PIONEER SQUARE FEST: SEATTLE’S HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD

Celebration Pioneer Square Fest is an annual celebration of music, art, food, and commerce that transforms Seattle's first neighborhood into a vibrant cultural destination. Born from the Pioneer Square Market Network's mission to revitalize this historic district, the festival addresses a unique challenge: unlike other Seattle neighborhoods, Pioneer Square lacks the residential density to support regular community events, relying instead on galleries, small businesses, bars, restaurants, and artists' studios that need citywide support to thrive.

The festival emerged from successful pop-up markets that have already created opportunities for over 200 independent artists, makers, and resellers while driving new foot traffic to the neighborhood. Many visitors discover Pioneer Square for the first time through these events, reshaping public perception of the area as vibrant, creative, and safe.

Music anchors the celebration, with the festival showcasing more than 50 musical acts over three years, giving emerging Pacific Northwest performers a platform while partnering with local venues like Baba Yaga, The Golden Roosters, and Central Saloon to restore Pioneer Square's reputation as a live music destination.

The impact is measurable: increased foot traffic, livelier Art Walks, stronger business weekends, and a neighborhood that feels like a destination again. But sustaining this momentum requires support.

As an underserved area without residential density or corporate backing, Pioneer Square's revitalization depends on citywide involvement. Supporting Pioneer Square Fest means investing in the future of one of Seattle's most culturally significant neighborhoods, helping make it safer, more welcoming, and more prosperous for visitors, artists, and the unique businesses that define Pioneer Square's character. Your contribution ensures that Pioneer Square remains a place for all—honoring its rich history while building a vibrant future that welcomes the entire city to celebrate what makes this neighborhood irreplaceable.

Pioneer Square Fest: Historic Neighborhood is a fiscally sponsored project of the NW Film Forum. If you'd prefer to donate by check, please make check payable to "NW Film Forum" and indicate "Dreaming In Color-The SongCatchers" in the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to:

Northwest Film Forum

1515 12th Ave.

Seattle, WA 98122