Arts & Culture Itinerary

Whether its taking in a new art exhibit in Bellevue, exploring the galleries of Kirkland or learning from local artisans and craftsman on an arts-focused walking tour through Woodinville, the Eastside is filled with opportunities for cultural immersion. A few of the must-stop enclaves for taking in a live performance, seeing a new exhibit or hands on artistic learning are featured below.

To download the full Arts & Culture Itinerary, click here.  

Bellevue

Explore Arts from Near and Far
Bellevue Arts Museum
Address: 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA

Known to locals as "BAM," the Bellevue Arts Museum is a leading destination in the Pacific Northwest to experience art, craft and design. BAM engages people of all ages through extraordinary exhibitions, programs and publications featuring Northwest artists as well as national and international artists.

Insider tip! Docent led tours are offered at 1 p.m. daily and the admission to BAM is free the first Friday of every month. Also, BAM hosts the BAM ARTSfair every July. As the largest award-winning arts and crafts festival in the Northwest, 300 artists feature unique, handmade arts and crafts. The festival has been held annually on the last weekend of July since 1947.

Start the Day with an Invigorating Walk
City Sculpture Walk
Address: Throughout Bellevue, WA

Public art installations have been part of the fabric of Bellevue since 1992, symbolizing the belief that art is for everyone. Bellevue's downtown highlights nearly 130 works of public art, so check out the Downtown ArtMap to make sure you don't miss a minute of inspiration. Art can be found indoors and outside throughout Bellevue, including in Downtown Park, at Meydenbauer Center and at the Bellevue Regional Library.

Insider tip! Get the lowdown on sculptures and artists when you download the map here.

Experience Contemporary Art in the Making
Bellwether Arts Exhibition & Festival
September 14-23, 2018
Address: Downtown Bellevue, WA

Bellwether is a free, biennial multidisciplinary arts exhibition and festival produced by the City of Bellevue in collaboration with the city's arts community. From its beginnings in 1992 as the Bellevue Sculpture Exhibition, Bellwether has attracted artists and sculptors from around the world who contribute creative vitality to Downtown Bellevue every other year. For ten days and nights, Bellevue acts boldly with vision, imagination, enthusiasm and ingenuity, pushing the artistic limits of the city through a series of contemporary art experiences. The exhibition and festival showcases Bellevue's cultural future and energy, provides inspiration and promotes self-expression.

Celebrate the Creative Power of Music
Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival
Annual Festival (Late Spring/ Early Summer)
Address: Various venues in Bellevue, WA

Spotlighting top national and regional artists, this community cultural event attracts a diverse audience wishing to share and explore their passion for live jazz and blues. Featured artists will include Deva Mahal, the Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio, Curtis Stigers with the Full Circle Big Band, and Carlso Cascante y su Tumbao. Performances are held at Meydenbauer Center Theatre, Resonance at SOMA Towers and Bake's Place Bar & Bistro.

Insider tip! Make reservations in advance for performances at Bake’s Place Bar & Bistro to secure the best seats in the house.

Kirkland

Art Workshops and Gallery Exhibits
Kirkland Arts Center
Address: 620 Market St., Kirkland, WA

The Kirkland Arts Center (KAC) contributes to the region through an exploration of the arts. It serves artists and art lovers of all ages and skill levels, with over 65 classes and workshops each quarter, contemporary gallery exhibits and dynamic special events. The KAC's home is the Peter Kirk Building, a Kirkland landmark.

Insider tip! The KAC Gallery is free and open to the public

Explore Kirkland through Public Art Tour
Kirkland Public Art Walking Tour
Address: Park Lane, Downtown Kirkland, WA

Kirkland's art scene is sophisticated and international but also quirky and colorful. A great way to experience it is with a self-guided walking tour of more than two dozen public works of art. These whimsical, dynamic and poignant sculptures by regional and nationally recognized artists are scattered throughout city parks and along sidewalks and the beautiful waterfront.

Insider tip! A self-guided downtown art tour map is available for download at ExploreKirkland.com

Concerts on Lake Washington
Kirkland Summer Concert Series
Address: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Dr., Kirkland,WA
Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland, WA

With the amazing Northwest summer weather, comes lively outdoor concerts. Enjoy free summer concerts with a view of Lake Washington from Kirkland’s beautiful parks. Those specifically for the children in our lives will be held Tuesday mornings at Juanita Beach Park in July and August; these are the only child-themed concerts in the area. Additionally, the whole family can enjoy Thursday evening concerts at Marina Park. Get out and experience Kirkland’s live music scene!

Insider tip! Arrive 30 minutes early to help beat the crowd. Bring your favorite snacks, chairs or a blanket to relax and enjoy the music!

Woodinville

Explore Local Art throughout Wine Country
Woodinville Arts Alliance
Address: Woodinville, WA

The Woodinville Arts Alliance is an organization whose mission is to promote artists and arts events as well as increase the number of art installations around the city of Woodinville. The Alliance produced the first annual Woodinville Artists Studio Tour in 2018 where visitors enjoyed an opportunity to connect with local artists and got an insider look at their methods, works and studios. This event will be held annually in the summer.

Insider tip! Check out the 2nd annual juried art show, presented by the Woodinville Arts Alliance, at the 2018 Celebrate Woodinville festival on August 18.

Live Music and Seasonal Fare at Celebrate Woodinville
Celebrate Woodinville
Address: Wilmot Gateway Park, Downtown Woodinville, WA

Celebrate Woodinville is a family-friendly summer event series featuring live music, children’s activities, arts and crafts fairs, the Woodinville Farmers Market, food from local restaurants and food trucks, and a wine and beer garden with offerings from Woodinville wineries and breweries. All events are free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic or purchase food from local purveyors.

• The Wednesday evening concerts are July 18, July 25, August 1, and August 8. See the full music lineup at www.celebratewoodinville.com/music-line-up.
• The 5th Annual Celebrate Woodinville Festival is Saturday, August 18.

Insider tip! Celebrate Woodinville events are eco-friendly and BYOG (bring your own glass), so don’t forget your drinking vessel!

The Perfect Pairing: Art & Wine
Multiple tasting room locations
Woodinville, WA

Visiting a winery or tasting room in Woodinville isn’t always just about the wine. Many offer visual experiences to complement your visit. Rotating exhibits by celebrated local artists and opportunities to meet the artist can be found at dozens of tasting rooms in Woodinville.

• Chateau Ste. Michelle (14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville, WA)
  Sip your way through Washington State’s oldest winery, situated on 105 wooded acres, for a serene wine tasting experience. Explore the Chateau and wander the grounds to view the winery’s permanent collection of sculptures and paintings by celebrated artists, including Dale Chihuly, Ginny Ruffner, William Morris and Lino Togliapietra. For more than two decades, Chateau Ste. Michelle has celebrated the connection between artisan winemaking and fine art with its Artist Series, a Bordeaux-style blend crafted for power and longevity. The winery partners with an artist for each Artist Series vintage to design a label that matches the beauty of the wine in the bottle.


• Goose Ridge Winery (14450 Woodinville Redmond Rd. NE, Suite #108, Woodinville, WA)
  Visit Goose Ridge’s Woodinville tasting room to view its current art exhibit, “Color Me Happy: A Collaboration of Art and Wine,” curated by Kimberly Adams, a self-professed professional finger painter. Adams chose works by local Woodinville artists who are also featured in her recent book, Color Mixing.


• Gard Vintners (19151 144th Ave. NE Unit D., Woodinville, WA)
  Visit this family-owned-and-operated winery’s Woodinville tasting room for Paint Nite, a distinctive painting experience. Sip a glass of wine while a local artist guides you through painting step-by-step. At the end of the night, take home your own unique masterpiece.


• Pondera Winery (19501 144th Ave NE B400, Woodinville, WA)
  Visit this family-owned tasting room and art gallery for a creative blend of fine wine and fine art. The rotating exhibit of paintings and sculpture is curated by Howard/Mandville Gallery and features work by prominent American artists, many from the Northwest.