Bumbershoot Festival Celebrates It's Fourty Seventh Anniversary

This annual Seattle event was originally named, Festival '71, based on that year when it was founded. The next year it was called Festival '72. Then in 1973 they renamed the festival Bumbershoot, a quirky early 20th century word meaning umbrella, aptly so to immediately explain to attendees just how many different events were celebrated under one amazing canopy.

Bumbershoot is a three-day event that nearly encompasses full conglomeration. First, there's the large line-up of musical acts performing on multiple stages over American Labor Day holiday weekend. But the festival also highlights stand-up comedians, literature, theater, the visual arts, history, film and pop culture.

Bumbershoot's three day celebration of all things Pacific Northwest has more than just a great line-up, like winners and fan favorites from the Seattle International Film Festival under the 1 Reel Film Festival banner dedicated to only short films.

Literature is explored through the "Words and Ideas" event. Bloggers, authors, novelists and even writing teams from television shows present lectures and panels on pop culture and writing.

Indie Market is Bumbershoot's outdoor mall that sells and highlights only locally produced crafts like jewelry, clothing, housewares and art. There's also lots and lots of locally made artisanal chocolates.

Bumbershoot is not only meant to attract visitors and travelers as it definitely displays its thoughtful focus on families and children. The event allows kids 10 years of age and under get in for free. And in the days wherein tickets start around $65 for a single day pass, that's incredibly helpful to the budget for family outings. The event also simultaneously runs a kids-only festival called Youngershoot that happens within the confines of the festival space. Children can explore song, dance, acting, painting and all sorts of fun, for free, every day from 11am-6pm. Also, a notable activity that can be done by families and groups would be the look-and-act, "Zombie Walk".

Three days of fun and activity for all makes Bumbershoot indeed worthy of the name.