When to Go
Next Fair Dates
The 56th fair fills the Ave on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, 2027. Saturday hours most recently ran from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., so check both days' hours on the official U District Street Fair website before heading out, since schedules can shift.
Next Fair Dates
Save the date for the 56th fair on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, 2027, which organizers have already announced. Look for hours, maps and lineups on the official site as the weekend draws closer.
What You Will Find Along the Ave
Stroll the full length of the fair from Campus Parkway north to NE 50th Street. Organizers publish an event map each year, and pulling it up on your phone makes it easy to track down favorite booths and stages as you go.
Artists, makers and vintage finds
Browse hundreds of vendors lining the street with arts and crafts, vintage goods and much more. Neighborhood shops get in on the fun too, carrying art, clothing and other wares out onto the sidewalk. You end up wandering past visiting makers and longtime U District storefronts side by side.
Food and drink
Come hungry, because food trucks and booths stretch for blocks, with more than 50 food trucks, booths and participating businesses on the official count. Local restaurants open outdoor patios and run beer gardens just for the weekend, so grab a bite to eat on the move or settle in somewhere and linger.
Music on the Neptune Main Stage
Catch the headliners at the main stage on University Way and NE 41st Street, near the south end of the fair. Across both days it showcases indie rock, alternative acts and homegrown Seattle bands. Other performers and artists pop up throughout the festival grounds, so the music keeps you company all the way up the street.
Getting There by Light Rail
Ride Link light rail for the easiest arrival. The U District station lets you off at NE 43rd Street, right in the heart of the fair, so you can turn south toward the main stage or wander north toward NE 50th.
With tens of thousands of visitors expected, taking transit spares you plenty of hassle. Check the official fair website for any updated travel guidance and street closure details before you set out.
What It Costs
Enjoy the fair's live music and performances for free. Food, drinks and anything you pick up from vendors cost extra, with prices varying from booth to booth. For any other admission questions, the FAQ page on the fair's official site is the best place to look.
Make a Day of It in the University District
The Saturday farmers market
Start your Saturday at the University District Farmers Market, which sets up every Saturday, year round, at NE 52nd Street and University Way NE, just a couple of blocks north of where the fair ends. Founded in 1993, it ranks among Seattle's earliest neighborhood farmers markets. It usually runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but confirm before you go.
Quieter corners nearby
Slip away to the University Heights P-Patch, a 31-plot community garden at University Way NE and NE 50th Street, right at the fair's northern edge. A few blocks west, University Playground at 4745 9th Ave NE offers a welcome break from the crowds. History lovers can walk over to the University Library on Roosevelt Way NE, a city landmark since 2003 surrounded by other protected buildings.
More U District festivals
Return throughout the year for more events from the U District Partnership. A Cherry Blossom Festival promotion lines up with the famous late March bloom on the UW Quad, and the U District Chow Down and Street Party, most recently held in October, invites you on a food walk with bites at more than 60 businesses plus live music on the Ave. For more ideas around town, explore our guide to things to do in Seattle.
