The coming arrival of spring means more sun, warmer weather, longer days. This is definitely something to celebrate! With roots in ancient Hinduism, the holiday called Holi, or the Festival of Colors, marks the end of winter and the dawn of spring, and emphasizes love, connection and fun.
As with many cultural and religious celebrations, the festival is rooted in mythological stories which have given rise to many traditions. One of these traditions is color-throwing. For Holi, celebrants young and old gather together to drench one another with colored powder that sticks to white clothing. The fun of this tradition for families has spread beyond the Indian community. It’s a wild good time and it makes for some awesome photo ops!
We’ve rounded up this year’s family-friendly Holi events taking place around the Greater Seattle region. The official Holi holiday happens March 25; local events take place March 16–30, 2024. Wear white if you like, bring your festive attitude and get in on the colorful action!
Holi events around Seattle in 2024:
- Saturday, March 16, noon–5 p.m.: Join a festive, colorful Holi celebration at Bothell’s Downtown Landing Park and experience live performances, delicious food and the spirit of togetherness with your friends, family and neighbors. Free; preregister and purchase colors and t-shirts online.
- Sunday–Monday, March 17–18, 9:30 a.m.–noon: Festive Holi activities are on tap during the Seattle Aquarium’s toddler time where your littles can get hands-on with a smear of color. Included with admission.
- Sunday, March 17, 2–3 p.m.: Everyone can enjoy the music, songs and dance of Holi and learn the "why" and "how" of this spring festival celebrated by millions of Hindu people. Splash some colors afterwards! Free at the Fairwood Library.
- Saturday, March 23, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.: Called Festival of Colors, this fest is one of the largest Holi celebrations in the Pacific Northwest. It promises to be a giant party with some 10,000 attendees throwing color and dancing to fantastic music at Marymoor Park. Entry is free; prebook one of two time slots and buy colors in advance online, or at the event.
- Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m.–noon: Bring the kids to the Bellevue Arts Museum and, with help from Hindi Time Kids, discover how the colorful festival of Holi is celebrated through storytelling, art and music. Preregister.
- Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: Gather at Gene Coulon Park for Renton’s first Festival of Color. Enjoy DJ tunes, food trucks, vendors and community. Preregister; the event is free and colors are provided.
- Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (sold out): Snohomish has its own Holi celebration at Willis Tucker Park. There will be dance performances, colorful photo booths and delicious food for purchase. The $15 admission fee includes colors. Ages 8 and younger are free.
- Saturday, March 23, noon–4 p.m.: Welcome spring with dancing, traditional food and color throwing while supporting CRY (Child Rights and You) at the Seattle Holi Fest being held at Downtown Bellevue Park. Purchase tickets online, prices start at $15; ages 12 and younger free. All ages.
- Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: In partnership with Hindi Time Kids, the Burke Museum hosts a Holi cultural fest where kids will create colorful handmade Holi cards, enjoy a puppet story time and sing along to songs in Hindi. Included with admission ($22 adult; $14 youth; ages 3 and younger are free).
- Monday, March 25, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Children ages 5 and younger can discover the traditions of Holi through stories, music, movement and rhymes in Hindi at a special Holi story time hosted by the Sammamish Library. Free.
- Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Surrounded by color, dance to Bollywood beats with your friends and family at the Rang Barse Holi Celebration taking place at Lake Sammamish State Park. Purchase tickets online. $15; ages 9 and younger are free.
- Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.: With the Space Needle as your backdrop, celebrate the Festival of Colors at the Seattle Center with music, dance, food trucks and more. Purchase your colors online or on-site and join in the fun! Free entry, but registration is required. All ages.
- Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.: Experience Holi at Bellevue’s Crossroads Park with a live DJ, color-throwing, song and dance performances and a flash mob with over 150 participants. Free admission; preregistration required; colors for purchase.
- Saturday, March 30, noon–4 p.m.: Bellevue’s Tyee Middle School is the site of a fun Festival of Colors celebration with music, food and fun, plus a color fight. $5; ages 16 and younger free. Color and food for purchase. All ages.
- Saturday, March 30, 1–3 p.m.: Put on a white shirt and head to the Phinney Neighborhood Center to join the Holi celebration, of course including a color fight! Enjoy Indian food (for purchase) and entertainment. $14; $7 ages 11 and younger. All ages.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago and updated in March 2024 to include new events and details for the 2024 celebrations.
