Policies & No-Nos

Yes, but the activities are subject to restrictions to maximize the safety of those who attend the Festival. Political activists must review, complete and sign the Political Activity Rules or obtain the form at any of the information booths during the event prior to engaging in any political activities.

Banners and signs from anyone other than our sponsors, vendors, and approved participants are prohibited on Seattle Center grounds during Bumbershoot.

Animals (including pets) are not allowed at Bumbershoot. Warm weather, lots of people, and stressed out pets are not a happy combination. Please leave your pets at home where they will be safe, relaxed, and comfortable.

Service animals are always welcome. Please see Bumbershoot Access Guide for Persons with Disabilities for detailed information (available in July).

Cameras with detachable lenses are not allowed at the Festival. No photos of the artists or their work can be taken without prior approval and a sanctioned Bumbershoot photo pass. Photo passes are issued to working media only, and must be requested in advance via online application. Check back later to apply.

Persons entering the facility and their bags may be subject to search for prohibited items.

Audio and video recording equipment with an external microphone is not allowed at Bumbershoot—please leave this type of gear at home.

Cell phones are allowed on Festival grounds, but as a courtesy to artists and other patrons, we ask that you please turn your phones off during performances, especially at the indoor venues.

You are permitted to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages into the Bumbershoot (but not glass containers or cans).

• Absolutely NO alcoholic beverages. Beer and wine may be purchased inside the Bumbershoot beer gardens with proper ID.
• Absolutely NO glass bottles are allowed inside Festival grounds.
• Absolutely NO outside cans are allowed inside Festival grounds.
• Any plastic bottles entering the Mainstage shows at KeyArena must be EMPTY.
• NO BEVERAGES MAY BE TAKEN OUT OF THE BEER GARDENS (all liquids, whether brought in or purchased in the beer garden, must be consumed or discarded prior to exiting the garden). Bag checks will be enforced.

In compliance with Washington State Liquor Control laws, any bottles entering the Mainstage shows at KeyArena must be EMPTY. If you bring a plastic or stainless steel bottle in the Mainstage line, you will be asked to empty it before the venue entrance. No glass bottles or cans are allowed on Seattle Center grounds during Bumbershoot.

We encourage everyone to use reusable, non-disposable water bottles (such as CamelBak, Nalgene, Klean Kanteen, Sigg, or other styles). Although they must be empty to enter KeyArena, you may refill your bottle inside KeyArena.

Please keep in mind that bottled beverages may be purchased in the KeyArena, but vendors are required to remove bottle caps.

Beer and wine are available for purchase inside the Bumbershoot beer gardens. You must be 21+ and you MUST present valid and acceptable ID to enter the beer garden.

Washington State Liquor Control laws prohibit outside alcoholic beverages from being brought on to Festival grounds.

Acceptable forms of identification include a current state-issued driver’s license or ID card, a current Canadian driver’s license or ID card, military ID, or a valid passport. International driver’s licenses are not accepted (excepting Canada). Expired ID cannot be accepted.

The following rules are set by the Washington State Liquor Control Board and we are required by law to enforce them:

• All patrons, regardless of age (whether you’re 21 or 101!), MUST present valid and acceptable ID to enter the beer gardens. No ID = no entrance, no exceptions.
• No one under the age of 21 is allowed into the beer garden. Children, including babes-in-arms, may not enter the beer garden under any circumstances.
• Non-alcoholic beverages may enter Festival beer gardens (see below note for exit rules), and are available for sale in beer gardens.
• NO BEVERAGES MAY BE TAKEN OUT OF THE BEER GARDENS (all liquids, whether brought in or purchased in the beer garden, must be consumed or discarded prior to exiting the garden). Bag checks will be enforced.
• Smoking is not allowed inside the beer gardens, as they are workplaces for beer garden staff. Local health departments enforce compliance with this public law. For more information about RCW 70.160, see kingcounty.gov/health/tobacco.

Washington State law (RCW 70.160) prohibits smoking in all public indoor places, all workplaces, near all doorways, windows and air ventilation systems associated with any public building. This means:

• Smoking is not allowed inside any of the indoor venues.
• Smoking is not allowed inside the beer gardens, as they are workplaces for beer garden staff.
• Smoking is not restricted at any of the outdoor areas of Bumbershoot, but we do ask that you try and be courteous of fellow Festival attendees. We also ask that you dispose of all smoking-related garbage (butts, packages, etc.) in the appropriate receptacles.

Local health departments enforce compliance with this public law. For more information about RCW 70.160, and for information regarding the workplace smoking ban and smoking cessation programs, contact the King County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program at (206) 296-7613 or kingcounty.gov/health/tobacco.

Bumbershoot will go on, rain or shine!

Yes, umbrellas are welcome at Bumbershoot. Please be courteous to other attendees while using your umbrella.

Persons entering the facility and their bags may be subject to search for the following, all of which are expressly forbidden on the Event premises and subject to confiscation:

• bicycles
• weapons
• projectiles
• alcohol
• animals, except service animals
• cameras with detachable lenses
• audio/video recording devices with external microphones
• glass bottles
• cans
• wagons or carts
• coolers larger than 14″ x 15″ x 10″
• backpacks larger than 17″ x 12″ x 10″
• laser pointers
• air horns or other noisemakers

In the addition to the above, the following items are prohibited at KeyArena Mainstage shows:

• skateboards
• water bottles are OK, but must be EMPTIED before entering the venue, in compliance with Washington State Liquor Control laws

Skateboards may be checked at the bag search/ticket scan canopy at the end of the Mainstage line, right before you enter KeyArena.