Get your fill of art fests in Bellevue, or grab a good spot for the Seafair Torchlight Parade

Weekend Highlight

This weekend, catch summer art festivals in downtown Bellevue at Bellevue Arts Museum ARTSfair, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and 6th Street Fair Friday through Sunday, July 27-29. Meanwhile, in Seattle, the Seafair Torchlight Parade steps off on Saturday, July 28.

Now in its 72nd year, BAM ARTSfair fills Bellevue Square and Bellevue Arts Museum with a marketplace of unique, handmade arts and crafts, plus art exhibitions, entertainment and food vendors. Admission to Bellevue Arts Museum is free all weekend, with KIDSfair activities daily, most aimed at ages 3 to 10. Festival activities at Bellevue Square feature the Sound & Movement Stage with local music and dance performances, and bubble and craft areas for kids at the BAMboozle Stage.

Two other art fairs, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and 6th Street Fair, bring weekend-long art, music and festivities to downtown Bellevue. Parking is free at the Bellevue Collection, with valet parking available at some locations.

Seattle’s big event this weekend is the 69th annual Seafair Torchlight Parade on Saturday, July 28. Thousands of spectators will gather early to stake out the best spots to take in the parade’s 100 units, from Seafair clowns and pirates to drill teams, equestrian units and groups representing Seattle’s diverse communities. In celebration of the recent Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, 100 Special Olympics athletes will be in the parade, accompanying Jordan Morris, parade Grand Marshal, Seattle Sounders FC player and Special Olympics ambassador.

There’s always standing room no matter what time you arrive, and some reserved seating may still be available. New this year: a beer garden at Westlake Center.

If you can’t make it to the parade, KIRO 7 will provide live TV coverage starting at 8 p.m. Saturday; or check out the Seafair floats, entertainment and exhibits at the Torchlight Parade Fanfest at Seattle Center before the parade.

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BAM ARTSfair

Bellevue Square: 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 27-29, 100th Avenue Northeast between Northeast Eighth Street and Northeast Fourth Street, Bellevue

Bellevue Arts Museum: KIDSfair, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; museum open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue

More info: bellevuearts.org/artsfair

Bellevue Festival of the Arts

Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 27-29

Location: Bellevue Way and Northeast Eighth Street north of Bellevue Square, Bellevue

More info: bellevuefest.org

6th Street Fair

Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 27-29

Location: Northeast Sixth Street and 106th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue

More info: bellevuedowntown.com/events/6th-street-fair

Seafair Torchlight Parade

Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28

Cost: free; reserved seating $35-$60