Winter by the Water

Winter in Seattle doesn’t have to mean hiding away — it means showing up despite the weather.

You might have visited Seattle’s new waterfront when it opened last summer, but Seafair’s first-ever Winter by the Water festival invites you to rediscover it on Feb. 21, 2026 — while supporting local businesses along the way. 

This one-day festival is your excuse to get out of the house, pop into iconic local businesses, and lean all the way into the season. Yes, it might rain — and that’s part of the fun. 

(First 100 passport holders will receive a co-branded Seafair & ExplorePNW umbrella.)

How It Works

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Winter by the Water turns the waterfront into a walkable festival, with passport-only access to special experiences at participating businesses. Expect:

• Exclusive tastings, warm bites and seasonal snacks
• Live entertainment 
• Family-friendly moments, including visits from the Seattle Seafair Pirates and Seafair Clowns
• A hydroplane on display, bringing a little Seafair flair to the winter waterfront
• Plenty of places to step inside, warm up, and linger awhile

At 4 p.m., the celebration continues with a special indoor concert at Pier 66 featuring Smokey Brights and The Talbott Brothers, held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center — so you can end the afternoon warm, dry, and on a high note.

Your Festival Passport

A Winter by the Water passport unlocks the full experience, including: 

• Access to exclusive experiences & offerings at waterfront businesses
• Entry to the Pier 66 concert (one per person)
• Commemorative umbrella (first 100 passports sold)
• Stamp collection at each stop for a chance to win raffle prizes, including tickets to Seattle sporting events and Alaska Airlines vouchers

Waterfront Activities (Passport-Only) 

Each stop along the waterfront offers something different — some delicious, some delightfully odd, and some just very Seattle. Here’s a sample of what will be on offer, with much more to come:

Anthony’s Restaurants 

This is not your average oyster situation. Watch chefs shuck oysters to order at a pop-up oyster bar, then stick around for Anthony’s famous Oyster Slurp — 1 contestant, 12 oysters, no hands, and a whole lot of cheering. 

Families are covered too, with free face painting, a kids-eat-free deal (with entree purchase), and plenty of space to warm up inside. 

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream 

Hot take: ice cream is always a good idea, even in winter. The new waterfront scoop shop is offering free mini flights of seasonal flavors, so you can sample winter-only favorites without committing to just one. 

Ivar’s Acres of Clams 

You can’t do winter in Seattle without chowder! Passport holders can warm up with a free cup of Ivar’s legendary chowder, plus a visit from the Dancing Clam, who takes his job very seriously. 

Seattle Aquarium

It’s Octopus Week and there’s lots going on at the Seattle Aquarium. Passport holders get 20% off tickets at the Aquarium plus access to special kid-friendly programming.

Harbor Foodservice 

Pick up an “I Heart Restaurant Workers” pin and wear it proudly. HarborFoodservice is using this stop to spotlight the people who keep Seattle fed: servers, cooks, bartenders, dishwashers — and to encourage a simple but powerful gesture: say thanks. They’re also donating gift bags to all restaurant employees working on Feb. 21.

And that’s just the beginning … more surprises and pop-ups from Miner’s Landing, Argosy Cruises and more will be announced as the festival approaches. 

Bundle up. Come alone. Bring your friends. Bring your kids. Just join us! There’s truly something for everyone.