Looking for budget-friendly summer fun in Seattle? Pack a picnic blanket and head to Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill for the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival.
This annual event brings together a dozen local theater companies for a full weekend of outdoor drama, comedy, improv, and music. And, admission is free. It happens in the middle of the free Shakespeare in the Park summer series by GreenStage.
Whether you’re a lifelong Shakespeare fan or just looking for a low-cost weekend outing with family and friends, this festival offers something for everyone across three different stage locations in the park.
Photo: GreenStage
Festival Quick Details
- Dates: Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, 2026
- Times: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
- Where: Volunteer Park (1247 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112)
- Admission: FREE (Donations to local arts organizations are always welcome)
- Food & Drink: On-site vendors or bring your own picnic basket.
Daily Festival Schedule
Saturday, July 25
Amphitheater Stage
- 10 a.m. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Penguin Productions) (90 mins)
- 1 p.m. Hamlet (Shakespeare Northwest) (2 hours)
- 4:30 p.m. As You Like It (Last Leaf Productions) (1 hour)
- 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale (GreenStage) (2 hours)
Conservatory Lawn
- 12 p.m. Twelfth Night (Ballinger Shakespeare Company) (2 hours)
- 3:30 p.m. Improv Performance (Pratidhwani) (1 hour)
- 5:30 p.m. Sound & Fury: An Improvised Shakespeareance (CSz Seattle) (1 hour)
Museum Lawn
- 11 a.m. Emma (Emerald Theatre) (2 hours)
- 2:30 p.m. The Comedy of Macbeth (Left Blank Productions) (1 hour 40 mins)
- 4:30 p.m. Play Reading Series: The Comedy of Errors (GreenStage) (2 hours)
Sunday, July 26
Amphitheater Stage
- 11 a.m. Twelfth Night: A Pirate Story (Band of Bards) (1 hour 15 mins)
- 2 p.m. Coriolanus (GreenStage) (2 hours 15 mins)
- 4:45 p.m. Indian Dance Performance (Pratidhwani) (30 mins)
- 7 p.m. Macbeth (Union Art Center’s Wooden O) (2 hours)
Conservatory Lawn
- 12:30 p.m. Sound & Fury: An Improvised Shakespeareance (CSz Seattle) (1 hour)
- 4 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest (GreenStage) (1 hour)
- 5:15 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen (GreenStage) (1 hour)
Museum Lawn
- 11:30 a.m. Stage Fight Demonstration (The Seattle Sockeye) (25 mins)
- 1 p.m. Killer of the Alien Gods (Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre) (40 mins)
- 3 p.m. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Penguin Productions) (90 mins)
- 6 p.m. The Crow of Henmark (Shakespeare Northwest) (1 hour)
On the Cheap Tips
- Bring low-backed chairs or blankets: Seating is on the grass. Standard lawn chairs are allowed, but sit near the sides or back so you don’t block the view for blanket sitters.
- Transit & Parking: Street parking around Volunteer Park fills up fast. Consider taking King County Metro (Route 10 drops off right by the park) or riding your bike to skip the parking hunt.
Volunteer Park is at 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle 98112.
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