There are just shy of a dozen art walks that keep on dazzling through the winter in Seattle neighborhoods, they don’t board up and hide away during the rainy season. Local businesses open their doors to create warm, dry and inviting locations to come and enjoy the art scene. During the Holiday season it’s a great opportunity to find unique artwork for your home or a friend’s while benefitting a starving artist in the process.

Art walks have grown in the last few years, and although most cities usually host one or two a month, Seattle is a particularly artistic town and has 11 during the “off” season!

During these events, businesses all over the neighborhood will open their doors to display art work created by local artists. Coffee shops, banks, restaurants, theaters, salons and any other participating business stay open late and often play live music while offering wine and small bites for free while exhibiting local artwork. The artist is usually on hand to talk about their work and sometimes will take custom orders.

Meet up with friends, bring your kids and enjoy the walk from place to place. Each neighborhood art walk happens once a month, the below links will bring you to a map of participating venues.

And best of all they’re completely free.

 

  • Pioneer Square Art Walk, First Thursday with free parking from 5 – 10:00 p.m. in the Frye, Butler or 450 Alaskan parking garages, just pick up a voucher at one of the participating businesses. The Central District walk boasts that it was the very first art walk in the entire United States, it has now become a Seattle tradition 37 years old.

 

  • Freemont Art Walk, First Fridays from 6 – 9:00 p.m. Freemont, is known locally as a very artistic neighborhood and their art walk shows its stuff with poetry readings, paintings, photography, sculpture, all forms of art in one funky area with a rotation of food trucks to keep you fueled up for art viewing.

 

 

  • The West Seattle Art Walk second Thursday of every month, from 5:00 p.m. to “late” focuses on paint and print art. Local bars and restaurants will have extended happy hours and art walk specials on this night, so take advantage, and get a drink to warm you between paintings.

 

 

 

 

  • Ballard Art Walk on the Second Saturdays featuring live music and art demonstrations in downtown Ballard.

 

  • Uptown Art Walk – Queen Anne, Third Wednesdays from 3 – 9:00 p.m., the website isn’t completely up to date, but this is a reoccurring third Wednesday event.

 

 

  • Magnolia Art Experience, Last Saturday of varying months, from 4 – 7:00 p.m. Be sure to check the link for specific months, December is excluded.

 

Great art happens year-round and can be particularly inspired in the winter when you have more time to think, read and introspect. Come out and bring your family for free inspiration.