SEATTLE — Seattle's Chinatown-International District will welcome summer with a new community celebration on Thursday that organizers say will highlight Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander culture while showcasing one of the city's most historic neighborhoods.
The Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area and the Wing Luke Museum have partnered for the first-ever CID Summer Kickoff, a free daylong event featuring food, art, music, and cultural activities across four blocks of the neighborhood.
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The celebration comes as Seattle prepares to host upcoming international men's soccer matches and is intended to introduce both visitors and residents to the district's cultural offerings.
Festivities began with an attempt to set a global record for a 1,000-person dim sum eating event.
The schedule will then continue with the Wing Luke Museum's annual JamFest arts and culture festival before concluding with the CIDBIA's sixth annual CID Block Party.
Activities will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and span the area between King Street and Eighth Avenue and Weller Street and Maynard Avenue.
Attendees can expect performances by local Asian American artists, more than 40 vendors, food trucks, arts and crafts activities, and other community programming, organizers said.
“The Chinatown-International District is a vibrant neighborhood,†CIDBIA Executive Director Tuyen Than and Wing Luke Museum Executive Director Chrissy Shimizu said in a joint statement. “The warmer weather, longer days reawakens the neighborhood, which offers so many unique, rich experiences. The goal of both of these events together is to connect communities and celebrate AANHPI joy and togetherness. We are excited that the CID Summer Kickoff launches us into the summer season, and we encourage visitors to come by and stay a while.â€
JamFest is the Wing Luke Museum's annual free arts, culture, and music festival featuring live performances and hands-on activities.
The CID Block Party, a free community street festival, showcases music, art, food, and neighborhood culture.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the broader Chinatown-International District, including its more than 100 restaurants serving cuisines such as dim sum, Thai street food, hot pot, and ramen.
Other attractions include Uwajimaya, a major Asian grocery and gift retailer in the Pacific Northwest, and the Wing Luke Museum, which organizers describe as the nation's only pan-Asian museum and a winner of USA Today's 2026 10 Best Museums recognition.
