Bumbershoot Festival FAQ
Getting In
What time do gates open and close each day?
The Festival runs from 11 AM to 11 PM each day of the Festival, Saturday through Monday, but gates close for entry at 10 PM.
Where can I enter if I've already purchased my ticket?
There are three (3) entry gates at Seattle Center during Bumbershoot located at:
- Thomas Street (between the Space Needle & Monorail)
- Mercer Street (between the Bagley Wright and Intiman Theatres)
- Broad Street (just off the Space Needle turnaround drive); there are no ticket sales at this gate
View a map of the grounds for gate locations.
Where can I enter if I have NOT yet purchased my ticket?
There are two (2) box offices at Seattle Center during Bumbershoot. They are:
- Thomas Street (just south of EMPlSFM)
- Mercer Street (between the Bagley Wright and Intiman Theatres)
View a map of the grounds for gate locations.
Am I allowed to leave and come back later in the day?
Yes, Bumbershoot allows re-entry. Upon exiting the Festival your ticket will be scanned and you'll need to get a hand stamp. When you return, just present your ticket and hand stamp at the gates, and in you'll go.
How does the Comedy Pass work?
Due to the high demand for Bumbershoot's comedy shows, and the intimate venues in which the shows are staged, all comedy programs offer a free pass guaranteeing you general admission!
Comedy passes are not required, but recommended to secure a seat in one of the comedy performances. A limited quantity of free comedy passes may be obtained every day beginning at 11 AM at the Comedy Pass Distribution booth (located at the northwest corner of the Center House, at the north end of the covered walkway. View a map of the grounds for booth location. One Comedy pass will be available per person/ticket, per day, while supplies last. You must show your Bumbershoot admission ticket for that day to receive a comedy pass for that day. Passes will be distributed for that day's performances only, and will guarantee general admission for one designated show in one of three comedy venues.
Comedy passes are good for one performance only (specified on the ticket), and are not transferable to other shows, venues or days. To allow more comedy fans a guaranteed opportunity to see a comedy show, each patron may receive only one comedy pass per day. Comedy fans wanting to attend more than one performance each day may join the stand-by line at each venue (see below for details).
To guarantee admission, comedy pass holders must arrive at the venue no earlier than 30 minutes before, but no later than 15 minutes before the performance time. At 15 minutes before the performance time, unclaimed seats held for pass holders will be open to those in the stand-by line. Pass holders arriving 15 minutes or closer to the performance time are no longer guaranteed a seat and are encouraged to join the stand-by line for admission. The venue manager will not allow lines to form early, so please do not arrive earlier than 30 minutes prior to show time if you have a comedy pass.
Each venue will have a stand-by line for patrons wishing to attend a performance but who do not have a pass to that particular show. The stand-by line will form 15 minutes prior to the show, and will be closed at the discretion of the line manager. Admission from the stand-by line is not guaranteed and is first come, first served. There is no limit to the number of performances for which you can try to stand by. The venue manager will not allow lines to form early, so please do not arrive earlier than 15 minutes prior to show time for stand-by.
Please note: special entrance privileges will be provided to Platinum Pass holders, who do not need to pick up a free comedy pass. Platinum Passes are available for purchase at bumbershoot.org prior to the Festival, while supplies last.
Does my ticket guarantee me entry to any and all of the Festival events?
All performance spaces have limited capacity. Early arrival for each performance is advisable to secure admission and your ideal vantage point. Festival tickets do not guarantee entry into every performance, including the evening Mainstage shows.
Platinum and Gold Pass holders have access to reserved seating at select Festival venues, subject to individual venue capacity. Please see Platinum and Gold Pass information for more details about the program and its benefits.
Mainstage performances:
- Entrance into evening Mainstage shows requires a separate free pass (one Mainstage pass is good for both artist performances that evening).. Evening shows include:
- SATURDAY: Old 97's / Sheryl Crow
- SUNDAY: Michael Franti & Spearhead / Jason Mraz
- MONDAY: Franz Ferdinand / Modest Mouse
- A limited quantity of free Mainstage passes are available each day at three (3) outdoor information booths on Festival grounds. One Mainstage pass will be available per person/ticket, per day, while supplies last. You must show your Bumbershoot ticket for that day to receive a Mainstage pass for that evening.
- Daytime Mainstage performances do not require an additional pass. Seating for these shows is available on a first come, first served basis only.
- Bags may be subject to search before entering any Mainstage show.
Outdoor stages, excluding the Mainstage:
- Outdoor stages, excluding the Mainstage, do not have a set capacity, though it is recommended that you arrive at the stage early to find your ideal vantage point.
Comedy Stage performances:
- If you'd like to guarantee admission to a comedy show, you may obtain one free comedy pass per day, while supplies last. Admission to comedy performances is also available through a stand-by line (forming 15 minutes prior to each performance, located at the particular performance's venue). Important details about the free comedy pass system and stand-by admission is available in the How Does the Comedy Pass Work? section of this FAQ.
Indoor venues, excluding Comedy Stages:
- Entry to the Festival's indoor events is on a first come, first served basis. Capacity varies for the assorted indoor venues and lines may be present for some performances. Please consider these capacity restrictions and arrive at indoor programs early. When possible, each venue's line manager will allow entrance throughout the program, as capacity allows.
Important tip for Festival entry:
Know before you go! Check out the list of Festival prohibited items before you leave home.
Where can I get a free pass for the Mainstage evening shows?
A free Mainstage pass is required for entrance to each of the following evening shows (one Mainstage pass is good for both artist performances that evening):
- SATURDAY: Old 97's / Sheryl Crow
- SUNDAY: Michael Franti & Spearhead / Jason Mraz
- MONDAY: Franz Ferdinand / Modest Mouse
A limited quantity of free Mainstage passes are available each day for that evening's show at three outdoor information booths located on Festival grounds. (Mainstage passes are not available at the information booth inside the Center House.) One Mainstage pass will be available per person/ticket, per day, while supplies last. The three outdoor information booths are located:
- Roadway between the Bagley Wright and Intiman Theatres
- On the south end of the Fun Forest Pavilion, across from the IMAX Dome
- On the east side of the Center House, north of the Monorail
View map of the Bumbershoot grounds for more information.
Please note: special entrance privileges will be provided to Platinum Pass and Gold Pass holders, who do not need to pick up a free Mainstage pass. Platinum and Gold Passes are available for purchase at bumbershoot.org prior to the Festival, while supplies last.
Where can I get a free pass for the comedy shows?
A limited quantity of free passes are available each day at the Comedy Pass Distribution booth, located at the northwest corner of the Center House. One comedy pass per person/ticket, per day will be available, while supplies last.
Comedy passes are not required but recommended to secure a seat in one of the comedy performances. These show-specific comedy passes will guarantee entrance to the specified show 15 minutes prior to the performance (after this time, admission is no longer guaranteed). Each comedy show will also feature a stand-by line, offering patrons without a comedy pass the opportunity to attend. Admission for patrons in the stand-by line will begin 15 minutes prior to the performance, as space is available.
Please note: special entrance privileges will be provided to Platinum Pass holders, who do not need to pick up a free comedy pass. Platinum Passes are available for purchase at bumbershoot.org prior to the Festival, while supplies last.
Important details about the free comedy pass system and stand-by admission is available in the How Does the Comedy Pass Work? section of this FAQ.
Can I see a comedy performance if I don't have a free pass guaranteeing admission for that show?
It's quite possible! Each venue will have a stand-by line for patrons wishing to attend a performance but who do not have a pass to that particular performance. The stand-by line will form 15 minutes prior to the scheduled show, and will be closed at the discretion of the line manager. Admission from the stand-by line is not guaranteed, and is first come, first served. There is no limit to the number of performances for which you can try to stand by. The venue manager will not allow lines to form early, so please do not arrive earlier than 15 minutes prior to show time for stand-by.
Are there chairs at the venues, and does my ticket reserve my seat?
- Events are held in a variety of settings and venues, some containing seats, and some not.
- Entrance to the venues and seating (where available) is general admission and available on a first come, first served basis. All performance spaces have limited capacity. Early arrival for each performance is advisable to secure admission and your ideal vantage point. Festival tickets do not guarantee entry into every performance, including the evening Mainstage shows.
- Most of Bumbershoot's indoor venues feature accessible seating areas for patrons with permanent disabilities. If a venue entrance is not accessible, patrons with disabilities and one attendant will be escorted to an alternative accessible entrance. Please see our Access Guide for more details.
- Platinum and Gold Pass holders have access to reserved seating, subject to individual venue capacity. Please see Platinum and Gold Pass information for more details about the program and its benefits.
- Please note: chairs are prohibited from entering the Festival grounds.
