These 7 Washington Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals
Washington is famous for its towering mountains, lush forests, and vibrant cities, but to get to the heart of the Evergreen State, you have to explore the smaller places in between. In these tucked-away towns, the community spirit is alive and well, and the celebrations are personal, creative, and full of heart. From quirky casket races to glowing hot air balloons, these are the kinds of festivals that bring neighbors together, welcome visitors like family, and turn a regular weekend into something you’ll remember for years. Each event reflects the unique history, culture, and personality of the place that hosts it.
Mount Vernon
Every April, the town of Mount Vernon bursts into bloom during the monthlong Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. What began in 1984 as a small three-day event has blossomed into one of the largest and most beloved flower festivals in the U.S., welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each spring. Beyond Mount Vernon, visitors can look forward to other experiences that take place within gardens throughout Skagit Valley, including RoozenGaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn, Tulip Valley Farms, and Skagit Acres. While the tulips are the festival's main attraction, the celebration also includes art shows, street fairs, a colorful parade, and live music.
Leavenworth
The Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth is a year-round delight, but in June, it hits a particularly joyful note during the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration, sponsored by the Northwest Accordion Society. The celebration is so lively that it unfolds across three main venues. Enjoy concerts, competitions, and accordion-related vendor booths in the Festhalle, workshops and accordion lessons in the Grange Hall, or rotating acts at the Gazebo. Adding to the magic, local restaurants often feature special accordion performances during dinner service. For those looking for something to do afterward, informal late-night jam sessions also take place.
Bucoda
In Bucoda, Halloween is more than just another holiday; it’s a full-on town transformation. Each October, this tiny community shows off its spooky side and rebrands itself as "Boo-coda," becoming one of the most spirited Halloween destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Known as the "World’s Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit," Bucoda celebrates the season with a month full of fun activities that turn the town into a Halloween haven. At the heart of the celebration is the Boo-coda Spook-Tacular, a family-friendly festival with haunted houses, costume contests, shopping villages, and themed activities, including pumpkin decorating, ghoulish games, and casket races.
Winthrop
Tucked away in the stunning Methow Valley, Winthrop comes alive each March with a burst of color and joy during the annual Winthrop Balloon Roundup, one of the most unique festivals in Washington. For three decades, the beloved three-day event has drawn both locals and visitors to watch dozens of hot air balloons drift gracefully above the snow-dusted mountains. One of the most magical moments is the Balloon Night Glow, where balloons stay grounded but illuminate from within at dusk, glowing like giant lanterns and casting warm, colorful light across the twilight landscape.
Poulsbo
Poulsbo, often referred to as “Little Norway,” is full of Viking spirit during its annual Viking Fest, held annually during the third weekend of May. The lively, three-day festival celebrates Scandinavian heritage with a mix of food vendors, crafts, games, eating contests, a carnival, traditional folk dancing, logging demonstrations, and live music and dance competitions. The festival also features a parade that winds through the downtown area with floats, local groups, and Viking flair, which locals and visitors look forward to year after year. Most of the festival can be attended for free, except carnival games and rides that are chargeable.
Long Beach
Long Beach's one-of-a-kind, weeklong Washington State International Kite Festival transforms the skies above into a breathtaking canvas of color, motion, and joy. Held every August, the festival, which attracts more than 150,000 visitors annually, is considered one of the best kite festivals in the world. What makes it unique is the stunning display of kites, as well as kite battles and glowing nighttime kite shows. Visitors also have the opportunity to experience parachuting teddy bears, magical visits from Glenda the Kite Fairy, and Foster Grandparent Fly, where children and seniors share the joy of flying together.
Wenatchee
The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee is a beloved annual tradition that welcomes spring with open arms and a whole lot of community spirit. Since 1920, the vibrant celebration has brought people together to honor the region’s rich apple-growing heritage. The highlight is a parade, featuring dazzling floats, marching bands, and joyful crowds lining the streets. Beyond the parade, the festival offers a variety of events, such as the Apple Blossom Run, in addition to arts and crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.
Discover Washington’s Most Unique Festivals
While big cities often steal the spotlight, it’s in Washington’s smaller towns where the true spirit of the Evergreen State comes alive. From the spirited, eerie streets of Boo-coda to the beautiful, colorful skies over Long Beach, the festivals in these towns celebrate the everyday magic of local life. They’re about neighbors coming together, traditions being passed down, and visitors becoming part of something meaningful—experiences that make each festival unique in its own right.
