Benaroya Hall's Free Open House Has Everything
Benaroya Hall is throwing open its doors on October 18 for a free daylong celebration of its first major renovation since the building opened in 1998 — and the lineup reads less like a symphony calendar and more like a Seattle cultural festival.
The Head and the Heart will headline a 4 p.m. concert after selling out their appearance with the symphony last season, Chinese American Bear will perform with a string quartet, a video game composer panel will spotlight the creative talent behind studios like Bungie and Microsoft, Mama Bird Tattoo will offer flash tattoos, and families can sample the Tiny Tots concert series alongside a National Geographic presentation and a romance-fantasy literary panel.
Andrew Joslyn, the Seattle Symphony's associate director of popular programming and a self-described "closet video game nut," told Manda Factor the renovated hall is designed to feel warmer and more inviting — a place people might stop by on a lunch break or bring their family whether or not there's a concert on the schedule. "We want to be able to create a hub and a space that we can bring community together."
The open house is free. Tickets for The Head and the Heart will be distributed in person starting at 9 a.m. — arrive early and spend the day exploring.
Listen to Seattle's Morning News w/ Charlie Harger and Manda Factor every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!
