Seattle, WA

Once again I am running late on the weekend edition. It’s been a very busy week for me and I have family in town.

If you didn’t catch my earlier post, this weekend is Leavenworth’s longest running festival, the Autumn Leaf Festival. The festival is fun packed with climbing walls, inflatable toys, a master yodeler, the Knights of An Tir, all the German food you can eat and the brew that is true! Go forth and make with the merry!

Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival
When: September 26 - 28, 2008, 1-6pm
Where: 423 Evans Street, Leavenworth
$$$: $7.00 per person

Want to get out and have some fun while learning ways to save our planet? This weekend Ballard holds it’s 5th annual Fall Sustainability Festival. This year’s Festival is expected to draw 5,000 to 7,500 participants and will be modeled after an old time county fair. It will feature fun activities, contests, music, speakers and special exhibits that promote a sustainable future and raise public awareness about alternative modes of transportation, eating locally, clean energy, waste reduction, and much more through activities such as issuing Undrivers Licenses, a “Best Compost” Contest, the Eat Local Challenge, How to Raise Chickens in the City, a Home Energy Center, “Seattle Free School” Classes, and Sew Fun Bags!

The 5th Annual Fall Sustainability Festival
When: September 27th and 28th, 2008, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Ballard Commons Park
$$$: Free to the public

Another great opportunity for family fun and learning is the Bainbridge Island Harvest Fair. Families can watch sheep shearing and enjoy a petting zoo, live music, wagon rides, pie and scarecrow contests, and apple cider pressing (bring your own apples)

Bainbridge Island Harvest Fair
When: Sunday, 28 September, 2008, 11am-4pm
Where: Johnson Farm, 7573 Fletcher Bay Road NE, Bainbridge Island
$$$: Free

You know that fall has officially arrived when the pumpkin patches and mazes appear. If you’ve been anticipating these events, then you’re in luck. Craven Farms opened it’s doors just yesterday U-pick pumpkin patch; corn maze (extra fee); tractor-drawn hayride (weekends only, extra fee); Harvest Market with seasonal produce; nursery rhyme scenes constructed out of pumpkins; pumpkin slinger (weekends); and storytime farm tours that include a cookie for the kids, stories about farm life, and a trip to see the baby animals (weekdays only, beginning Oct 15, reservations required, $5/child).

Pumpkin Patch/Corn Maze
When: Ongoing Daily 9/27/08 - 10/31/08, 9:30am-6pm
Where: Craven Farms
$$$: Free

Music fans may be interesting in this weekends preeminent electronic music event, the 5th Annual Decibel Festival. Decibel Festival is a four-day annual music and arts festival held in Seattle. Founded in 2003, the festival bridges the gap between technology and creativity through visual art, workshops, panel discussions and cutting-edge electronic music performances. By assembling a diverse selection of international talent, Decibel Festival provides a forum for musicians, industry professionals and educators alike.

5th Annual Decibel Festival
When: September 25-28, 2008
Where: Various Venues
$$$:
All Access Pass = $175 : Access to all venues, all four days and nights (limited quantity available).
Deluxe Pass = $125 : Access to all club events, including “dB in the Park” and the “dB BBQ”.
Weekend Club Pass = $100 : Access to evening club events, Friday through Sunday.

For a little cultural fun, as usual, Seattle Center has it going on! The Italian Festival, that is. The culmination of Festa Italiana and the largest ethnic festival at Seattle Center, the Italian Festival features food, music, art, dance and participatory activities for the entire family. There’s the Salumi Salami Challenge, “The Great Italian Chefs” cooking demonstrations, the Bolla Grape Stomp, the DeLaurenti Bocce Tournament, an Italian film festival, children’s activities, an historical photo collection, a contemporary exhibit of photos of Italy, an Italian Classic Vehicle Show, and three stages with Free Entertainment. Sounds like fun to me!

Festa Italiana
When: Today, September 28 2008, 10:00am - 7:00pm
Where: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle
$$$: Free

Those are my picks for today. Get out and have some fun!