A SEATTLE TRADITION CONTINUES

Celebrating 53 years, the U District Street Fair is the longest running festival of its kind in the nation. Originally conceived in 1970 as a way to bring the community together through the celebration of art, the Street Fair began as a stoop-and-blanket-vending event with lots of free live music. Over the last fifty years, the event has developed into a regional celebration that is known to kick-off the summer festival season in Seattle. Regularly attracting over 50,000 people, the Street Fair features handmade products by hundreds of individual artists and makers, in addition to food and music, and entertainment from across the Pacific Northwest.

A HISTORY OF BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CENTERING THE ARTS

Originally called the “U District Sidewalk Fair”, the event was first conceived by a local entrepreneur and store-owner, Andy Shiga, as a way to bring the community together during the change and political turmoil of the late 1960s. Mr. Shiga looked to harness the creative energy of local artists, artisans, craftspeople, and business owners to encourage community interaction. As Mr. Shiga explained in a Seattle Times article, “We are having this fair to create one small situation in which people will be encouraged to cross over various social and psychological barriers to stimulate the growth of openness, humor, love and compassion amongst people, which is the real basis for a reactionary, free and healthy world.” Learn more about the unique history of the U District Street Fair here.

GETTING TO THE U DISTRICT STREET FAIR

Getting to the U District has never been easier. Whether you are arriving on foot or by rail or bus, there are plenty of options. Learn more here.

VENDING AT THE U DISTRICT STREET FAIR

Vendor registration is closed for the 2024 U District StreetFair. Registration for the 2025 U District Street Fair is tentatively scheduled to open in December 2025. If you’d like to join our mailing list to receive information when registration reopens, please contact [email protected].

BUSKING AT THE U DISTRICT STREET FAIR

Buskers are welcome at the U District Street Fair, and are encouraged to review the event’s busking rules.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

Interested in writing a story about the U District Street Fair? Visit our Press page here.

CONTACT

For general inquiries about the 2024 U District Street Fair, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page. For any additional questions, please contact us at [email protected].