up with scoops from Bluebird Ice Cream.

When: Friday, Oct. 4th + Saturday, Oct. 5, 4-10 p.m.
Where: Seattle Center
Cost: $35+ (designated drivers get in for $5)
Activities: Costume contests (the theme is orange — duh), DJs, fortune teller readings

Snag those tickets

Events

Thursday, Sept. 26

“Project Aurora” Watercolors with Willow Heath | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 6-8 p.m. | National Nordic Museum | $50+ | Create your own stunning watercolor painting of the Aurora Borealis + experience the museum’s installation with a steaming cup of hot cocoa.

Friday, Sept. 27

Dining in the Dark: A Unique Blindfolded Dining Experience | Friday, Sept. 27 | 6-7:15 p.m. | Columbia Tower Club | $72 | This multi-course tasting takes dining to new heights — no, literally... you’ll be eating from the tower’s 75th floor.

Saturday, Sept. 28

U District Chow Down & Street Party | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | University Way NE | Free | Enjoy $5 bites from 60+ U District restaurants along with live music, entertainment, and chef demos all day long.
State Park Free Pass Day | Saturday, Sept. 28 | Various locations | Free | Visit all Washington state parks without needing a Discover Pass.

Sunday, Sept. 29

Psychedelic Fair | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 3100 Airport Way S. | $20 | Peruse 20+ booths, dive into workshops, and network with psychedelic and entheogenic orgs.
The Royal Flush: Queens are Wild Drag Brunch | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 1-4 p.m. | Great American Casino, Tukwila | $25+ | Add some diva to your Sunday brunch with Seattle’s (alleged) largest mimosa bar, delicious food, and some top-notch drag performances.

Monday, Sept. 30

An Introduction to Craft Brews | Monday, Sept. 30 | 7-9 p.m. | Vino at The Landing, Renton | $30 | Become a brew expert by the end of the night as you embark on a journey through the world of beer with tasty food pairings.

Tuesday, Oct. 1

2024 Fall Design Day | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Seattle Design Center | $20 | This event’s keynote speaker, networking happy hour, and interactive showroom workshops give direct insight into the world of design.

Wednesday, Oct. 2

Edmonton Oilers vs. Seattle Kraken | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena | $19+ | Show up and show out for the Kraken’s third preseason game.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Arts

Culture

You’re invited to a dazzling evening to kick off Refract 2024

Presented by a SEAtoday Partner

a gif featuring an image of a woman taking a picture of a glass exhibit and another image of glassblower working

Thanks to the commitment of Visit Seattle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, many Refract events are free to attend. | Photos courtesy of Chihuly Studios; GIF by SEAtoday

Get ready to be amazed as Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience makes a grand return from Thursday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 20.

Now in its sixth year, this renowned festival is set to dazzle attendees with an impressive array of exhibitions, interactive events, and live demonstrations, all celebrating the vibrant glass art community in Seattle.

Spreading from Everett to Tacoma, the four-day fest features 90+ events showcasing 70+ local glass artists.

To get the festivities started, you’re invited to Gather, a kick-off party hosted by Chihuly Garden and Glass on Oct. 17 (7-9 p.m.), featuring glassblowing demonstrations, live music, delicious bites and sips, and more.

Mix and mingle with Seattle’s most prominent glass artists, from small local artists to famous names. Pro tip: You may even see some of the most recent contestants from the hit Netflix show, “Blown Away.”

Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the art form, there’s something for everyone at Refract. Stay glassy, Seattle.

Snag tickets

News Notes

Traffic

This weekend will host the biggest round-up of construction-related closures of the entire year. From the evening of Friday, Sept. 27 to early Monday, Sept. 30, closures will impact SR 520, northbound I-405, southbound SR 167, I-5 overnight, and Mercer Street on-ramps to I-5. (KING 5)

Civic

A Seattle Police Department (SPD) policy that changes how officers respond to burglaries will go into effect Tuesday, Oct. 1. Officers will now only be dispatched to potential burglaries if there is supporting evidence like audio or eyewitness accounts. The SPD cited “depleted resources” as the reason for the change. (KING 5)

Health

A $57 million flagship clinic opened yesterday in Seattle’s Yesler Terrace neighborhood. The Northwest Kidney Centers clinic — which has been under construction since January 2023 — has 46 outpatient dialysis stations, nine home dialysis training rooms, and can serve up to 300 in-center patients + 125 home-care patients. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Real Estate

Seattle office space demand is back on the rise, according to a VTS Office Demand Index. The main driving force behind this influx was the finance sector with 200,000 sqft of space. Tech is still at the forefront of demand with 600,000 sqft of office space. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Feel Good

In an update on Woodland Park Zoo’s baby gorilla, Louisville Zoo said Abeo has successfully bonded with his gorilla foster mom Kweli. Not only does Abeo have a new mom, but is now younger brother to Kweli’s other foster Kindi. (KING 5)

Sports

The Mariners are alive in the division for at least another day, thanks in large part to a crucial outing by Bryce Miller in a tiebreaker-clinching win over the Houston Astros. Take a look at the updated play-off race with local experts on Locked On’s daily, Mariners-focused podcast.

Edu

University of Washington just made US News and World Report’s “Best National University Rankings.” UW nabbed spot No. 46 based on metrics like classroom resources + graduates’ starting salaries. Know before you go with some Seattle college pro tips for students and families.

Community

Have you stopped into Wallingford’s Hawaiian General Store? The shop carries Hawaiian finds like leis, guava syrup, sweet bread, and dried sour plums. Meet the friendly faces behind the storefront with KING 5 News on X.

Finance

Experts say thousands of folks with credit card debt are flocking to this leading card, which now offers 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases until nearly 2026. Pay down debts + avoid fees? Sounds like a fall must-do.*

Beauty

You don’t have to break the bank to attain strong, silky-soft hair. Pantene’s Keratin Leave-In Conditioner can repair split ends + protect against future damage for less than $20.*

Biz

🌃 Mo’ money, mo’ art

Paul Allen’s foundation invests millions to revitalize downtown Seattle

A group of people lined up stand shoulder to shoulder smiling, the grantees of Paul Allen Foundation's investment.

The local recipients of the foundation’s grants represent pivotal forces in downtown Seattle’s arts scene and culture. | Photo via Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

This week, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation awarded over $9 million between eight nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Seattle.

The suite of grants aims to energize the downtown neighborhood — home to ~66% of Seattle’s art sector jobs + 10% of the city’s residents — by funding projects that help arts orgs move into vacant spaces, increase their programming, and improve audience access.

Here’s a breakdown of the eight organizations and their respective grant size that will be dispersed over the next three years:

Base Camp Studios — $200,000
Common Area Maintenance — $200,000
Friends of Waterfront Park — $5,000,000
Seattle Art Museum — $500,000
Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall — $750,000
Shunpike — $1,627,545
SIFF — $800,000
Theatre Off Jackson — $350,000

The Buy

The Buy 9.26.24 (Affiliate)

A set of glass cups with bamboo lids and straws. These fan-favorite drinking cups are great for ciders, mocktails, and cocktails, plus they’re perfect for year-round iced coffee fans (we know you’re out there).

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madeline

From the editor

Fun fact: I grew up swimming at The Stanley Hotel’s outdoor pool (one of the only outdoor pools in my gorgeous hometown of Estes Park) — and yes, that is the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

Every time I watch the film, it’s such a weird blend of childhood nostalgia and terror. I’ll let my therapist help me unpack that one... whew.

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