Description

HONK! Fest West, a three-day festival featuring bands that draw inspiration from NOLA second line tradition, Brazilian Samba, Punk, Funk, Hip Hop, Eastern European and Latin American traditions, percussion ensembles, and other flavors of mobile and acoustic street bands traditions from around the globe.

HONK! Fest West is an accessible community music festival driven by the energetic performances of street bands in public spaces.

Come and immerse yourself on June 2nd in Georgetown 6 pm-10 pm, June 3rd in Columbia City at Columbia Park 12 pm-8 pm, and June 4th at Yesler Terrace Park 12 pm-6 pm.

All outside, all ages and ALL FREE!

HONK! is part of a global renaissance of street band culture, with Seattle’s festival occurring since 2008.

In 2021 HONK! Fest West transitioned to a federally recognized501(c)(3) non-profit known as HONK Festival West. We are excited to usher in a new era of programming for our community, while continuing our iconic annual HONK! Fest West in June, including the return of the HONK! All-Stars Band, monthly HONK! Jams, and HONK! Junior.

HONK! is a celebration of community, collaboration and creative expression and is dedicated to creating a community of inclusion. We work to break down systemic barriers to inclusion for those underrepresented within our community, and increase community access to our programming by producing the festival in neighborhoods of the Seattle area underserved by the arts. Our interactive celebrations are designed to be accessible, with representation from a wide range of ages and abilities; offering pick-up bands throughout the festival open for anyone who would like to pick up an instrument and play.

Bands at HONK! Fest West travel from all over the country to temporarily transform streets in various neighborhoods with a free showcase of various musical styles. The bands represent traditions ranging from New Orleans second line brass bands, punk rock marching bands, European Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, Samba, Maracatu, as well as the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival!

We have called Georgetown our home since the festival’s inception, and have also celebrated in Columbia City, White Center, South Park, The Waterfront, Fremont/Gas Works Park, Capitol Hill, Central District, Pioneer Square, Downtown, Seattle Center, and West Seattle. In 2022 we celebrated for the first time with the Yesler Terrace community and are looking forward to returning there in 2023.

June 2: Georgetown, June 3: Columbia City, and June 4: Yesler Terrace Park.

For more ideas on what to do for fun this weekend check out the Seattle's Child Things to Do section.