Your Seattle guide to the 4th of July

Seattle It's nearly America's birthday, so make sure you have a 4th of July weekend worthy of Ben Franklin with plenty of free hot dogs, free eats, and a (sadly not-free) Bollywood dance party... but probably fewer Parisian courtesans.

Cal Anderson Park

Friday, July 4th: Kick off the 4th picnic-style at Cal Anderson Park, where you can take part in a pet/human look-alike contest and snap up some free hot dogs, but be sure to leave room for the pie eating contest. Continue Reading

Pearl

Friday, July 4th: As Beyonce once said, “All the single ladies... are going to Pearl on the 4th of July”, or something like that, for their singles dinner and fireworks social, where your ticket gets you free parking, free apps, and a fireworks show at Bellevue Park.

huxley wallace collective

Friday, July 4th: Take in the fireworks over Lake Union at Westward, where you’re encouraged to put on your sailor’s hat and chow down on paella while a DJ spins tunes to celebrate independence.

Prashant - Singer, Dancer, DJ

Friday, July 4th: Nothing says* America’s independence more than a Bollywood Red, White, and Blue Dance party at Fremont’s Nectar hosted by a former engineer, turned singer/choreographer/DJ.

*Full disclosure: lots of things do.

Seafair

Friday, July 4th: It comes scarily close to getting cancelled every year, but somehow the fireworks show at Gas Works Park has made it one more year, so join roughly a gagillion of your fellow countryman on Lake Union for what might be the last one ever. Until 2015, anyway.