Summer-at-SAM

SOAK UP THE SUNSHINE WITH SAM

Play, picnic, and create this summer at the Olympic Sculpture Park! SAM presents an entire summer season packed full of programs that combine visual art, music, and community. Thursday evenings bring the party with performances by Seattle-based musicians, hands-on art activities to inspire your creativity, and rotating local food trucks. On Sunday mornings, refresh and recharge with daytime movement classes, community partner activities, and guided tours of the park’s world-renowned sculptures.

All Summer at SAM programs are free, public, and suitable for all ages.

There is no outside alcohol permitted in the Olympic Sculpture Park.

What’s going on?

THU JUL 11 SUN JUL 14 THU JUL 18 SUN JUL 21 THU JUL 25 SUN JUL 28 THU AUG 1 SUN AUG 4 THU AUG 8 SUN AUG 11

Valley Sponsor
Alaska Airlines

Media Sponsor

Thu Jul 11

6–8 pm

Welcome back to summer! Kick off this season of Summer at SAM with live music and performances presented in partnership with Sonic Guild and art making curated by Nepantla Cultural Arts.

Sonic Guild Concerts
Dive into the shimmering world of Terra Nobody an independent alternative pop band. Fronted by trailblazing Black female lead vocalist, Ali, her commanding voice interweaves seamlessly with the band's inventive instrumentals.

Chong the Nomad is a 26-year-old Indonesian-American producer, DJ, and artist with an established presence in the sync world.

Art Activities
Utilizing non-toxic water-based spray paint and stencils, teaching artist Scott Mexcal, chosen by Nepantla Cultural Arts, will lead artists of all ages in crafting original artworks inspired by the barrio artists Aztlán.

Gather your friends and snap a group pic in a photo booth with Hello There You, hosted by Alaska Airlines.

Dinner & Drinks
Grab a bite during the concert from local food trucks Kottu and The People’s Burger. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Shooby Doo Catering in the PACCAR Pavilion.

People smiling and sitting on the lawn with colorful blankets and chairs

SUN JUL 14

10 am – 3 pm

Yoga
10–11 am
Reconnect with your body and mind after a busy week with a 60-minute vinyasa flow led by Take Care Yoga. Bring a mat, water bottle, and any other supplies you need for your practice—all levels are welcome!

Community Meetup
11 am–2 pm
Calling all crafters! Get your daily dose of caffeine and make progress on your current creative project at this makers meet up coordinated by Coffee and Crafting Club.

Art Activity & Environmental Engagement
11 am–3 pm
Poetry Postcard Fest is an annual literacy event in which individuals sign up to create and mail 31 original poems on postcards before the end of August. Join veteran participants Tim Mateer and Abhaya Thomas for a hands-on workshop as they teach the basics of postcard-making.

With UW Botanic Gardens, you’ll learn about the benefits of native plants, gain insight on incorporating them into your garden, and get tips on identifying our region’s most common native plants. Put your plant identification skills to the test!

NW Folklife Pop-Up Concert
Noon–1 pm
The Setar and Tombak are deeply rooted in Persian classical music and Iran’s rich cultural heritage. Here, the instruments will be played in unison, creating a captivating fusion of sound that transports listeners to another time and place.

SAM Tours
1:30–2:30 pm
Explore the dynamic history of the Olympic Sculpture Park with a 60-minute walking tour led by a SAM docent. Tours meet outside PACCAR Pavilion and offer an up-close look at both the sculptures and ecosystems within the park.

Zumba®
2–3 pm
Fusing Latin rhythms with easy-to-follow moves, free Zumba® Latin dance-fitness classes are a great way to spend the afternoon. Tennis shoes and water bottle recommended. Class led by Daren Wade and Susan Rucker.

MARKET in the Park will be serving coffee and menu items including short rib rolls, crab rolls, and mangonadas!

THU JUL 18

6–8 pm

Sonic Guild Concerts
Jul!et’s catchy melodies and satisfyingly sassy lyrics assert her as an irresistible new voice in indie pop.

Parisalexa, Seattle’s premiere triple hyphenate—singer-songwriter-producer, is back forging her own brand of R&B/soul-tinged pop.

Art Activity
Grow your personal goals like a plant in this painting activity by Esmeralda Vasquez of The Feels Foundation, a local art organization that nurtures community and the creative brilliance of Black and Brown artists.

Dinner & Drinks
Grab a bite during the concert from local food trucks Neighborhood Cafe and Delfino’s Pizza. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Shooby Doo Catering in the PACCAR Pavilion.

people laying on yoga mat with a dog looking toward the camera

A guitarist on a stage plays for a crowd

SUN JUL 21

10 am – 3 pm

Community Meetup
11:30 am–1:30 pm
The bookworms of Silent Book Club Seattle and Silent Book Club Capitol Hill are teaming up to provide a cozy space for sustained reading and community connection.

Art Activity & Environmental Engagement
11 am–3 pm
Familiarize yourself with the surface designs found in the Hawaiian art of Kapa (bark cloth) alongside Kanaka Maoli teaching artist Malia Peoples. You’ll learn how to create your own Kapa-inspired stamps and leave the activity with an original stamped artwork to take home.

Learn how to protect and expand Seattle’s tree canopy, eliminate bird-to-window and building collisions, and reduce your daily use of toxic pesticides with Birds Connect Seattle.

What makes intertidal zones so unique? Join naturalists from Seattle Parks & Recreation for an up-close look at our region’s intertidal ecology and create a tide pool book to take home.

NW Folklife Pop-Up Concert
Noon–1 pm
Kory Tideman first learned to play the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (Ki Ho’alu) in 1974. Since then, he’s shared his talents with audiences across Seattle and Oahu. For this performance, Tideman will offer a live demonstration of the instrument and share about its history. Questions are welcome!

MARKET in the Park will be serving coffee and menu items including short rib rolls, crab rolls, and mangonadas!

THU JUL 25

6–8 pm

Sonic Guild Concerts
Zan Fiskum is an Americana singer-songwriter raised in the small town of Maple Valley, WA. Her angelic voice soars over her soulful and ethereal storytelling.

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex, and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and The Stranger.

Art Activity
Join in on an art activity with Jacque Churchville of The Feels Foundation, a local art organization that nurtures community and the creative brilliance of Black and Brown artists.

Dinner & Drinks
Grab a bite during the concert from local food trucks Kathmandu Momocha and Lil J's Superdawgs. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Shooby Doo Catering in the PACCAR Pavilion.

Singer smiling and drummer playing on stage

SUN JUL 28

10 am – 3 pm

Community Meetup
11:30 am–1:30 pm
Let's get reading! The bookworms of Silent Book Club Seattle will take over the sculpture park to provide a quiet, cozy space for sustained reading and community connection.

Art Activity & Environmental Engagement
11 am–3 pm
We’re making a blanket for Mother Earth! Share your prayers, gratitudes, grievances, curiosities, and possibilities for the future of our planet by participating in an art-making project facilitated by Shameka L. Gagnier of Futures Rising.

Emerald City Pet Rescue saves animals from high-volume shelters nationwide, offering top-tier medical care and rehab for hard-to-adopt pets. Visit their booth to meet and play with some of their adoptable dogs!

Live out your fantasy of being a marine biologist by joining Seattle Aquarium naturalists for an art activity highlighting the marine life of Elliott Bay. Then, dive further into this topic by visiting the sculpture park’s pocket beach during low tide and see how many aquatic animals you can identify.

NW Folklife Pop-Up Concert
Noon–1 pm
Gambian singer and kora player Pa Bobo Jobarteh gained international acclaim when he was invited to perform at the World Music Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD) at the age of 14. Now known as the "Prince of Kora" in his homeland, he’ll share his masterful compositions with Seattle audiences.

MARKET in the Park will be serving coffee and menu items including short rib rolls, crab rolls, and mangonadas!

THU AUG 1

6–8 pm

It's Member Appreciation Night! We love our members and to prove it we’re offering several member-exclusive perks for you to enjoy during this special Summer at SAM event. Check back for more details!

Sonic Guild Concerts
Terror/Cactus is the digital folklore and psychedelic electro-cumbia project of Martín Selasco. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, the Seattle-based producer draws from a wide variety of Latin American influences in his productions including Argentine folk, Peruvian chicha, and Colombian cumbia

Byland is the moniker and last name of Seattle-based and Albuquerque-raised singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Alie Renee. The artist’s cinematic, indie-rock sound is tethered by timeless songwriting and attentive production.

Art Activity
Inspired by ARTE NOIR's current exhibition, Parallel Perspectives, join artists L.Haz and Wolf Delux as they guide you through an interactive art activity. Using geometric patterns and shapes, and intricate lines, you'll learn how to use shapes and symbols to encode words and messages that tell a story.

Dinner & Drinks
Grab a bite during the concert from local food trucks Off The Rez and Mami Tran. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Shooby Doo Catering in the PACCAR Pavilion.

people looking at the ground on the pocket beach

People working on art activity together at a table

SUN AUG 4

10 am – 3 pm

Community Meetup
11:30 am–1:30 pm
Let's get reading! The bookworms of Silent Book Club Capitol Hill are teaming up to provide a cozy space for sustained reading and community connection in the sculpture park.

Art Activity & Environmental Engagement
11 am–3 pm
What does it mean to belong? Join teaching artist Nina Vichayapal in an exploration of ‘rootedness’ and belonging by creating original artworks with seed paper that can be planted to grow into beautiful wildflowers.

Become an expert on native plant species of the Pacific Northwest with members of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Together, you’ll learn how to find them, identify them, and use them in teas, medicines, and salves.

What makes intertidal zones so unique? Join naturalists from Seattle Parks & Recreation on the sculpture park’s beach to get an up-close look at our region’s intertidal ecology and create a tide pool book to take home.

NW Folklife Pop-Up Concert
Noon–1 pm
Don and Diane Forsyth make up the Snohomish-based roots band Blue Healers. With soul, folk, blues, country, and interstellar influencers, the duo will perform stripped down originals and covers with grit.

MARKET in the Park will be serving coffee and menu items including short rib rolls, crab rolls, and mangonadas!

THU AUG 8

6–8 pm

Sonic Guild Concerts
Blending synth-pop with rock and soul, RUB's music is a veritable feast for the ears, complete with heavy vocal harmonies and infectious beats that will get you up and dancing in no time.

LivT is from the Pacific Northwest with a knack for word play. Mimicking the northwest weather, she describes her music as laid back, sometimes dark, but always soulful.

Art Activity
Sun Printing is an easy and fun printing technique that uses natural sunlight as a fixative agent. In this family-friendly workshop led by Path with Art, you’ll use natural materials such as flowers, leaves, ferns, features, string, and other small objects to create your very own sun print to take home.

Dinner & Drinks
Grab a bite during the concert from local food trucks Seoul Bowl and El Cabrito. Additional snacks and beverages will be available for purchase from Shooby Doo Catering in the PACCAR Pavilion.

a group of people work on art activities at a table

SUN AUG 11

10 am – 3 pm

Art Activity & Environmental Education
11 am–3 pm
Familiarize yourself with the surface designs found in the Hawaiian art of Kapa (bark cloth) alongside Kanaka Maoli teaching artist Malia Peoples. You’ll learn how to create your own Kapa-inspired stamps and leave the activity with an original stamped artwork to take home.

NW Folklife Pop-Up Concert
Noon–1 pm
Tim Bertsch is a Seattle-based guitarist, harpguitarist, composer, performer, writer, and educator. His captivating sound is equally as diverse as his resume, drawing influences from jazz, fusion, flamenco, rock, classical, blues, and gypsy music.

MARKET in the Park will be serving coffee and menu items including short rib rolls, crab rolls, and mangonadas!

A group of silhouetted people dancing underneath pink, purple, and blue colored lights, lens flares sparkling

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

Learn more about Equity at SAM