LIFESTYLE

Paul Holden: Easter weekend brings colorful, funny, delicious local events

Mar 28, 2024, 4:46 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2024, 11:24 am

Photo: You can celebrate the Hindu tradition of Holi on Saturday with two celebrations going on in ...

You can celebrate the Hindu tradition of Holi on Saturday with two celebrations going on in the city this weekend. (File photo: MyNorthwest)

(File photo: MyNorthwest)

It’s finally here, the weekend, and there are PLENTY of things going on.

Conventions taking over this weekend

Kicking things off are a couple of conventions. First is Sakura Con, a convention highlighting the wide wconorld of Anime. The Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association puts on the show and said Sakura Con is the oldest and most well-attended anime convention in the region. You can join in on all the fun at the Seattle Convention Center.

In Puyallup, some of the biggest video game voice actors are putting on panels at the Washington State Gaming Expo. There are more than just panels, the expo includes plenty of vendors, an arcade and multiple video game tournaments. The event runs through the weekend and you can get tickets on Washington State Gaming Expo’s website.

Paul Holden: Opening Day reminds us why we love baseball so much

If you are looking for some laughs Friday night, Geeky Comedy Seattle is putting on the Bi Bi Bi comedy showcase. The event is described as a night of comedy from Seattle’s funniest bi performers. You can join in on the laughs at Charlie’s Queer Books in Fremont Friday at 8 p.m.

Delicious bites to look forward to

Watershed Pub is celebrating its 10th anniversary all weekend long. There will be drink and food specials, as well as live music. There will even be a talent show and some of the staff will be spinning tunes as live DJs. The Watershed Pub is in Northgate.

If you are looking for some new threads, the Ballard Hullabaloo is this weekend. The Hullabaloo is when shops and boutiques in Ballard bring their discounted items to the Leif Erikson Hall to sell. According to Visit Ballard, most of the merchandise offered is 75% off the original price and there will also be beer specials.

It’s Black Punk weekend at the Northwest Film Forum. There will be films including a showing of James Spooner’s 2003 documentary AFROPUNK, live performances and an award ceremony celebrating Kimya Dawson. You can find tickets and more details on Northwest Film Forum’s website.

It’s the 30th edition of Georgetown Bites on Saturday. Food vendors will be out in the heart of Seattle’s oldest neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there will be plenty to eat. Get your tickets at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall or visit Georgetown Seattle’s website.

Seattle offers free Easter egg hunts

Easter is on Sunday and to celebrate, Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering free Easter Egg hunts. There are over 15 hunts being put on at city community centers throughout the region, with most starting around 10 a.m. You can find more information on the Seattle Parks and Recreation website.

Traffic: Plan ahead as Revive I-5 could make it tough getting to Mariners games

Test your s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g with the King/Snohomish Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday. Middle schoolers from the region will put their skills to the test for a chance at the nationwide contest in DC this summer. Our own Feliks Banel will be hosting and pronouncing the words for the spellers. It is free and open to the public to attend.

You can celebrate the Hindu tradition of Holi on Saturday with two celebrations going on in the city. But be sure to wear white so you can show off all the colors you’ll be covered in. One celebration, the Seattle Color Festival is Saturday at the Seattle Center starting at 11 a.m. and the Holi Festival of Colors at Phinney Center Community Hall at 1 p.m. You will need a ticket for the Festival of Colors however, Phinney Center’s website is where to get them. The Seattle Color Festival is free.

Plus from now, until hopefully deep into the fall, the Seattle Mariners are back and are in town until Thursday the 4th.

Don’t miss out on all the fun this weekend and let me know what’s going on in the region for next weekend at pholden@bonneville.com.

Paul Holden produces the Seattle weekend events calendar for KIRO Newsradio.

sign up for the 425 Magazine newsletter

Associated Press

Evacuations and shelter-in-place orders issued in Toledo, Ohio, after chemical release

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Some Ohio residents have been ordered to evacuate because of the release of a chemical that can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, and other residents have been told to shelter in place, the city fire department said Wednesday. People within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of the “hazardous […]

19 minutes ago

Students pray during a U.S. history class at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, Texas, Wedn...

Associated Press

Takeaways from AP’s report on the taxpayer-funded growth of classical Christian schools

Conservatives are banding together to grow classical Christian schools by leveraging new taxpayer-funded scholarships. These scholarships have rapidly expanded in states around the country. They mean half of school-age children in the U.S. are now eligible to apply for state money to attend private schools. Last year, the Association of Classical Christian Schools, or ACCS, […]

1 hour ago

Associated Press

Taxpayers are funding private school tuition. It’s helping classical Christian schools expand

HURST, Texas (AP) — Keith Castello spends a lot of time praying about available real estate. Driving in his white pickup under a glaring Texas sun, the classical Christian school administrator points out empty office parks, a shopping mall, and an old church — all locations he is scouting for new Christian schools. Demand is […]

1 hour ago

FILE - Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine against Russia...

Associated Press

Russia releases imprisoned American man, US envoy Witkoff says on visit to St. Petersburg

Russia has released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The deal comes at a time when President Donald Trump has taken actions meant to benefit Moscow. Stephen […]

1 hour ago

FILE - Diana McGuire leads her 4-year-old son Noah by the hand across the playground at St. Mary's ...

Associated Press

It’s not just gas and groceries. Childcare costs weigh on some voters before the midterm elections

Like so many Americans, Jenny Escolastico has watched wearily as the cost of living has risen, straining her household budget. But as a mother of two children under 5, she faces added pressure that could shape how she votes in November: childcare costs. Escolastico’s household outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, is relying solely on her husband’s income. […]

7 hours ago

FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal May 14, 2026, in Sacrame...

Associated Press

California state workers launching 1-day strike over return-to-office mandate, pay and healthcare

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California state workers will launch a one-day strike Wednesday, urging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to agree to a new contract that increases workers’ pay, ensures affordable healthcare access and allows more flexibility for remote work. SEIU Local 1000, the largest union for California government workers which represents more than 100,000 employees, […]

7 hours ago

Paul Holden: Easter weekend brings colorful, funny, delicious local events