First produced at Seattle Center back in 1971, Bumbershoot Festival is a celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s unique culture, and a full-spectrum arts and music experience — from punk to performance art, ballet to wrestling, pole dancing to roller skating, food to fashion and all manner of ingenuity and creativity in between. Having a long-held reputation for celebrating creators and innovators of all stripes, Bumbershoot Festival breaks stereotypes and champions a more inclusive arts community while betting on the region’s dreamers, makers and performers.
As Washington’s legacy arts and music festival, made for community by community, Bumbershoot Festival believes everyone in the region — from individuals to corporations — has a role to play in supporting the power and vitality of the arts. And they do so by amplifying the region’s creative community, cultivating professional opportunities for artists, welcoming diverse audiences by the hundreds of thousands and training the next generation of event producers.
Additionally, the festival strives to be as accessible as humanly possible — whether through programming, their physical footprint, through their subsidized ticket prices and through other means.
The festival is produced by New Rising Sun, a team of seasoned concert promoters and visual producers dedicated to supercharging the iconic Bumbershoot brand. New Rising Sun manages and operates the festival on behalf of Third Stone, a nonprofit that houses the annual Bumbershoot Festival and its workforce development for underserved young people.
Third Stone’s mission is to foster an inclusive and sustainable Pacific Northwest arts economy through youth education and community-driven programming. Their primary purpose is to the produce a festival over Labor Day Weekend that’s equitably programmed, affordably priced and accessible to all. They also house Bumbershoot’s workforce development program, which is supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce, City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle Center, the Schutlz Family Foundation and generous community members.
The program provides critical business skills to young people aged 17-25 using a “festival as classroom” philosophy. Inspired by and done in collaboration with Berkeley, CA‘s UC Theatre’s Concert Career Pathways Program, Third Stone’s program not only focuses on serving young people from underserved communities, the program supports participants with job in the creative economy. 80% of the program’s graduates are currently working in their area of interest .
Concert Career Pathways Education By partnering with The UC Theatre, The Crocodile, The Showbox, and local non-profits such as KEXP, The Vera Project, Friends of Waterfront Park, TeenTix, and more, Third Stone works collectively to build a more equitable and sustainable creative arts ecosystem. Learn more about Bumbershoot’s Workforce Development Program, or to apply when applications open this fall here.
Seattle Center is an active civic, arts, family and community gathering place located in the core of the city and the Pacific Northwest. The 74-acre campus, centered around the International Fountain is part of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena; more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations; and a broad range of public and community programs.
So now that we got the background and the players listed on the ol’ scorecard, let’s get to the news and announcements part of the program!
Bumbershoot Festival’s 52nd edition will take place during Labor Day Weekend — August 30, 2025 – August 31, 2025 — at the Seattle Center. Much like previous editions, this year’s edition will continue on the festival’s long-held reputation for celebrating creativity, community, music — and culinary arts. Today, festival organizers announced the 2025 festival lineup, a mix of renowned, fan favorites and up-and-comers, Saturday, August 30, 2025 will be headlined by Weezer, Car Seat Headrest and Bright Eyes. Sunday, August 31, 2025 will be headlined by Aurora, Janelle Monáe and Sylvan Esso. The festival’s lineup will be rounded out by Indigo De Souza, rising young punks The Linda Lindas, The Murder City Devils, Chicago-based emcee Saba, Tennis, Real Estate and Digable Planets.
You can check out the full lineup below.
Saturday, August 30
Weezer – Voyage to the Blue Planet, Car Seat Headrest, Bright Eyes, The Budos Band, Indigo De Souza, Tank and the Bangas, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Pattie Gonia (“DJ Set”), Say She She, Hey, Nothing, Quasi, Scowl, Great Grandpa, Madison McFerrin, Kyle Dion, J.R.C.G., Tezatalks, Amelia Day & the Cloves, Zookraght, Biblioteka, Coffin Break, Two Minute Hate, Liv Victorino, Foot Ox, Fleetwood Snack
Sunday, August 31
Aurora, Janelle Monáe, Sylvan Esso, Digable Planets – Blowout Comb 30th Anniversary, Tennis, Saba, The Linda Lindas, Bob the Drag Queen (“DJ Set”), Real Estate, The Murder City Devils, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Spellling, Fat Dog, Bebe Stockwell, The Army, the Navy, Petra Haden, Mega Cat, Day Soul Exquisite, Small Paul, Avery Cochrane, The Jaws of Brooklyn, Vic Daggs II, Weep Wave, Vika & the Velvets, School of Rock Seattle
2025 will also mark the first time that Pacific Northwest-based independent producers New Rising Sun and Daydream State will run a joint ticket promotion for their two long-running Seattle area festivals: Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival and Capitol Hill Block Party.
The combined “Big Gulp” ticket will be available on Friday, May 9, 2025 for $340. Capitol Hill Block Party is a 21+ event this year, and although Bumbershoot is all ages, Big Gulp ticket buyers must be 21+.
While each festival remains independently operated, the ‘Big Gulp’ joint ticket offers festival goers an affordable way to attend and enjoy both local area festivals.
Much like previous editions, Bumbershoot 2025 will serve up another year of incredible Culinary Arts programming. Attendees will be able to eat and drink their way through a delectable, mouthwatering lineup featuring the return of festival staples that includes beloved local restaurants, plus Cocktail Corner, VineShoot and BumBEERshoot. The festival’s food lineup with showcase the best food and drink the festival has to offer. The culinary program will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
The festival’s 2025 Visual Arts programming will spotlight the region’s standout artists. Festival attendees can expert a wide variety of installations and living art, from free-range artists weaving and activating throughout the crowd to comedy shows at SIFF.
The festival’s Fashion District will return with all-new runway shows and a fashion marketplace. The Recess District will return with BUMBERMANIA and Gravity Park, which will feature a half-pipe skate program.
The Geodesic Domes will host the Witch Temple, Pole Pavilion, Wig Farm and more while the Century 21 District at the Pacific Science Center will showcase large-scale contemporary sculptures.
Vanishing Seattle will take over ANT Gallery with a portrait of the city. More details on the festival’s Visual Arts programming will come soon, too.
Tickets
For two days only, starting on May 7, 2025 Bumbershoot Weekend will be available for $199!* On May 9th, The ‘Big Gulp’ joint ticket will go on sale for $340!*, single-day tickets will become available at $125*, and Weekend Passes will increase to $225*. This year, Bumbershoot will also offer a Crew Pack — which encompasses Weekend passes for 4 people (family/friends) for $800*.
Starting May 9, standard pricing goes into effect:
- Weekend Passes will be priced at $225*
- Single-Day Tickets will be available for $125*
- The new “Big Gulp” Joint Ticket (Bumbershoot & Capitol Hill Block Party) will be available for $340* (ticket buyers must be 21+ to purchase)
- New this year, Bumbershoot introduces the Crew Pack, which includes four Weekend Passes for $800*, perfect for families or groups of friends.
*Please note these prices do not include fees & tax.
More info at bumbershoot.com
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