On Sunday October 30th, fright takes flight at The Museum of Flight. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the museum will transform into a haunted collection of aviation frights. Hear spooky aviation-themed ghost stories in the Personal Courage Wing, make and drop ghost parachutes into a pumpkin patch, fly witches on broomsticks through a giant pumpkin, and even test your gross-o-meter in the mad science lab. This is the perfect spooky event to get the whole family ready for Halloween. Visit if you dare.
The most dapper night of the year is almost here. Join the Museum of Flight for a stylish vintage-inspired evening full of swingin’ good tunes, themed menus, and exclusive access to tour The Walt Disney Studios and World War II exhibition. Don Morin, of the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, will MC the event, alongside a performance by Northwest Sing, part of the Boeing Employees Concert Band. Enjoy photo-ops, swing dancing, interactive activities, food and drinks, and plenty more!
Remember to make a stylish entrance. Guests are encouraged to bust out their most dapper attire, from vintage-inspired classics to chic, contemporary looks. And for active and retired military guests, please feel free to wear your dress blues or service uniforms.
When: Saturday, November 5th
Where: Museum of Flight
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Age: 21+
On a cool Saturday evening, we made our way to The Museum of Flight for HangarFest. While not my first time at the museum, I was excited to realize that the “hangar” in HangarFest meant that I got to visit an area I’ve never been before: the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery and Aviation Pavilion! We made sure to get there early, so we would have time to check out the displays and interactive exhibits before the main event.
Around 7:00, we made our way out to the hangar for the start of the festivities. The Aviation Pavillion is a more recent addition to the Museum of Flight, having opened in June of 2016, and highlights the drastic development aircraft and commercial airlines underwent from 1930 to today. The three-acre lot features over 15 airplanes, several of which visitors could walk through, from nose to tail.
Peppered throughout the exhibit among all the aircraft were over 25 different breweries, wineries, and distilleries. We talked with many local vendors, including the women-run San Juan Seltzer and a firefighter-run brewery from Lacey – Top Rung Brewing. Many vendors were local, from Lakewood (Valhalla Mead) to Seattle (Republic of Cider) to Anacortes (Anacortes Brewery) to Centralia (Talking Cedar); but some traveled much further, like Lone River Ranch Water from Texas, or JuneShine kombucha and spirits from California. Everyone we spoke with was friendly and excited to share more about their offerings.
Provided throughout were outdoor games, like cornhole, giant Connect 4, foosball, and giant Jenga; as well as a craft station and photo booth. Outside the hangar, there were a half dozen food trucks, with such tantalizing options that we couldn’t choose just one. We ended up trying a Lumpia plate from the Big Boys Kainan Filipino food truck, based out of Kent, and a chicken cordon-bleu savory meat pie from 314 Pie, which you can find in a variety of locations up and down the I-5 corridor. When I asked how business had been for the event, he simply grinned and gestured at all the empty pie trays on his table.
Back in the hangar, Prom Date Mixtape was blasting a very 80s cover of “Sunglasses at Night” as we made our way inside a hulking 747. Inside, there was a peek-a-boo floor down to the inner workings below.
Next, we boarded the newest aircraft in the collection, the 787 Dreamliner. The ultra-cush interior even had that new-plane smell. It seemed appropriate to walk through this one last, as it represented the culmination of all the innovations that had come before it to create the ultimate comfort air travel experience.
We rounded out the night stopping at Letterpress Distilling. The distributor was thrilled for us to make him our last stop before last call. Sipping on a smooth glass of Amaro Amorino Riserva, we took in the last of a night that was nothing short of delightful. It was shocking to think of how little people know about HangarFest. As we look forward to next year’s event, I’m having difficulty deciding whether I want to keep it a secret or invite everyone I know to this party in the “sky.”
We’re in the thick of summer and enjoying this incredible sunshine right now, but let’s be real here, the gray isn’t far away. But you can get ahead of the gloom and look forward to the rainy days by planning weekend adventures with a little help from our friends over at Redfin. They put together the perfect list of things to do around the Seattle area once the rainy weather starts approaching.
They’ve included two highlights from the City of Tukwila and are spot on with these recommendations. Check them out!
When the rain comes, The Museum of Flight has got you covered. Located in Tukwila, play, stroll, contemplate and even learn a few things while being sheltered from the rain. Forget the weather in a windowless gallery, or engage your seasons of emotions surrounded by a glass building that touches the sky.
Everyone knows Seattle for its coffee, but craft chocolate is the true gem of the Emerald City. To try some of the best chocolate in the area, Experience Tukwila recommends “Indulging your sweet tooth with a tour of the Seattle Chocolate Factory. Founded in 1991, this Seattle staple creates bold new chocolatey creations that are a must-try for everyone passing through.”
So, next time you’re looking for something to do when the weather has you trapped inside, just head on over to Tukwila!
We all know the best part of Seafair doesn’t take place in the sea, it takes place in the sky! Join the Museum of Flight for their Jet Blast Bash—an annual festival-by-the-flight line at which you get a front row seat to the Blue Angels takeoffs and landings. Fast planes, music, food, and a beer garden… what more could you ask for? An unveiling of the Blue Angels new jet? Wow, great request, there’s that too! In addition to all the high-flying activities, the Blue Angels will unveil their new Super Hornets jets for the first time in the Northwest. Be one of the first to see these incredible flying machines.
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 6-7
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Museum of Flight – Main Parking Lot
Price: FREE with Museum Admission
You don’t have to climb 30,000 feet to party in the skies. The Museum of Flight invites you to wrap up the summer amongst marvels of aviation. HangarFest is a 21+ event featuring live music, local craft brews, ciders, wines, and spirits, food trucks, and tons of fun games. Local band, Prom Date Mixtape will electrify the night with their ultimate collection of 80s covers for you to dance and sing along to. Reserve your tickets now.
Event Details
Tickets
More info here.
The annual Yuri’s Night at The Museum of Flight is back on April 9!
Don’t miss this 21+ space-themed spectacle that joins art, dance, music and technology in tribute to Yuri Gagarin, who became the first person to orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961. Dance in the towering Museum Gallery, transformed into an intergalactic nightclub with some of the best electronic music DJs from Seattle and beyond, including Moon Boots, Jordan Goff, and Samaha.
Space-themed costumes are of course encouraged.
Those who want to keep the party going after Yuri’s Night concludes can join the official afterparty with Noise complaint @ Kremwerk! Three rooms of music going late into the night with a whole other set of headlining DJs.
Grab your tickets here!
Is it cold outside? Yes. Has the sun been replaced by a moody expanse of clouds and an omnipresent drizzle that appears to be falling from all directions? Absolutely. But is that going to stop you from getting out of the house and making the most of this PNW winter? No way!
Here are a few ideas for keeping active and enjoying some serious fun this season.
Seattle Chocolate Factory Tour– After a small break, the Seattle Chocolate factory and flagship store is now accepting bookings for tours. Learn about how your favorite chocolates are made and sample some of the most decadent confections.
Museum of Flight– Pack up the whole family and head over to the Museum of Flight. This renowned collection of incredible air and space crafts, artifacts, galleries, and exhibits is just the right spark for your curiosity to light your way through the winter darkness. From the untold flight stories of World War II, to the heroic journey of the Apollo spacecraft to the moon, there’s something here to inspire everyone.
iFly Indoor Skydiving – Want a truly one-of-a-kind experience guaranteed to lift your spirits? Visit iFly Indoor Skydiving and jump into one of their state-of-the-art wind tunnels that provide a safe flight simulation experience. There’s nothing like it and unlike IRL sky falling, the weather is always memory-making perfect at iFly.
DEFY Extreme Air Sports Trampoline Park – If you’ve been all cooped up this winter and in dire need of getting those wiggles out, DEFY’s trampoline park is calling your name. It pairs safety with no constraints, offering foam pits, trapeze activities, obstacle courses, extreme dodgeball, endless trampolines, and more.
The Seawolves are Back! – The 2022 Major League Rugby season is finally here and the champion Seattle Seawolves are hosting their opener at Tukwila’s Starfire Sports on February 6 against the Toronto Arrows (booooo). Grab a hot beverage, bundle up in all your favorite Seawolves gear, and get ready for the season’s most exciting sports action in the PNW.
Want more ideas for winter fun? Check out our Activities page.
Sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine, Museum Day is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address. The ticket provides free general admission on Saturday, September 18, 2021, for two people.
Additional visitors will need their own Museum Day tickets or pay general Museum admission. Children 4 and under are free.
Get your FREE Museum Day ticket.
Join Orca Running for their 5K event at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila!
The Fly 5K course is a modified out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the Aviation Pavilion, on the west side of East Marginal Way. Participants will run past the main Museum of Flight building as well for fantastic views of iconic aircraft, such as the B-17 bomber, B-47 Stratojet and F-14 Tomcat.
After the race participants gain a complimentary entry into the museum.
