Fresh Connections – The Parfitt Way Blog

Summer in western Washington is certainly a most cherished season, offering extra hours of warm sunshine to stay and play a little longer. Maybe you’re backpacking the Cascades or Olympics, where you’re guaranteed mind-blowing vistas of glacial lakes, sprawling ranges, blossoming wildflowers, juicy berries and rogue fruit trees, mossy waterfalls, clear ocean views, and quiet nights filled with stars. Unless, that is, you’re sailing through the San Juan islands, meandering through the various canals and passages while on the lookout for resident orca pods safeguarding their newest calves.

Fortunately, summers in western Washington also offer the perfect combination of entertainment, community, and the great outdoors: a host of out-of-this-world music festivals put together by teams of folks who seem to really “get it.” Festivals like Seattle’s Bumbershoot, Bellingham’s Subdued Stringband Jamboree, and the ever-popular Summer Meltdown offer choice, escape, and an opportunity to bust out your tent and sleep beneath the trees after sunny days filled with music, art, food, spirits, and, well, spirit.

The only problem? Choosing which festival(s) to attend. With a collection of festivals offered in nearby Oregon, such as the bluegrass junkie’s pilgrimage to Northwest String Summit (July 16–19) or this year’s 150^th bizarre and buoyant Oregon State Fair (August 28–September 7), it can all be a bit overwhelming. Allow me to breakdown and build up Washington’s greatest festivals to make next year’s decision-making a bit easier.

Summer Meltdown – Darrington, WA – August 6–9

“Where the music meets the mountain.” This music festival is kind of a big deal, and with a slogan like that, how can you resist? The Meltdown’s far-reaching, multi-genre lineup is big, featuring headliners such as electronic gurus STS9, sunshine reggae Iration, foot-stomping Greensky Bluegrass, and jazz-funk fusion Galactic, and real-talk music from Nahko and Medicine for the People. Bring your kids, bring your friends, bring your sweetheart, or come alone and fill your days with ultra-positive vibes and maybe a few workshops like the “Artist Talk” with installation artists or “Crafting Wearable Light” leaving you with vibrant, LED origami shapes. You may want to leave the kiddos in good hands for the late-night shenanigans, though, because when the sun goes down, things really start to heat up. Late-night tents feature DJs, string bands, and dance parties well into the morning. You’re sure to leave Summer Meltdown exhausted from the smiling, dancing, and singing, and filled to the brim with memories to last a lifetime.

Subdued Stringband Jamboree – Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, Bellingham, WA – August 6–8

“When it’s blackberry time in Bellingham, it’s Jamboree time for me!” chanted the crowd during local band Hot Damn Scandal’s damn hot Saturday night set to wrap-up an enchanted weekend in the forests just outside of town. This year’s 15^th annual Jamboree was a portrait of all of the magic that an incredibly proud, creative, and dedicated community can cultivate when given a county fairground, hard-working (and free-working) hands, and the creative talents of not only a long list of eccentric and exciting musical groups, but also the many visual artists who created stages, tents, and aesthetic reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, with draping lights and dripping fabrics, theater-esque stage décor, and a modern-carnival vibe. This festival is a must—an absolute must—if you’re interested in taking a peek into the wild and wondrous minds of traveling musicians, rambling artists, and Bellingham’s finest.

Bumbershoot – Seattle, WA – September 5–7

If you’re a resident of Washington, you’ve heard of Bumbershoot. As one of Seattle’s largest cultural celebrations, featuring comedy, theater, visual arts, dance performance, and film in addition to a wildly pronounced musical lineup. This year, the festival’s headliners include soulful Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, dub step kingpin Bassnectar, flannel-clad Built to Spill, Chance the Rapper, ambient Devotchka, bluegrass whisperers Elephant Revival, soulful Grace Love and the True Loves, profound Hozier, and the beloved Neko Case, to name only a few of their A-Z lineup of big names, diversity, and range. You might not have a mountain range as your backdrop or a cozy tent to curl up in at the end of the night, but for the love of music—call your friends, crash on couches, and bring a light jacket, because Seattle’s Bumbershoot is the place to be during Labor Day Weekend.