Panicking because you don’t know what to do for Memorial Day weekend and you're short on cash? Don't worry—below, find all of your options for last-minute entertainment that won't cost more than $10, ranging from the a show with lauded Seattle rapper DoNormaal to Free Burgers on Memorial Day at Li'l Woody's, and from a Cold Cube Anthology Release Party to Pride Asia Fest. For even more options, check out our complete Things To Do calendar and our list of cheap & easy things to do in Seattle all year long.

Found something you like and don't want to forget about it later? Click "Save Event" on any of the linked events below to add it to your own private list.


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    ALL WEEKEND

    FESTIVALS

  1. Northwest Folklife Festival
    The goal of Folklife is noble as heck: “We envision strong communities, united by arts and culture… When people share aspects of their culture, opportunities are created to dissolve misunderstandings, break down stereotypes, and increase respect for one another.” What does this translate to? A gigantic Memorial Day weekend hippie fest full of lovely people dancing, performing world music from “yodeling to beatboxing” and everything in between, serving tasty street food, and leading workshops in arts and crafts. It’s a great, if potentially overwhelming, people-watching experience, plus a great way to see local music. The 2019 spotlight is "Youth Rising."
    (Seattle Center, $10 suggested donation)

    FRIDAY

    COMEDY

  2. East Side Story Presents: TGIF Friday Night Improv Comedy
    You're in for a night of prime indie improv from Second Story's house team East Side Story and special guests Former Child Stars and Thunder Gap.
    (Redmond, $10)

    FILM

  3. A Celebration of Indigenous Film and Artists
    In partnership with the open-call exhibition yəhaw̓, see short films made by Indigenous artists as a kickoff to SIFF's Indigenous Showcase Weekend. You'll also get to mingle with the filmmakers and guest panelists (such as Paulette Jordan) and eat snacks.
    (Seattle Center, free)

    MUSIC

  4. Alma Y Azucar
    Dance to the jazz and Latin stylings of Alma y Azúcar. They promise a "flan raffle," which means what it sounds like, we think. 
    (Downtown, free)

  5. Anagram, Pom Pom, Cold Shoulder
    Local alt-rock five-piece Anagram will headline in Tukwila with opening support from Pom Pom and Cold Shoulder. 
    (Tukwila, $7)

  6. Antonioni, Medejin, Jupiter Sprites
    Stranger music contributor AJ Dent described the most recent EP from Seattle's Antonioni, The Odds Were All Beating Me, as "dream-pop cakes glazed with grunge and new wave layers atop a '90s alternative crust." They'll be joined by slow wave band Medejin and fuzzy dream-pop outfit Jupiter Sprites.
    (Ballard, $8)

  7. ATUNE Mini May Tour with DedElectric and Infinite Cuddle
    Bellingham-born, LA-based ATUNE uses loops, drums, keys, and guitar to make what he describes as "Psychosoulification." He'll be joined by local rockers DedElectric and Infinite Cuddle.
    (Belltown, $5)

  8. Bad Beaches, Jupe Jupe, Surrealized
    Local electro indie-rock trio Bad Beaches will be joined by minor-key New Wave rockers Jupe Jupe and psych-rock band Surrealized.
    (Ballard, $10)

  9. Dr. CrĂĽe, Disposable Zeros, The Warning, Bullet in Your Head
    Billing itself as "the region's hottest Mötley Crüe tribute band," Seattle's Dr. Crüe will helm a night of '80s punk-rock covers with support from Metallica tribute Disposable Zeros, Mexico's the Warning, and Rage Against the Machine tribute Bullet in Your Head. 
    (Columbia City, $10)

  10. The Finger Guns, The Aimlows, The Bitter
    Get your Northwest post-punk fix from the Finger Guns, the Aimlows, and the Bitter.
    (Belltown, $8)

  11. Pezzner (Open-to-Close Set)
    Dogged determination over many years can pay off in the dance-music realm—especially if you have an abundance of talent, as demonstrated by the career of Seattle’s Dave Pezzner. He’s been a key mover and shaker of music that inspires moving and shaking since 1998, both as a member of left-field-house duo Jacob London and as a solo performer and DJ. In 2016, Pezzner ascended to yet a higher level, releasing music on revered labels like Get Physical and Dirtybird. He’s continued to refine his sleek production style, which balances unusual tones with unerringly sensual rhythms. His tracks are the aural equivalent of weird sex, with all the attendant thrills that this implies. DAVE SEGAL
    (Downtown, $10)

  12. Pop Secret: Jerry Wang & Whygul
    Special guest DJs Jerry Wang and Whygul will spin all your pop favorites, from Whitney Houston to Shawn Mendes.
    (Capitol Hill, $10)

  13. Retro Remix: '80s, '90s, and '00s Dance Party
    Playful Noises DJs will fit a few hours of '80s, '90s, and '00s remixes into your Friday.
    (Capitol Hill, $5/$10)

  14. Shady Bottom
    Shady Bottom throws back to the '60s and '70s with soulful funk covers and originals. The sextet will play their grooves live.
    (Downtown, free)

  15. Smoker Dad, Los Bongquistadors, Haymaker, Sam & the Savages
    Stoner rockers Smoker Dad will be joined by Bellingham punks Los Bongquistadors, Haymaker, and Sam & the Savages.
    (Pioneer Square, $8)

  16. Weep Wave, Godcaster, 1800, Mary Claire
    Local psychedelic punks Weep Wave will wrap up a night of music from Philly rockers Godcaster, 1800, and Seattle's Mary Claire.
    (University District, $5-$10)

    PERFORMANCE

  17. Butt Club, Wreckless Freeks, Cody Choi
    Body-positive burlesque troupe Butt Club will put on a night of tantalizing variety performances with the Wreckless Freeks Sideshow and Cody Choi. 
    (Eastlake, $8/$10)

    READINGS & TALKS

  18. Kathleen Belew: Bring the War Home
    Did you know "a small but driven group of veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilian supporters" got so pissed about the United States leaving Vietnam that they reinvigorated the white power movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which led directly to the "alt-right" and other similar terrorist organizations in the US? Historian Kathleen Belew makes the case in Bring the War Home, drawing a direct line from these postwar maniacs to Timothy McVeigh to today's white supremacist shitlords in "the first full history" of the movement. RICH SMITH
    (Capitol Hill, free)

  19. Surreal Storytelling with Strange Women #6 at Folklife
    The Surreal Storytelling with Strange Women reading series will pop up at Folklife with an all-star lineup of local writers: 2018 Jack Straw Writers Fellow Jalayna Carter, Kate Bernatche, Assembly Literary Open Mic and Surreal Storytelling with Strange Women founder Kate Berwanger, and Tessa Zeng.
    (Seattle Center, free)

    SHOPPING

  20. Backstreet Bazaar with The Pazific
    Local Latin soul band the Pazific will play live, Seattle-area artists will exhibit their work, and beer, wine, and tacos will abound. 
    (Hillman City, $5)

    VISUAL ART

  21. Stay Home: An In-house Art Show
    See weaving by Lee Davignon, mixed media work by Alexander Mostov, graphite drawings from Aaron Hexom, and paintings by Alex Strenfel. Have some snacks too!
    (Belltown, free)

    FRIDAY-SATURDAY

    VISUAL ART

  22. Aaron Coberly: Breaking the Surface
    These pastoral landscapes and portraits emulate 19th-century impressionist style with almost uncanny accuracy.
    (Queen Anne, free)
    Closing Saturday

  23. Andre Petterson: Random by Design
    Petterson draws attention to the cast-off objects of our ultra-consumerist society by re-creating them in painted wood sculptures.
    (Pioneer Square, free)
    Closing Saturday

  24. Because It Rains
    Laura Bartunek, who won AIA Seattle's 2018 Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, will show architectural designs that engage with rain as "an ecological and cultural phenomenon" rather than an enemy of buildings.
    (Downtown, free)
    Closing Saturday

  25. Holly Ballard Martz: The Greatest Show on Earth
    "No need to run away to join the circus, the circus has come to you," writes Martz. In a symbol of modern American insanity, Martz has cut and stitched honest-to-gosh 50 sanctioned flags into a 30-foot circus tent.
    (Pioneer Square, free)
    Closing Saturday

  26. Mary Thèrése Enslow: Ascension
    Ceramic sculptor Enslow makes slender, feminine statues that are representations of failing and re-rising.
    (Pioneer Square, free)
    Closing Saturday

  27. Meggan Joy: Earthly Delights
    See ghostly digital collages made up of hundreds of photographs of animals and plants in an update on Giuseppe Arcimboldo's composite portraits.
    (Pioneer Square, free)
    Closing Saturday

  28. Steve Walker
    Enter the fabulous and fanciful worlds of Steve Walker, whose interests seem to range from kings and queens to giant tentacles to airplanes to dragons.
    (University District, free)
    Closing Saturday

    SATURDAY

    COMEDY

  29. Channel Surfers
    These comics will commandeer the remote and remind you of cable television's forgotten moments. A portion of ticket sales will go to the Yellowhammer Fund, an Alabama-based reproductive justice nonprofit.
    (Ballard, $10)

  30. Comedy Roast Battle
    Eight comedians will say mean things about each other, and the one with the saltiest insults will win the roast. 
    (Hillman City, $10)

    COMMUNITY

  31. Community Talk w/ Chinatown Art Brigade
    Hear stories of displacement and gentrification in Chinatown with the Chinatown Art Brigade.
    (Chinatown-International District, free)

  32. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park Opening
    The Museum of Flight will dedicate Memorial Day weekend to their new Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, featuring their massive B-52G Stratofortress and a memorial statue and tribute wall. The opening ceremony will include aircraft flyovers, a color guard presentation, and a special pinning ceremony for Vietnam veterans.
    (Tukwila, free)

    FILM

  33. N. Scott Momaday: Words From a Bear
    This film by Jeffrey Palmer celebrates the 50th anniversary of Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday's Pulitzer Prize win. Momaday was a champion of the Native American oral tradition and one of the drivers of what's known as the "Native American Renaissance" in the 1960s. After the screening, stay for a panel discussion.
    (Downtown, free)

    FOOD & DRINK

  34. Chambers Bay Distillery 5th Anniversary Party
    Chambers Bay Distillery will commemorate a half-decade of business with discounts on everything, tacos from the Tijuana Taco food truck, a cornhole competition, and more.
    (University Place, free)

  35. Cubes Baking Turns 2 & Tres LecherĂ­a Launch Party
    Cubes Baking Co. is turning two years old! To celebrate, they'll debut their Tres Lechería, which marries their expanded line of tres leches cakes with a "new bakery experience." Try inventive creations like Tres Leches doughnuts, cold brew, and fruit tarts, customize your own cake at a make-your-own-slice station, and shop for crafts. Plus, snack on tamales from LosTamaahles and Pan Dulce from Comadre Panaderia and sip agua fresca.
    (Wallingford, free)

  36. Raised Cakes Pop-Up
    The team behind the Central District's popular Raised Doughnuts will whip up cakes for a change, filled with whipped cream and fruit and frosted with fluffy buttercream.
    (Central District, free)

  37. Romanian Night at Connect Lounge
    The Connect Lounge claims to be the only place in Seattle serving Romanian cuisine on its menu. For this monthly event, they'll offer an expanded all-Romanian menu featuring owner Iulia Bejan's mother's recipes.
    (Belltown, free)

  38. Tea-Infused Ice Cream Pop Up at Addo:incubator
    Ice cream maker Milk & Leaf Collective will serve their signature tea-infused frozen treats, with flavors like Genmaicha Smacks, Vanilla Chai, and Jasmine Green Tea.
    (Ballard, free)

    MUSIC

  39. '80s Synth Underground with Vox Sinistra
    Get in on some '80s synth, Italo disco, and acid wave deep cuts from Hollow Earth Radio's Vox Sinistra.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

  40. Acapulco Lips, Sunset Flip, Heavy Denim
    Apocalypse is nigh. Sorry, excuse me, I mean: Acapulco Lips is nigh. The Seattle surf-rock trio pushes music that makes the Pacific Northwest seem like a beachy, warm place to be. Their sound is very vintage, but never superficially so—“Awkward Waltz” is lovingly lo-fi and fuzzed-out, like it’s the summer in the 1960s. “Shoes On” made me go out and buy some paisley pants. “Gotta Know” brought me out of my gray-weather depression. Straightforward rock outfit Sunset Flip and fuzzy punks Heavy Denim open. JASMYNE KEIMIG
    (Ballard, $10)

  41. Automaticamore - A Night of Disco, Synthpop, and Freestyle
    Boogie to a night of "rare and not so rare" disco, snyth-pop, and Euro-pop from the '70s and '80s with DJs Steady State and Domenica.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

  42. Bach & Pancakes
    Marimba player Erin Jorgensen will prove that Bach's music needn't be contained to symphony halls at this brunch-y concert series, where she'll play two cello suites by the famous composer complete with pancake breaks. 
    (Wallingford, $10)

  43. Cafe con Las Cafeteras
    Sip coffee and agua fresca with members of the Las Cafeteras band.
    (White Center, free)

  44. DoNormaal, the Black Chevys, Vibe
    Seattle rapper DoNormaal’s sophomore record, Third Daughter, was like a ray of light beaming in from some other planet. The cosmic and otherworldly beats coupled with the blunt cadence of her voice is unexpected and refreshing. “Ego Slave” plays like a frantic summer tune threaded with guitar and keyboard; “Buckle” is like that moment when you hit the blunt too hard and spend five minutes figuring out how to get off the couch. Her music is creepy, crunk, and multilayered—she knows how to twist expectations to keep listeners on their toes. It’s been two years since Third Daughter, and the Seattle MC is plotting and making moves on her third album, yippee. Fingers crossed we’ll hear some of it soon. JASMYNE KEIMIG
    (Capitol Hill, $8/$10)

  45. Fuzz Droner, Beast Folk, Echo Relocation, Teen Cat
    Fuzz Droner will perform for the very first time with support from Beast Folk, Echo Relocation, and Teen Cat.
    (Tukwila, $7)

  46. Haute Sauce: Pickster, Swerveone, Semaj
    DJs Pickster, Swervewon, and Semaj will be the special guests at this week's hiphop dance party. 
    (Capitol Hill, $10)

  47. Izthmi, Guns of Barisal, Wake of Humanity, Rat King
    Get your metal and sludge rock from locals Izthmi, Guns of Barisal, Wake of Humanity, and Rat King.
    (Columbia City, $5)

  48. Judd Lewis & the Loose Cannons, Jakob Singer & the Outsiders, Temple Canyon
    Country-soul band Judd Lewis & the Loose Cannons will jam with support from twangy rockers Jakob Singer & the Outsiders and Temple Canyon.
    (University District, $8)

  49. Night Glitter, Somesurprises
    Austin-based dreamy psychedelic synth-pop band Night Glitter will get a local welcome from experimental folk band somesurprises. 
    (Eastlake, $10)

  50. Odonis Odonis, Dark Smith, Webdriver Torso
    Boasting of their inclination toward "post-apocalyptic experimentation," Toronto darkwave trio Odonis Odonis will come to town with support from locals Dark Smith and Webdriver Torso.
    (Pioneer Square, $10)

  51. Planet Fly
    Swing your hips loosely with Planet Fly's unhurried, nostalgic funk, featuring the self-assured vocals of KJ Jones.
    (Downtown, free)

  52. Punk As Folk with The Bad Things and Danbert Nobacon
    Experience a night of switch-flipping, genre-bending musical throwdown as Silent City Productions presents the seventh annual Punk As Folk, a celebration of punk-inspired folk music and folk-inspired punk music. This year, Punk As Folk returns to the Conor Byrne with a stacked lineup of real PNW folk-punk enthusiasts including Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawamba, and the Bad Things.
    (Ballard, $10)

  53. Seatown Music Benefit Show with Fantasy A, AK-47, Great Dane
    Help fund housing for a local community member in need by dancing to hiphop sets by Fantasy A, Great Dane, Kyle Kamppi, Port Townsend's Ray Jackson, and Sado Slim. 
    (University District, $5-$10)

  54. The Social Stomach, Halfbird, Raica, Preyer
    Portland experimental pop project the Social Stomach will headline with support sets by Halfbird, Raica, and Preyer.
    (Central District, $7-$10)

  55. Todo Es
    Latin jazz group Todo Es draw from many influences, from Brazilian samba to bossa nova.
    (Downtown, free)

    PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

  56. XL Bear Bust: Bearchanalia
    Join the fuzzy party dudes of XL Bears for a toga party. 
    (Capitol Hill, free)

    PERFORMANCE

  57. The Improv Comedy Show Starring East Side Story
    "With over 1.2 billion years of improv experience between its dozen-and-a-half cast members," the resident improv troupe acts out adult- and family-friendly scenes.
    (Redmond, $10)

    READINGS & TALKS

  58. Pico Iyer: Autumn Light
    Travel writer Pico Iyer will read from his new memoir Autumn Light, which chronicles his life in Japan.
    (Downtown, free)

  59. Poetry Brunch
    Hear from some interesting poets—Erika Brumett, Lin Wilsie, Sameer Bhangar, Shelley Minden, and Steve Sibra—while you linger over a special brunch menu. Hosted by tireless arts event organizer-about-town Kate Berwanger.
    (Capitol Hill, $5 suggested donation)

  60. Sister Lucy of Maher: Empowering People to Rise to New Life in India
    The founder of Maher, a nonprofit based in India that "empowers and supports people to move from the worst circumstances in life to living rich, happy, healthy lives," will come to Seattle to talk about her work. 
    (Ballard, free)

    SHOPPING

  61. Rare Treats Pop-up Mall
    Shop for vintage clothes, handmade ceramics, tie-dye goods, and more from eight local vendors and artists—including local drag queens Cucci Binaca and Mona Real.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

    VISUAL ART

  62. Cold Cube Anthology 05 Release Party / Goodbye Party / Hooray
    I've got some good news and I've got some bad news. The bad news is Cold Cube Press, a genre-busting risograph outfit run by Aidan Fitzgerald and Michael Heck, is ditching the gallery space in the Tashiro Kaplan Building and moving into a smaller studio in Pioneer Square. It will continue on as a company, but they won't be throwing awesome/awkward parties fueled by coolers of Rainier on First Thursdays anymore. Now that Mount Analogue, Cold Cube, and Gramma Press are out of the X Y Z galleries, that whole scene is spaceless. The good news is they're throwing a closing party at the space, during which they will release a new anthology of work, Cold Cube 05. The annual collection will feature 17 artists from around the country and around the world. More than half of the artists showcased in this edition live outside the United States. Including the anthology, Cold Cube has five more books on deck, making this their most productive year yet. RICH SMITH
    (Pioneer Square, free)

    SATURDAY-SUNDAY

    COMMUNITY

  63. REI Boathouse Grand Opening
    Celebrate the opening of a new boathouse by eating snacks, enjoying music, and renting a kayak or canoe. 
    (Bellevue, free)

    SUNDAY

    COMEDY

  64. Little House of Green Gables
    Unexpected Productions will improvise an early 20th-century coming-of-age story Ă  la Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables.
    (Downtown, $10)

    FESTIVALS

  65. Pride ASIA Fest
    Local queen Aleksa Manila will host the eighth annual Pride ASIA Fest, joined by local activist EJ Agoot, DJs Moist Towelette and Phenohype, and many other queer icons in the local Asian American LGBTQ+ community.
    (Chinatown-International District, free)

    MUSIC

  66. Black Taffy, MatthewDavid, Brin
    Dallas-based composer Black Taffy will mix ambient music with bass and percussion after opening sets from MatthewDavid and Brin. 
    (Capitol Hill, $8/$10)

  67. David's Van, Snow Bitch, Castoff
    Local rockers David's Van, Snow Bitch, and Castoff will join together for a night out in Tukwila.
    (Tukwila, $7)

  68. Fraktured - Memorial Day Edition! Jon Lee & Residents!
    Longtime Seattle DJ Jon Lee (he's been spinning since 1994!) will make his Fraktured debut alongside Nofux Gibbons, Jameson Just, Miss Min.D, and Hyphonetics. Chug $1 beers and dance into the wee hours of your day off.
    (Downtown, $5)

  69. Gifted Youngstaz, Entendres
    Seattle hiphop crew Gifted Youngstaz will carry on the boom bap tradition after an opening set from Entendres. 
    (Belltown, $8)

  70. Lovelee Dae Day Party
    Lovelee Dae DJs Justice & Treasure, Julie Herrera, Mr. Moon, Pappa T, and Jeromy Nail will lay down the house tracks.
    (Georgetown, $10)

  71. Lucee, Revel, Jayomi
    Alt-pop rock bands Lucee, Revel, and Jayomi will share a bill.
    (Capitol Hill, $8/$10)

  72. Mckenna Haley, Fine
    Seattle rock trio Fine will be joined by Mckenna Haley for a free live set.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

  73. Memorial Day Weekend at Queer Bar with Quake
    Dance in the good company of hot Quake rugby boys at Nark Mag's Memorial Day weekend dance party, featuring special guest DJs Alfonso Tan, Mr.Linden, Erin O'Connor-Drew, and Hyasynth.
    (Capitol Hill, $6/$8)

  74. Public Theatre, In Aisle Eight, Clothing Optional
    Snohomish alt-rockers Public Theater will schlep over to Seattle for a night out with In Aisle Eight and Clothing Optional.
    (Fremont, $5/$8)

  75. SIN CITY
    Dance to nothing but juicy hiphop and trap cuts. 
    (Pioneer Square, $10)

  76. Tukwila Moon, Barrio Manouche, Annie O'Neill Trio, The Well Said, Randy Weeks
    Indie-punks Tukwila Moon will share a night out with g*psy jazz group Barrio Manouche, acoustic blues band Annie O'Neill Trio, folky duo the Well Said, and Randy Weeks. 
    (Greenwood, $5)

    PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

  77. Memorial Day Explosion
    DJs X-Man, Veteran, Y2K Sound, and Matsui will be laying down Afrobeat, Soca, dancehall, hiphop, and reggae beats over Memorial Day weekend.
    (Pioneer Square, $5/$10)

    READINGS & TALKS

  78. Celebration of Northwest Native Writers
    Join Northwest Native writers Laura Da’, Storme Webber, Skyler Reed, Natalie Martinez, Sara Marie Ortiz, Dawn Pichón Barron, and Celeste Adame for a day of writing and conversation.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

    VISUAL ART

  79. The Let It Go: Art Exhibition Closing Party
    Celebrate work by the Unapologetic Artists and Creatives, namely Chi Moscou Jackson, Ariella Tai, and Howard Mitchell. Show up a little early for an artist talk and enjoy Brown Liquor Company booze and Def Chef catering, as well as music by DJs Blendiana Jones and Toya B.
    (Central District, free)

    MONDAY

    FOOD & DRINK

  80. Free Burgers on Memorial Day
    On Memorial Day, break for lunch at any Li'l Woody's location to grab a free burger.
    (Capitol Hill, free)

    GEEK & GAMING

  81. Memorial Day: Learn to Play Extravaganza
    Learn to play games like Warhammer, Pokemon, and Dungeons & Dragons. 
    (Ballard, Bellevue, free)

    MUSIC

  82. Lust Punch, Graveyard Witch, ZamTrip, Cashing in Karma
    Round out your long weekend with a night of rock from Seattle indie-rockers Lust Punch, San Diego's Graveyard Witch, Wyoming's ZamTrip, and Tacoma's Cashing in Karma.
    (Pioneer Square, $10)