After a three year hiatus, Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Arts & Music Festival makes its return to the Seattle Center over Labor Day weekend. This year’s festival is only a two-day event, September 2-3, making it the shortest in Bumbershoot history. The event is being billed as the 50th-anniversary celebration, as they are not including the years it had been canceled due to the pandemic. Organizers promise it be a remarkable experience of art, music, food, technology, and culture. As Steven Severin, co-president & Director of Music Programming, puts it, “We are thrilled to be back and leading with an arts program that reflects the founding principles of Bumbershoot.”
AEG declined to renew their contract after suffering a financial loss in 2019 when the festival was marred by Lizzo cancelling her performance, low attendance of just 48,024 people, and a barricade collapse during Jai Wolf’s performance that injured four people. This year, the festival marks a new chapter in its history, as it welcomes New Rising Sun as its curator and producer. New Rising Sun is a coalition of Seattle-based arts, entertainment and cultural leaders. The group was founded by Steven Severin, co-owner of Neumos and Life on Mars; Greg Lundgren, founder of Museum of Museums and Vital 5 Productions; and Joe Paganelli, general manager of McCaw Hall. They have experience in producing and curating live music, visual arts, comedy, film and other creative events. “When re-imagining our festival for this return, we examined everything through an arts lens and expanded upon what art is and can be. We look forward to sharing our vision this Labor Day weekend,” adds Severin.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the emphasis on inclusivity. The organizers have partnered with Amazon to make the event affordable and accessible to all. Amazon Senior Vice President David Zapolsky explains, “As ticket prices steadily climb for concerts and events around the globe, we’re excited to support reduced and free ticket prices, creating opportunity for more of our community to enjoy the diversity of Seattle’s creative ecosystem.”
After years of increasing prices due to the greatly increased costs of producing such an event, organizers have reversed course and are offering a special early bird $50 single day and $85 two-day general admission ticket, 50% lower than the 2019 ticket price. Amazon has joined forces with Third Stone to offer 5,000 free tickets to nonprofits and underserved communities. This move makes it possible for more members of the Pacific Northwest community to enjoy the festival.
The organizers have released a sneak peek of the multi-disciplinary lineup for the festival. The arts program, curated by Greg Lundgren, features a large-scale group exhibition, Out Of Sight, in Fisher Pavilion and throughout Seattle Center. The exhibition will showcase contemporary visual arts from throughout the Pacific Northwest, highlighting commercial and non-commercial art.
The festival will also feature the Bumbershoot 50th Anniversary Retrospective, a visual and atmospheric reflection on the festival’s half-century history, as told through crowd-sourced photography, posters, and memorabilia.
Other creative zones include a Fashion District, a Nail Art Dome, runway programs, and the Recess District, which features agility performances and other playful activities. Visitors can expect large-scale sculptures, culinary arts, and a comprehensive music lineup.
The music lineup is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The return of Bumbershoot to Seattle Center is a significant event, and the festival promises to be an unforgettable experience. As Mayor Bruce Harrell puts it, “Bumbershoot is a critical opportunity to grow our city’s creative economy and embrace our One Seattle vision — bringing communities together through shared experiences.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, February 24, 2023, via bumbershoot.com. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as they are expected to sell quickly. For more information, please visit www.bumbershoot.com.
