Your Summer Afternoon Awaits

Today, Seattle Center’s International Fountain Lawn comes alive with music.

From noon to 6:00 p.m., Seattle Center Classical brings together live performances, musical discovery, family-friendly activities, and some of the Pacific Northwest’s leading arts organizations for a free afternoon celebrating the idea that classical music belongs to everyone.

Seattle Times recently featured Seattle Center Classical as a fresh addition to Seattle’s summer arts calendar, spotlighting the festival’s welcoming outdoor setting at the International Fountain and the rare chance to hear so many of the region’s leading classical music organizations in one place. If you’ve been looking for a reason to wander over to Seattle Center today, consider this your invitation.

Whether you’ve been planning to attend for weeks or you’re simply looking for a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon, we hope you’ll join us.

Live Music All Afternoon

Enjoy performances throughout the day from:

• Early Music Seattle
• Greater Seattle Choral Consortium
• Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
• Seattle Chamber Music Society
• Seattle Opera
• Seattle Symphony

The festival concludes with a Community Group Sing-Along led by the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium, where everyone is invited to lift their voices together.

Explore Between Performances

Seattle Center Classical is designed to be explored.

Wander the festival grounds and you’ll discover opportunities to try an instrument, create musical crafts, explore Seattle’s arts community, meet fellow music lovers, and enjoy hands-on experiences for all ages.

Visit the Classical KING tent and meet some of our amazing hosts (schedule below), connect with community partners including KUOW, Music Center Northwest, SIFF, TeenTix, and Ground Zero Radio, and discover new ways to stay connected to the arts long after the festival ends.

The Voices You Listen to Every Day

One of the best parts of Seattle Center Classical is the chance to meet the familiar voices of Classical KING in person.

Stop by the Classical KING tent throughout the afternoon to say hello to Dave Beck, who brings you Symphony at 9 each weekday morning, and Seth Tompkins, who gets your day started with the Morning Shot at 6:45am. Catch up with Mike Brooks, your carpool buddy during the Classical Commute, Maggie Molloy, host of Second Inversion, Sean MacLean from Think Outside the Bach, and Nikhil Sarma, who serves up Local Lunch each week.

Whether you’ve been listening for years or are just discovering Classical KING, we’d love to meet you.

Meet the Hosts at the Classical KING Tent

• 12:30 – 1:30pm: Dave Beck
• 1 – 1:45pm: Mike Brooks
• 2 – 3pm: Maggie Molloy
• 2:30 –3:30pm: Sean MacLean
• 3 – 4pm: Seth Tompkins
• 3:30 – 4:30pm: Nikhil Sarma

Know Before You Go

• Admission is free and no tickets are required.
• Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
• Bring plenty of water and some sunscreen
• Pack a picnic or pick up something delicious on your way.
• Dress for Seattle’s ever-changing summer weather.

Need parking information, public transportation options, accessibility details, or a complete festival schedule?

Read our Festival Guide to Seattle Center Classical before you head out.

We’ll See You at Seattle Center

Seattle Center Classical was created around a simple idea: classical music belongs to everyone.

However you choose to spend the afternoon, we hope you’ll make yourself at home.

Relax, enjoy the music, and remember—there is no wrong way to enjoy classical music.

We’ll see you this afternoon at Seattle Center.