What took decades of planning will now be revealed during the grand opening season of Waterfront Park. The former highway alongside the Elliott Bay piers is no more, but rather a walkable part of downtown that will be activated through over 270 public events this summer, many of which are free, some of which are unapologetically Queer.

"Part of the original vision was to create spaces that felt welcoming and accessible for everyone, and it is exciting to see the resurgence of residents exploring and reclaiming our new Seattle waterfront," said Angela Brady, director of the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects & Sound Transit.

Beginning this month through September, Friends of Waterfront Park, a nonprofit that oversees the park, will host events that were created in partnership with artists, cultural leaders, and community organizations. The larger Grand Opening Celebration is happening later this summer and will mark the completion of park features, like Pier 58.

Friends of Waterfront Park is calling it a "season of cultural celebration, collective gathering, and community connection," and is "the boldest investment in public space since the 1962 World's Fair," which gave us the Space Needle and Seattle Center.

Queer-related events
LGBTQIA+ Waterfront Park events will kick off with The Pink Party: Deep House Concert on June 14 from 3 to 10 p.m. at Pier 62. DJs at this dance party include Baby Van Beezly, Big Sir, Alfonso Tan, and Yashin. General admission tickets start at $75.

Next, it will host the fourth year of the Indigiqueer Festival, which celebrates Indigenous artistry from the 2SQT community and will run from 1 to 8 p.m. on June 27. According to Yoon Kan-O'Higgins, senior director of community impact and programs at Friends of Waterfront Park, more than 80% of this summer's events were created alongside BIPOC people to form a foundation for building a sense of belonging and for reflecting the stories of the Duwamish land.

Gathered in This Place, a partner of the Indigiqueer Festival, works to provide spaces for the Native 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Itai Jeffries, an organization representative, said it has supported the festival since its beginnings.

"From the performers to the community who came out to celebrate and support, this space has quickly become a critical resource among Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ people," Jeffries said, noting how this year's impressive programming is all-age friendly.


The Indigiqueer Festival will feature drag performances, live music, and food from Indigenous caterer Natoncks Metsu. Performers will include Trans 2S Alaskan Native Esmina Secret; Genesis Storm, the owner and operator of the Diamond Divas Drag Revue since 2022; Holli B. Sinclair, an Indigenous drag queen from the Navajo tribe who adds a rock 'n' roll flair to traditional drag roots; and Guma' Gela', a Queer and Trans art collective representing the Mariana Islands.

The festival will also feature Lio Moonflower, a Queer, 2S, Trans-Nonbinary, Mescalero, Apache, Latinx, and Chinese performing artist and poet, as well as Cherri Bepsi, who lives in Tacoma but who is originally from the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho.

"In a world where resources like this - and the visible representation that comes with it - are rapidly disappearing, the importance of this festival is immeasurable," Jeffries added. "It is our fervent hope that this festival will continue to grow as part of Seattle's effort to remember the importance of honoring Indigenous land by lifting up this beloved part of Native Nations across Turtle Island: our Indigiquer and Two Spirit People."

After that, the free Aqui Mercado, on both July 18 and 25 from 3 to 9 p.m. will feature Latin, POC, and Queer vendors, including art, music, and "vintage."

Other notable events

While performers and other guests are yet to be announced, Queer Pier Pride is taking place on June 29 from 3 to 10 p.m., one of a series of waterfront concerts in partnership with The Crocoile.

The first-ever Disability Arts Festival on July 12 will have a mobility device pageant, music, visual art, and dance.

To honor Black legacy and culture in Seattle, Friends of Waterfront Park is also hosting Africatown Soul on the Water at Pier 62 on August 16 from 2 to 8 p.m., which will have face painting, food kiosks, and games, among attractions.

Salmon Homecoming on September 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will cap the summer season programming, with cultural presentations, powwows, and a canoe welcoming, among other offerings.

Regular activations of the new park space outside of larger celebratory events include a rotating lineup of food trucks at Pier 62 every Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting on June 5 through September, community markets that feature locally designed goods and crafts will pop up Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.