Seattle weekend guide: Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament to R Day at the Old Rainier Brewery, and more!

Welcome to the weekend, and while it felt like we got things started early with a big Seahawks victory, there’s still plenty of events going on.

Remembrance, rhythm, and Jazz

Friday is the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and the Seattle Fire Department is putting on a couple of events this morning. There will be a flag raising at the Space Needle this morning and at fire stations. From 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, SPD and SFD have partnered with the Seattle Center to hold a public memorial at the 9/11 Memorial Garden on the Seattle Center campus.

All weekend long in Columbia City, you’ll be dancing to the rhythm and beat of music from around the world during the 2026 World Rhythm Festival. The Seattle World Percussion Society is putting on this event, which kicks off with an opening night drum circle at 7 p.m., and then Saturday and Sunday are full of live performances, workshops, and even more drum circles. This will be a great fit for the percussionist in your life. Columbia Park is where you’ll want to head for the festival, and this family-friendly event is free to attend.

Twenty bands will be taking over 12 stages at and around the Pratt Fine Arts Center this Saturday for the Jackson Street Jazz Festival. In addition to the music, there will also be live art demonstrations, including glass blowing, food trucks, a beer garden, and plenty more. Check out the event’s website for more details and tickets.

Lanterns, Vitamin R, and Rock, Paper, Scissors

Saturday night in Burien, Town Square Park and downtown Burien will be home to a series of light installations, a night market, and live entertainment for Arts-A-Glow. In addition to all the art to see, there will also be family activities like face painting, a robotics team, a light-up dragon, and plenty more. There will also be booths for you to make your own lantern to guide you on your trip. Arts-A-Glow is Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the glow dance zone going until 10:30 p.m.

Sometimes all you need is a little Vitamin R … and the Rainiers will be flowing this weekend in Georgetown for R Day. This is an annual celebration of the neon R returning to the top of the Old Rainier Brewery, and it features a lineup of live music, an arcade, and plenty of merch to check out. This event is free to attend but is for those 21 and up.

Have you been beating your friends at Rock, Paper, Scissors and looking for your shot to crown yourself the best at the game? Well, put your skills to the test at Gas Works Park on Saturday. The Washington Whimsy Club is putting on the event, and you’ll want to head to their Instagram page to RSVP. The games will get started at 2 p.m., with the bracket starting at 4 p.m. This tournament is free to attend and is family-friendly.

Festivals from around the world

There are a few festivals celebrating cultures from around the world this weekend, all of which are free to attend. At Victory Hall on Saturday, you’ll find Muz Fest, which is described as a multicultural community festival celebrating diversity through music, food, and creativity. At Muz Fest, not only will you find live music, but also vendors and a couple of competitions to check out, including the Dave’s Hot Chicken eating contest and the Kunefa Pull challenge. Muz Fest is Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Festál series continues at the Seattle Center on Sunday with the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival. Learn about and experience the culture of Hawaii through live performances, workshops, dances, and, of course, food. Vendors will also be there, and there will also be an area for the kids. As always, events that are part of the Festál series are free to attend, and you’ll find the festival in the Armory at the Seattle Center.

Other festivals this weekend include the NorthWest Ukrainian International Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bellevue Downtown Park. Sunday at Town Hall Seattle, you’ll find El Grito, which celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1810, with music, dance, and community. El Grito starts at 1 p.m.

Here’s an event sent to me by a listener. Saturday is Snohomish in Bloom at the Carnegie Building and on First Street in Snohomish. Here you will find 30 local flower farmers showing off their blooms, plus 10 flower teams, plus workshops, a makers market, and food trucks! Snohomish in Bloom is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There’s never a slow weekend in our region. How are you getting out and enjoying it? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.