Months ago, you promised your grandparents you'd take them out on their special day and then you forgot all about it. Well guess what, sucker, that day has come. Sunday is National Grandparents' Day and it's your job to take them on a tour of Seattle. Here's the thing...you can't take them to the Ballard Locks again. You've done that, like, three years in a row. Plus you took your uncle there last year. The shine is off that diamond. But fear not, Elizabeth Tudor has scoured the city listings for ten events and activities going on this weekend perfect for quality time with Nanna and Poppy (Seriously though, grandparents or not, why aren't you already going to that grilled cheese festival?).
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10 Things to Do in Seattle on National Grandparents Day
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San Gennaro Festival of Seattle
Pizza? Olives? Sausage? Gelato? Cannoli? Music from Ray Massa's EuroRhythms? You've never figured out why your grandpa mutters in Italian when he eats pizza, but maybe he'll drink too much wine at this Italian festival, and tell you why.
Seattle Design Festival Block Party
This is not a wild, crazy party, but a two-day celebration and demonstration of Design in Motion. Nine installations from teams of local designers will be set up for your grandpa to ridicule. He never understood modern art, but your grandma loves it. Image: Trevor Dykstra
Grandparents Day at Seattle Children's Museum
If you have kids, take everybody here, and grandparents get in free! (2 grandparents per paid child, so don't go loading up on freeloading grandparents...)
Esoteric Book Conference
Line your eyes with black eyeliner, put on your best black outfit, and pick up your grandparents in your friend's old hearse. They will lovingly remember your emo/goth stage and look on semi-approvingly as you share your appreciation of occult-themed books.
Hawaiian Cultural Festival
Remember that time your grandparents went to Hawaii and brought you back that ukulele and all those shells? You still have that stuff! Reminisce together as you nibble on Spam Musubi and shaved ice. Who knows, you might get grandma up there to show off her hula...
Round the Rock
For some reason, your grandma loves watching stand up paddleboarders. Maybe it's the muscular, shirtless young men, or maybe she thinks people look funny doing it, but if she has one beer, she won't stop laughing.
Art Walk Rainier Beach
Go on a tour and art walk--guided by an artist in residence—through a Japanese American fusion garden. Or, RSVP for one or both of the Touchstones tours of Beach Square or Rainier Beach waterfront.
Center for Wooden Boats
Let volunteer skippers and crew take you and your grandparents out on the water. Electric boats, yachts, schooners, and more await your grandpa, who feels he has seen way too much bad art, and needs some fresh sea air.
'The Big Melt' Grilled Cheese Festival
Sample as many grilled cheese sandwiches as you want, and vote on your favorites as you sip craft beer or wine. Your grandpa is in heaven, but your grandma knows her classic heart-shaped ones are the best (you know this too).
View Ridge Party in the Park
Rest for an hour or two with free food, live music, and noisy kids. Maybe your grandma will find something fun to do in View Ridge (there'll be a booth with info, whew...). It's going to be a hot, sunny day so make sure you bring sunscreen...
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