Seattle in February: Top 5 Places to Go and 10 Things to Do

February might be the shortest month of the year, but is one of the most happening months in Seattle. With an array of events lined up all throughout the month, Seattle in February is in its absolute best. Be it the Lunar New Year or the Super bowl, the numerous film festivals or the food festivals, there is always something or the other happening in the Emerald city in February. We want to make sure that you experience the best of Seattle in February and not miss out on any of the fun events! So here is a comprehensive guide on all about Seattle in February. Read on to know more about!

Weather in Seattle in February

Temperatures in Seattle in February are generally cool and sometimes get really chilly. Compared to the other months, the month of February witnesses a sudden drop off in the rainy weather. The maximum temperature in February ranges from 9 degrees to 12 degrees, while the minimum temperature usually ranges from 1 degree to 4 degrees celsius. Days are usually warmer and the nights are chilly.

Seattle witnesses just 4 hours of sunlight every day, in this month. February is still winter in Seattle, where the temperature is quite low, with overcast skies and very little sunshine. During this month, Seattle receives around 15 days of rainfall or snowfall. So you are looking for a sunny vacation, then visiting Seattle In February might not be a good option for you. But despite the weather conditions, there is a lot to do in Seattle in February.

Temperature: Average high is 11 degree celsius, average low is 3 degree celsius.
Rainfall: 3.5 inches
Snowdall : 0.9 inches

Top 5 Places to See in Seattle in February

1. Visit the Space Needle

The Space needle provides breathtaking views of the entire region of Seattle. With a revolving glass floor and two observation decks, this is Seattle’s most popular tourist attraction. February is a great time to visit the Space Needle as it is off season, so one can avoid the crowd and enjoy the views peacefully. This place also has other attractions nearby like Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center and a lot more.

2. Visit Seattle Art Museum

Seattle art museum is a must visit for all those who admire history and culture. Although the main focus is on contemporary art, this gallery also displays some traditional art by renowned artists in this gallery. Do look out for the special museum nights that they host, which involve drinks, food. Live music, and ofcourse great art displays.

3. Stroll through Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is one of the oldest markets in the entire country, spread across more than nine acres. Here, one can experience the farmer’s market culture, with stalls selling fresh produce, shops selling craft and jewelry, cafes and restaurants etc. One can also catch the fish throwers for some fun as well.

4. Visit Alki Beach

Beaches in Seattle are absolutely gorgeous. But the experience of visiting a beach in February is even better, as the beach remains less crowded. Alki beach is one of the most popular beaches in Seattle and the beach hosts many fun festivals in the month of February as well-

The Annual Oyster Fest: With a wide array of seafoods including fresh oysters, crafted beer from the West Seattle Brewing Company and live music, Alki beach is definitely a must visit.
Seattle Polar Plunge: Alki beach has been hosting the Polar Plunge for almost two decades now. People line up along the beach holding hands, and after a countdown, run into the Puget Sound. This event has a fee of UDS 50 as it is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics Washington. The beach gets fully decked up for this event with food trucks, beer and live music.

5. Visit Seattle Waterfront

The best part about travelling to Seattle in the off season is experiencing all the spots with fewer people around. Visiting Seattle Waterfront is a must when in Seattle, if one wants to experience the best of Seattle’s proximity to the Puget Sound. The entire waterfront is walkable, making it a great place for a casual stroll in the winter months with great views.

Top 10 Things to Do in Seattle in February

There is a lot more to see in Seattle than just the touristy spots, especially in the month of February. Here’s a list of the various things you can do in Seattle in February

1. Attend the Northwest Flower & Garden Show ( NWFGS )

For everyone who loves flora, NWFGS is definitely a must visit festival, which happens every February in Seattle, at the Washington State Convention Center. At this festival, you will find more than 20 gorgeous display gardens and various workshops on horticulture, free garden seminars and a lot more.

One can also find inspirations for your garden or landscaping ideas as well. They also display products for outdoor and indoor gardening, balcony, vegetable and herb gardens. The entry fee will also give you access to a gourmet market of food and beverages.

Dates: February 9- February 13, 2022
Timings: Wednesday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday: 9:00 AM - 6:00PM
Location: Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington
Tickets: USD 25 - for one admission per day. Free re-entry with hand-stamp, Two-day pass USD 36. Five-day pass USD 75, Student tickets (Ages 13 years -23 years ) are available for only USD 10 , For Children (12 years and under ) - FREE.

2. Attend the Brazillian Carnival

The Brazillian Carnival in Seattle revolves around the rich cultural diversity of Brazilian dance and music. From Traditional drumming and electric contemporary music, to different dance forms in vibrant costumes, this festival is definitely a must - visit, when in Seattle in February.

Highlights: Experience authentic Brazilian culture, food and a lot more. Enjoy with Eduardo Mendonca and Show Brazil! Band.
Pro Tip: Book your tickets well in advance as they always get sold out really fast.
Location: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA
Date: 20th February, 2020

3. Enjoy Some Music at the Seattle Improvised Music Festival

At this musical festival, you get to watch twelve local artists team up with international artists and improvise a piece in front of you! So you will basically be a part of a perfectly timed jamming session of talented artists from different genres and generations

Noted musicians: pianist Dana Reason (Corvallis), clarinetist Ben Goldberg (Berkeley), New York saxophonists Joe McPhee and Sam Newsome.
Location: Locations vary every year, so do make sure to check their website
Admission fee: There is no fee as such but shows are by donation ( donation of USD 5 to USD 20)

4. Attend the Wintergrass Bluegrass Music Festival

Spanning over four days, at this music festival, one gets to enjoy the music of more than 25 bluegrass artists on stage. Not just this, for the ones really interested in music, there are music education workshops and impromptu dances and jam sessions.

Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle — 808 Howell Street, Seattle
Date: February 20 to 23, 2020
Timings: 8:30 am to 5:45 pm
Admission fee: USD 15

5. Enjoy the Seattle Museum Month

This one of a kind offer is something that attracts museum lovers from all across the world to Seattle in February. So if one stays in any one of the participating hotels in Downtown Seattle,they receive a 50% off admission fee to more than 30 museums as well as cultural institutions.

During check -in, one must make sure to ask the hotel staff for the Museum Month package, which contains a list pocket map of all participating museums and a pass which is valid for up to four guests for the period of festival. Given that February is off - season month, airfares are also low, so overall, this makes for a great package for museum lovers!

Few of the participating museums: Seattle Children’s Museum, Seattle Pinball Museum, Suquamish Tribal Museum, Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

6. Seattle Cake Con

For all the enthusiastic bakers, and for those who simply enjoy checking out various sugary concoctions, Cake con is definitely a must visit. It is usually held during the President’s Day Weekend, in the attendance of guest pastry experts, conducting live workshops and discussions on various tricks of baking and ofcourse one gets to munch on the best sugary treats at the end of the workshop!

Location: 115 Bell Street, Seattle
Admission fee: Adults: USD 25, for 12 years and under : free

7. Seattle Festival of Improv Theater

For all those who are fans of comedy, the Seattle Festival of Improv theatre is a must visit. Hosted by Jet City Improv, this festival has been running successfully since the past 18 years. With more than 25 improvisational groups from in and about Seattle, at this festival, the audience will surely spend a night full of laughter and chuckles.

Noteworthy shows: the USS Improvise, Portland’s geektastic group, musical performances like Shrieking Harpies
Location: 5510 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

8. Seattle Wine and Food experience

Hosted by The Mule Deer Foundation, the Seattle Wine and Food Experience (SWFE) is Seattle’s premier culinary showcase. They have distinct events, like Comfort, which has an array of crafty brews and comfort foods, then treat yourself to some mouth watering fried chicken, burgers and mac and cheese and finally, dress to impress, featuring a wide variety of seafood and wines.

The closing event is a Grand Tasting Event, showcasing different wines and other beverages. The best part about being at this festival is that all the sales go to the Mule Deer Foundation.

Location: Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA
Entry fee: General: USD 95, VIP: USD 135

9. Seattle Children’s Film Festival

Every year, the Northwest Film Forum hosts a film festival for children and screens the best international cinema for them. Films from more than 50 countries are chosen to be screened at this festival. They have a 30 member children’s jury, which is responsible for awarding different movies under different categories like best animated film, best feature film, best director etc.

Not just movies, one can also enjoy live performances, workshops, animation tutorials and a lot more at this festival.

Location: Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98122, United States

10. Traveling to Seattle on Budget

Seattle is not a very cheap city, as things are quite expensive ther. But there are ways in which you can travel to Seattle on budget. If you are planning to visit seattle in February, then it is an added bonus, as it is not the peak season there. So you can find great deals on accommodations in the city. An approximation of daily budget for Seattle would be somewhere around USD 60- USD 80 wherein you get a dorm bed,bus tickets, grocery money, and some extra cash in hand to roam around in the city.

There are also a lot of airbnbs and hostels, which you can rent, in order to save money. If you want to stay in a hotel, you should look for the ones located in the city’s outskirts. Another huge expense in this city is on food. Every restaurant in Seattle is fairly expensive so if you want to save on food, then you can consider buying basic groceries from the supermarket.

Here are a few tips to save on money when in Seattle:

4 Tips to save on Money When in Seattle

1. Cook at Your Airbnb or Hotel ( If Possible)

Cooking at your airbnb, if you have access to a stove, is the best way to save money in an expensive city. All you have to do is, find a cheap grocery store and then go home and cook! This is as simple as it can get.

2. Shop at Asian markets

If you plan to cook your own meals to save on restaurant cost, visit the Asian Market. They sell everything from exotic asian spices to veggies, meats and a lot more, at a cheaper rate than the local grocery stores.

3. Visit Bars and Restaurants During Happy Hours

Happy Hour is undoubtedly everyone’s favourite time of the day. This can be in your advantage when you are in Seattle. From 4:00PM- 6:00PM, most of the bars and restaurants offer special prices on drinks and food. If you plan on eating out, do plan accordingly.

4. Use Your Own Water Bottle

Even bottled water in Seattle is expensive. So one way to save on that is to get your own water bottle and then drink from the taps. Tap water in Seattle is perfectly safe for you to drink and tastes good as well!
Buy a special pass – One great tip to save on money is to invest in a special pass, which gives you free entry to a lot of Seattle’s famous attractions. This card will also give you special rates for public transport.

Things to Keep in Mind While Visiting Seattle in February

Since Seattle is not extremely chilly in February, you do not need to carry heavy coats. However, you do need to layer up with light woolens, thermals, woolen caps, mufflers, gloves and some snow boots.
If you plan to visit Seattle in February, you are bound to experience one rainy day in the city. So make sure you pack a good quality rain shield to protect yourself.

If you plan to get around the city all by public transport, you can download the Trip Planner app. This app works well across all kinds of public transportation in Seattle, like buses, ferries, light rail, mono rail, metro etc.
Seattle City is a bit elevated, so in winter months, bus routes usually change their routes due to snow. So make sure you check the live updates before planning to go somewhere on a bus.

The best way to go around the city is by walking but keep in mind that, if you are thinking of going downtown, you should be prepared for some hoofing as the area is quite elevated.
Try to avoid Seattle's rush hour from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning and 3:00PM to 6:30 PM in the evening. If you have to travel during rush hour, make sure you check the traffic schedule on Google Maps or else it might take you an eternity to reach from one end of the city to another.

Try to avoid travelling to Seattle with expensive stuff. Although the city is safe, there is always a chance of getting mugged.

So now that you know everything about Seattle in February, you should definitely book your tickets right away! But do keep in mind about all the important tips listed above to ensure that your trip to Seattle is a memorable one.v