Washington State Fair, PAX West and Apple Cup headline a packed Labor Day weekend!

School is back in session, and the summer is winding down, but Labor Day weekend is ahead, and that means an extra day for (most) of you this weekend!

PAX West returns to Seattle Labor Day Weekend

It’s a big weekend for video games as over 100,000 people are expected in downtown Seattle for PAX West. The annual celebration of video games is back for four days of the latest and greatest in video games, from companies big and small. In addition to all the games to play, there will be panels, meetups, cosplaying, tabletop and card games, and lots more. Badges are still available for the weekend, and PAX will be at the Seattle Convention Center downtown.

Don’t have a PAX badge but still want to check out what’s going on? Sunday on the third floor of the Hilton Motif is the Seattle Indies Expo. Here you will find game developers and creators from the Seattle area, as well as demos of the games they are making. The Seattle Indies Expo is Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free to attend — no PAX badge required.

Bremerton celebrates blackberry season on the boardwalk

It’s hard to go for a walk without seeing at least one blackberry bush working its way onto the path during this time of year, and that means in Bremerton it is time to celebrate. The Bremerton Blackberry Festival is this weekend and will feature live music, entertainment for you and the family, vendors to shop from, and of course plenty of blackberry treats to try. The Bremerton Blackberry Festival is on the Bremerton Boardwalk starting on Saturday.

Washington State Fair opens its gates this weekend

It’s the opening weekend of the Washington State Fair, where you can do the Puyallup with rides, fair foods, animals, agriculture, and so much more. There are special deals going on this weekend to celebrate the start of the fair and Labor Day, so make sure to check out the fair’s website for all the details.

Classic cars in Edmonds, vintage boats in Olympia

There will be over 300 cars and motorcycles on display in Edmonds this weekend during the Edmonds Classic Car Show. In addition to seeing cars you’ve probably never seen before, there will also be live music all day, a variety of food trucks, and a beer garden for those of age. The Edmonds Classic Car Show is on Main Street, Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get out on the water in Olympia for Olympia Harbor Days this weekend. Starting today and running through Sunday, the Waterfront will be the place to be for showcases of vintage tugboats, steamships, and other historic vessels. Plus, there will be family-friendly activities and games, marine-themed attractions, food, and live music. The Olympia Harbor Days Festival is free to attend and starts Friday at 5 p.m.

Apple Cup, Mariners, Sounders and a Seahawks party pack the sports calendar

It’s also a busy holiday weekend for sports, as the Mariners are in the home stretch toward the playoffs with a weekend homestand against the A’s. The Seattle Sounders will be taking on the New York Red Bulls Saturday night at Lumen Field. The Seattle Reign are also home this weekend, taking on the San Diego Wave on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Plus, football season is back, and the Apple Cup is kicking things off for the Huskies and Cougs this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Husky Stadium.

The Seahawks are also getting you ready for the return of the Super Bowl champs with a Seahawks Party on the Pier. Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Pier 62, there will be meet-and-greets with Seahawks legends, performances from the Seahawks Dancers and Blue Thunder, plus fun for you and the family, food, a pro shop pop-up, and a chance to see some of the hardware the Seahawks have won. The Seahawks Party on the Pier is free to attend.

School might be back, but that doesn’t mean the weekends are getting any less busy. How are you spending the long weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.