seasonal
Summer in Bellevue: The Guide
Three months of long evenings, lake swims, free music, and one weekend in July when the whole city is at the Arts Fair. Your summer plan.
In this guide
Pacific Northwest summers are a gift. Bellevue does them well. Here's the working plan.
The big weekend: Bellevue Arts Fair
Last weekend of July. 300 artists, three days, free to walk. Plan to spend a full Saturday.
Free outdoor concerts
The Crossroads Stage runs six nights a week. Downtown Park has concerts most Sundays. Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival in early summer.
The lakes
- Meydenbauer Beach Park for the swim and the dock.
- Newcastle Beach Park for the full beach day.
- Enatai Beach for the canoe launch.
Farmer's market
Bellevue Farmers Market runs Thursdays and Saturdays at First Presbyterian. The peach stand in late August is non-negotiable.
Outdoor dining
Most of the downtown restaurants open patios. Bis on Main, Spazzo, and Lot No.3 are the best.
Sunset moves
- Somerset Viewpoint at 8:30pm in July.
- W Bellevue rooftop pool deck.
- Newcastle Beach pier.
Day trips from here
- Snoqualmie Falls — 25 minutes east.
- Bainbridge Island ferry from Seattle — 90 minutes door to door.
- Tiger Mountain for a real hike — 20 minutes.
One ideal summer Saturday
Farmer's market at 9 → swim at Meydenbauer at 11 → late lunch in Old Bellevue → afternoon nap → Arts Fair at 5 → rooftop dinner at 8.
Browse more summer ideas.
Featured in this guide
Places to know
Meydenbauer Center
4.4Bellevue's premier convention, conference, and performing arts venue — 36,000 square feet of column-free ballroom, a 410-seat theatre, and a full block of meeting space steps from light rail.
Downtown
Garden d'Lights
Holiday light show at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Crossroads
REI Bellevue
Two-story flagship outdoor co-op with gear, apparel, and a climbing wall.
Factoria
Bellwether Public Sculpture
Citywide outdoor sculpture biennial.
Downtown
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