Seattle Seasonality

A guide to the seasons in Seattle. Inspired by the small seasons.

Season	Name	Activity	Approx. Date Range
Spring	Cherry Blossoms	UW Cherry Blossom Festival and early spring blooms. Early farmers markets reopen, birds return, and gardens wake up.	Mar - Apr
	Tulip Festival	The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and flowers at Arboretum. Perfect time for spring photography and garden visits.	Apr
	Spring Hiking	Spring hiking trails and outdoor adventures. Enjoy Washington's spring vegetables and early blooms.	Apr - May
	Oyster Season	Oyster shucking at Hama Hama or Taylor's Shellfish. Great time for seafood and coastal visits.	May
	Sweet Shrimp Season	Enjoy the fresh catch of sweet shrimp at local seafood markets and restaurants. Participate in seasonal seafood festivals and try your hand at shrimping along the Puget Sound.	mid May - mid Jun
Summer	Strawberry Picking	Strawberry picking. Early summer activities begin.	mid Jun - mid Jul
	River Adventures	River tubing in Leavenworth or Snoqualmie. Perfect for summer water activities.	mid Jun - mid Sep
	Lavender Festival	Experience the Sequim Lavender Festival with farm tours, workshops, and artisan markets. Visit the famous purple fields and shop for lavender products.	mid Jul
	Lake Activities	SUP at Lake Union, sailing, and water sports. Great time for outdoor water activities.	Jul - Aug
	Summer Fruits	Seasonal fruits like rainier cherries, donut peaches, and more.	Jul - Aug
	Marine Life	Salmon spawning and whale watching.	Jul - Sep
	Outdoor Adventures	Camping, BBQ, and outdoor concerts.	Jul - Sep
Fall	Oktoberfest	Oktoberfest in Leavenworth.	Sep - Oct
	Fall Colors	Larches hikes and fall foliage drives. Perfect time for photography and scenic drives.	Sep - Oct
	Pumpkin Season	Pumpkin patches and fall activities. Great time for family outings and seasonal fun.	Oct
	Bird Watching	Bird watching and wildlife viewing. Perfect time for nature observation.	Oct - Nov
	Seafood Season	Squid jigging and crab season. Enjoy fresh seafood and coastal activities.	Oct - Nov
	Mushroom Foraging	Mushroom foraging. Learn about local fungi and forest ecosystems.	Oct - Nov
Winter	Holiday Lights & Markets	Holiday lights displays, ice skating, and holiday markets throughout the city. Perfect time for indoor activities like glassblowing and pottery lessons, underground tours, and enjoying the Seattle Symphony.	Dec
	Leavenworth Winter	Visit Leavenworth for its winter charm, holiday markets, and warming up with clam chowder at Pike Place Chowder. Great time for indoor activities and cozy cafes.	Dec - Jan
	Winter Sports	Skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, snowshoeing, and snow tubing adventures. Perfect time for indoor activities and cozy cafes.	Jan - Feb
	Enchantment Permit Lottery	Apply for the highly sought-after Enchantments overnight backpacking permits through the annual advanced lottery. Plan your summer adventure in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness! See more at https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233273.	Feb - Mar

Mar - Apr

UW Cherry Blossom Festival and early spring blooms. Early farmers markets reopen, birds return, and gardens wake up.

Apr

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and flowers at Arboretum. Perfect time for spring photography and garden visits.

Apr - May

Spring hiking trails and outdoor adventures. Enjoy Washington's spring vegetables and early blooms.

May

Oyster shucking at Hama Hama or Taylor's Shellfish. Great time for seafood and coastal visits.

mid May - mid Jun

Enjoy the fresh catch of sweet shrimp at local seafood markets and restaurants. Participate in seasonal seafood festivals and try your hand at shrimping along the Puget Sound.

mid Jun - mid Jul

Strawberry picking. Early summer activities begin.

mid Jun - mid Sep

River tubing in Leavenworth or Snoqualmie. Perfect for summer water activities.

mid Jul

Experience the Sequim Lavender Festival with farm tours, workshops, and artisan markets. Visit the famous purple fields and shop for lavender products.

Jul - Aug

SUP at Lake Union, sailing, and water sports. Great time for outdoor water activities.

Jul - Aug

Seasonal fruits like rainier cherries, donut peaches, and more.

Jul - Sep

Salmon spawning and whale watching.

Jul - Sep

Camping, BBQ, and outdoor concerts.

Sep - Oct

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth.

Sep - Oct

Larches hikes and fall foliage drives. Perfect time for photography and scenic drives.

Oct

Pumpkin patches and fall activities. Great time for family outings and seasonal fun.

Oct - Nov

Bird watching and wildlife viewing. Perfect time for nature observation.

Oct - Nov

Squid jigging and crab season. Enjoy fresh seafood and coastal activities.

Oct - Nov

Mushroom foraging. Learn about local fungi and forest ecosystems.

Dec

Holiday lights displays, ice skating, and holiday markets throughout the city. Perfect time for indoor activities like glassblowing and pottery lessons, underground tours, and enjoying the Seattle Symphony.

Dec - Jan

Visit Leavenworth for its winter charm, holiday markets, and warming up with clam chowder at Pike Place Chowder. Great time for indoor activities and cozy cafes.

Jan - Feb

Skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, snowshoeing, and snow tubing adventures. Perfect time for indoor activities and cozy cafes.

Feb - Mar

Apply for the highly sought-after Enchantments overnight backpacking permits through the annual advanced lottery. Plan your summer adventure in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness! See more at https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233273.