What to Do in Washington in September

The tiny community is more than a launching pad for National Park adventures; since the 1970s, tiny Packwood has played host to one of the region’s largest flea markets, occupying over a mile-long stretch of real estate just south of Mount Rainier. Treasure abounds, from vintage clothing to household staples spread across four acres.

Everett’s community-forward art center celebrates fall all month long throughout the museum displays and instructor-led classes. Annual highlights—a glass pumpkin patch of over 1,000 blown gourds and a silent auction—return, as do hands-on workshops where visitors make their own blown-glass pumpkin, bringing a piece of whimsical harvest decor home. 

It’s that time again. The annual fall fair is the state’s biggest, the place for Fisher scones and the Skyride, big name performances and big rides. Kid-friendly SillyVille lets the littlest fairgoers pretend play as farmers, and a rodeo spans the second weekend. 

Twilight never quite left the tiny Olympic Peninsula town of Forks, but the fandom is never more apparent than during the annual festival. Themed parties, activities in the famed Forks High School, and actor panels complement movie showcases and town-wide vampire antics.

Down on the Columbia River, the petite town of Bingen has been celebrating the huckleberry since 1962. The family-friendly weekend (Huck Fest to those in the know) features a cornhole tournament, parade, and reptile show, plus local bands that run the genre gamut. Predictably, huckleberry takes culinary center stage in pies, ice cream, jelly beans, margarita mix, and more.

Thanks to projection mapping on buildings, light-art installations, and bright performers, Burien glows in the dark for one night each September. The evening event stretches indoors and out, including a night market and several open-late museums, all centered around Town Square Park. Seasoned fans will know to bring their own lantern, bonus points for creative lights fashioned from balloons, jars, or recycle bin finds. 

Held on the Long Beach Peninsula—garlic goes well with shellfish, remember—the festival gathers artisans, food vendors, and allium fanatics. Garlic-themed costumes abound, as do whipped, pickled, minced, and creamed versions of the plant. And any extra competitive attendees can toss their hat into garlic eating, shucking, and identifying competitions.

Like a fruitier precursor to next month’s Oktoberfest, Whidbey Island’s annual salute to cider boasts apple and pear varieties, many from local makers—plus some mead and classic spirits. Local bands play the event, including a group devoted to sea shanties and nautical numbers.