Arts in the South End: March 2025

Last week's false spring gave us a glimpse of warmer days, bright skies, and green leaves — aka March. As we shed cold, dark mornings and pull out our spring jackets, there are tons of excellent events this month to welcome this new season: Shin Yu Pai's new show at the Wing Luke Museum, a birding festival, a new movement-based work from a Harlem-based theater, and an Erykah Badu tribute night.

Think we missed something? Let us know at Arts@SeattleEmerald.org.

March 7–Spring 2027
Wing Luke Museum
719 S. King St.

Shin Yu Pai's Ten Thousand Things at Wing Luke Museum turns the former Seattle Civic Poet's podcast about the intimate connections people have with objects into an exhibition. According to the museum's website, visitors will "encounter a curated selection of objects featured in the podcast, alongside newly collected artifacts and stories from local communities."

March 7, 7:30 p.m.–midnight
Museum of Pop Culture
325 5th Ave. N.

Head over to the Museum of Pop Culture to get lost in the Forest of Lunarda, a cosplay party put together in honor of the museum's new exhibition Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form. In the Sky Church, DJ Sake Bomb will play some tunes while drag queen Aleksa Manila will MC the night of dancing, drinks, and fun. Before, there will be a night market featuring East, Southeast, and South Asian foods as well as a special collab between Prometheus Brown and KEXP DJ Diana Ratsamee. Attendees will get a first look at the exhibition — consisting of 400 comic works from across Asia — and can participate in a cosplay contest.

March 7–16
Acts on Stage
10806 12th Ave. SW

Written by Seattle playwright La'Chris Jordan, Sadie's Kitchen is a comedy about how to keep things pushing as they move through some difficult emotions over a family dinner.

March 8, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Alki Beach Park Bathhouse Lawn Outdoor Event Space
2701 Alki Ave. SW

Now in its fifth year, the Alki Beach Winter Beer Festival is back once again to raise money for Special Olympics Washington. There will be food trucks, music, craft beer from local breweries (in a heated beer hall!), and a polar plunge. Organizers also invite people to celebrate this year's theme, "Let the Good Times Be Cold," by dressing in their vintage winter wear.

March 8, 7–9:30 p.m.
New Freeway Hall
5018 Rainier Ave. S.

Celebrate Women's Day by coming down to the New Freeway Hall and listening to women labor activists like electricians Megan Cornish and Tori Westman, educator Alaina McCallum, and A. Philip Randolph Institute Executive Director Vanessa Prawl. Dinner is provided with a $10—$12 donation.

March 8-9
The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine St.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is in Seattle with its new work The Cookout, a piece done in artistic director Robert Garland's signature postmodern, urban, and neo-classical style. The show "channels the dignity and passion of Harlem's legacy" and "speaks to our shared struggles and triumphs, offering a timely reflection on our strength and capacity to carry on."

March 14–16
Blaine, Birch Bay, Semiahmoo

Quietly follow the call of the wild at Wings Over Water: Northwest Birding Festival. This all-ages event invites expert and novice birdwatchers alike to congregate at Drayton Harbor, an excellent spot for watching migratory water birds rest and feed before continuing on their journey. The festival will feature author, naturalist, and ecophilosopher Lyanda Lynn Haupt and featured artist Forrest Chel.

March 15, 5:30 p.m.
Emerald City Trapeze Arts
2702 6th Ave. S.

The School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts (SANCA)'s annual gala marks the 21st anniversary of the institution. Charly Castors, a fifth-generation circus performer from Paris, is serving as creative director of the evening, and Teatro ZinZanni is collaborating with SANCA to create.

March 15, 9 p.m.
The Royal Room
5000 Rainier Ave. S.

Come through to The Royal Room to celebrate theeee Queen of Neo Soul, Erykah Badu, in a tribute night organized by Mizz Tish Productions. Sheila Kay will be on lead vocals with "Sunshine" Donaldson and Christen Blackwell on back vocals. Rounding out the band is Roc Phizzle on drums, Herman Brown on guitar, Rick Pitts on bass, Mario Pierce on keys, and Medearis Dixson on sax.

March 19, 6:30–8 p.m.
Folio Seattle
93 Pike St. #307

Pongo Poetry's short film showcase Poetry in Motion is dedicated to celebrating youth self-expression, creativity, and healing through screening youth-made poetry film shorts and music. There will also be a panel on the role of arts programming on systems-impacted young people.

March 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center
305 Harrison St.

Seattle Color Festival — Holi is a free event celebrating the arrival of spring with color. Organizers behind this popular festival — which featured over 10,000 attendees last year — advise people to come in a white outfit they don't mind getting dirty. Registration is required, and no outside color powders are allowed.

March 22, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Georgetown

Georgetown has a slew of terrific restaurants and bars serving up delicious dishes and snacks as well as tons of cool shops. Georgetown Bites & Sites brings together those eateries in a one-night event. Visitors can buy a bundle of tickets ($5 each), walk around the neighborhood, and redeem the tickets at participating businesses for small items or bites. Check out a list of participating venues and be sure to put on some good walking shoes.

March 22, 7–10 p.m.
Seattle Opera Center
363 Mercer St.

Food as Art: Black in Time is a fundraiser celebrating 25 years of the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas. There will be food from Black culinary chefs, small bites, beverages, raffle items, and live performances.

March 23, 12 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Town Hall Seattle

The Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy (SISCA) is celebrating Nowruz — the Persian New Year — at Seattle City Hall and Town Hall Seattle. From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be Persian music, dance, and art at Seattle City Hall featuring live performance, cultural displays, and family-friendly activities. And then, at 5 p.m., the party moves over to Town Hall where there will be more displays and a performance by the Siriya Ensemble, an Afro-Persian musical fusion group.

Editor's Note: a change was made to correct the end date of the Ten Thousand Things exhibit.