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 inaugural 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.)

What To Expect

• 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
• BECU Vendor Marketplace filled with local businesses, activities, food and drink, shopping & more
• Plenty of places to step inside, warm up, and linger awhile

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 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:

Miners Landing

Miners Landing is turning Winter by the Water into a choose-your-own-adventure stop, with something for every kind of festivalgoer — from little kids to VIPs. 

With a Kids Passport, children can enjoy carousel rides, while guests with a General Admission passport are encouraged to snap a selfie with a life-sized Sasquatch (in honor of the new Sasquatch Mountain ride coming soon to Miners Landing!) in order to receive a passport stamp. VIP ticket holders can head out on a complimentary Salish Sea boat tour and relax in the VIP Room at The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar, featuring a private wine tasting.

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 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. 

BECU Vendor Marketplace

This indoor marketplace is curated in partnership with Intentionalist, a Seattle-based platform dedicated to making it easy to find and support local small businesses and the diverse people behind them. Expect small biz favorites like PJ’s Classic BonBons, Seeking Ferments, Estelita’s Library, booSH Nursery, Cocoa Legato and more — and browse the mix of food and drink, gifts, and kid-friendly activities throughout.

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. 

Champions of Change Pickleball Court

Star power alert! Seattle Seahawks legends Michael Bennett and Doug Baldwin will be in the BECU Vendor Marketplace from 2-3 p.m. representing Champions of Change, their Seattle-based foundation (founded alongside Cliff Avril), ready to take on challengers on the pickleball court and previewing their upcoming celebrity pickleball tournament.

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.

And that’s just the beginning … more surprises and pop-ups from 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.