Bumbershoot FAQ
Getting There
Where does Bumbershoot happen?
Bumbershoot is held on the campus of Seattle Center (map), a 74-acre park located in the lower Queen Anne neighborhood, at the north end of downtown. The park was chosen as the site for the 1962 World’s Fair and was featured in the film, “It Happened at the World’s Fair,” starring Elvis Presley.
Where can I park when attending Bumbershoot?
The Seattle Center is surrounded by a generous amount of public and private parking. However, due to the popularity of the Festival, parking can sometimes be difficult to find, especially in the afternoons. A few tips:
- Consider using public transportation or coming on foot or bike to Bumbershoot—no parking to worry about
- Carpool to the Seattle Center’s official parking lots—offering discounted carpool parking to Festival-goers
- Find a buddy to carpool on King County Metro’s Event Match.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to find parking
- Some of the pay lots are “cash only” and some are unattended, so come prepared with cash in all bill sizes
- Please be considerate of the folks who live in the neighborhood surrounding the Seattle Center—obey posted parking rules, don’t block driveways, and drive slowly on residential streets
- Visit the Seattle Center website for more information on parking options
Driving to Bumbershoot? Offset your transportation with a $3 carbon offset from Green Mountain Energy Company. Learn more at Greening Bumbershoot.
How can I reach the venue by public transportation?
There are multiple public transportation options for those wanting to attend Bumbershoot. King County Metro offers many routes that run to and from the Seattle Center and surrounding areas. Please see the Metro trip planner for routes that service the Seattle Center. Please remember the Sunday schedule (reduced service) will be in effect on both Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6, due to the holiday.
Ride the Monorail! The Monorail runs daily every 10 minutes between Westlake Center and Seattle Center. Festival extended operating hours are 9am to 11:30pm Saturday–Monday. For more information visit the Monorail website.
Is there a place to store my bike at Bumbershoot?
Bumbershoot is located within biking distance from many of Seattle’s great neighborhoods. Bumbershoot’s bike parking is located on 5th Avenue and Thomas Street between EMP and the Space Needle. Bicycle parking is free and highly encouraged. Don’t forget to bring a bike lock!
A new amenity for bicyclists this year is CLIF BAR’s Gear Check. Check your bike gear with CLIF BAR staff, and have it stored safely at the CLIF BAR tent at bike parking. Make sure to pick up a V.I.B. (Very Important Biker) card at the CLIF BAR tent at bike parking to have access to the CLIF BAR Lounge, on Fisher Green, for free food, drinks, and prime viewing of the Fisher Green Stage. The V.I.B. is open to all those who ride a bike to the festival and park it there.
Check out CLIF BAR’s 2 Mile Challenge to see how many of your car trips could be replaced with a bike instead.
What else is there to do in the Seattle Center neighborhood?
As if Bumbershoot wasn’t enough, Seattle Center is located between the lower Queen Anne and Belltown neighborhoods of Seattle. Both are filled with hundreds of shops, restaurants, cafés, record stores, and more. There are plenty of places to explore, relax, and enjoy before and after Bumbershoot.
