How to enjoy the last weekend of Seattle summer: Paddle rave, lantern parade, Oktoberfest, and more!

Can you believe it? Summer is officially coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean we are slowing down on the fun.

Paddle Rave sends off summer on Lake Union

You might be running out of time to get out on the water with great weather. If you want to experience a concert a different way, check out the final concert of the Lake Union Concert Series, the Seattle Paddle Rave. This event is even bigger than it used to be, as the Seattle Paddle Rave has partnered with Seafair to bring out Trek Ferry for a bigger stage and an even more immersive experience. If you are heading out on the water, a life jacket is required, among other rules you’ll check out when getting your free ticket.

The event is a witch paddle rave, so that means break out your best witch look and get ready for spooky season. The Seattle Paddle Rave is Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and if you are heading to the rave, Everout.com suggests you board your vessel from the Sunnyside Boat Launch, Fremont Canal, or Lake Washington Rowing Club Dock due to the construction at Gas Works Park.

Art downtown, lanterns at Green Lake

Throughout Downtown Seattle this weekend, you will see the work of over 200 artists, covering over 20 city blocks, during WalkDontRun. This art walk that goes from Westlake Park to Occidental Square will feature a variety of art and performances to see, ranging from live music to demonstrations and workshops. Take your time as the name of the event suggests, and enjoy the wonderful weather we are expected to have while seeing something creative and new. WalkDontRun is Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

Take the family over to Green Lake on Saturday night for a very cool lantern parade called the Luminata. Starting at 5 p.m., Green Lake will begin to glow with lanterns and luminaries, dancing, music, and art installations. While there are always lantern workshops leading up to the event, the Lantern Shop will open up at 5:30 p.m. for those looking to get in on the fun. The procession around the lake will begin at 7 p.m., following the opening ceremony — just follow the music. The Aqua Theater will be the meeting place for the event, which starts Saturday at 5 p.m.

Apples, sister cities, and a 100-year-old lodge

Get into the spirit of fall in, well, Fall City. The Fall City Apple Festival is this weekend at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center, and what better way to bring in the season than apple pie, making cider, and enjoying live music with the family. There will be activities for the family to enjoy, food trucks serving up tasty treats, and why not try out riding a horse? The Fall City Apple Festival is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to attend.

The Seattle Sister Cities Association is putting on the “Celebrate the Signpost” community street fair at Lake Union Park on Saturday. This event is highlighting the 20 sister cities of Seattle and features a full day of live music and arts representing the sister cities and a variety of bites to try. This event is free and is family-friendly. The Celebrate the Signpost community street fair is Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

It took just 53 days to build Lake Quinault Lodge on the Olympic Peninsula. That was back in 1926, and this Saturday, the lodge celebrates 100 years. There’s a free all-day party on the shores of Lake Quinault from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Canoe races, a salmon bake, a champagne toast, tribal song and dance, and fireside Native storytelling are all on the schedule.

Oktoberfest in Fremont, brats in Wallingford

Oktoberfest heads to Fremont this weekend for three days of beer, food, competitions, and more. Now this one is only for those 21 and up, but there will be plenty of different types of beer to try, food from around the globe, and plenty of ways to test your skills, like the stein hoisting and stein sliding competitions that will take place through the weekend. There’s even a costume contest on Saturday, and on Sunday you can bring your well-behaved leashed dogs to the event.

Now for a more family-friendly version of Oktoberfest, you’ll want to head to The Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival. This annual fundraiser for St. Benedict Catholic Schools will have live music from local acts, a fun zone for the kids complete with bouncy houses and prizes, plus a variety of crafts and vendors to check out. The Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival is Friday night and Saturday.

How are you spending the last weekend of summer? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.