Seattle is throwing open the doors of one of its most beloved cultural landmarks, and everyone’s invited! On October 18, Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, will host a free, all-day Open House celebration to show off its stunning $20 million renovation, the first major facelift since the hall opened in 1998.
The party starts at 10 a.m. and every corner of the hall will be buzzing with music, performances, storytellers, food and surprises. The day’s lineup reads like a love letter to Seattle’s creative scene: performances by Totem Star artists, a Tiny Tots quartet with Seattle Symphony musicians, a set curated by KEXP’s DJ Kevin Sur, an Arte Noir exhibition opening paired with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, a National Geographic Live presentation with photographer Steve Winter, and even a video game music panel.
The grand finale begins at 4 p.m. with a free concert featuring the full Seattle Symphony alongside members of indie folk-rock favorites The Head and The Heart, followed by a dance party in the grand lobby. Free concert tickets will be available in person at Benaroya Hall starting at 9 a.m. that day, with a limit of two per person while they last; no tickets are needed for any other activities.
Beyond the music, visitors can explore the reimagined public spaces: a brand-new cafe, a welcoming front desk, an upstairs lounge, a community room for free public programming and fresh public art installations. It’s the perfect excuse to rediscover a downtown treasure.
Photo: Visitor7 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
