Hi all,

Sending another Good News Downtown, a communication to showcase uplifting, interesting, positive stories about activities and people Downtown.

If you have news or events to share, or if you want to talk about the work being done to revitalize Downtown, send us an email.

Weekly digest

🎬🍿 The Seattle International Film Festival is underway, kicking off last week with the premiere of “I Love Boosters” Downtown at the Paramount Theatre and an afterparty at Cannonball Arts. Now in its 52nd year, SIFF runs through May 17 and features more than 200 films from 71 countries. The festival continues to bring audiences to theaters in Downtown, Seattle Center, and surrounding neighborhoods through screenings, events, and community programming: Feel the ‘SIFF Effect’: Our 10 must-see films at SIFF 2026 – SeattleRefined.

🌸💐 Pike Place Market drew families and visitors Downtown for its annual Flower Festival over Mother’s Day weekend. The longtime tradition combined colorful bouquets from local flower growers with live music and shopping throughout the Market, giving visitors a chance to celebrate mothers and mother figures while supporting local vendors, farmers, and small businesses: Pike Place Market hosts 18th Annual Flower Festival – Fox 13 Seattle.

💎🖼️ Our acting director shared his journey as a small business at Pike Place Market. Beto Yarce opened Cintli in 2004 selling his jewelry and Mexican folk art. Beto reflects on how his experience running his business in the Market for more than a decade is informing his work now leading our office: From farmers markets to Pike Place Market: Acting Director Beto Yarce shares his journey as a small business owner – Bottom Line.

Credit: Caroline Anne / Seattle Refined

🏀🎉 A crowd of 14,200 Seattle Storm fans packed Climate Pledge Arena for the team's home opener, bringing a lively energy to cheer on their favorite team. The turnout highlighted the city's strong support for women's basketball: Photos: Seattle Storm fans pack arena for season home opener – KOMO News.

Credit: SPU

💧🚰 To prepare for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, Seattle Public Utilities installed seven free drinking water refill stations throughout Downtown. Featuring artwork by local artist Stevie Shao, the stations are designed to make refilling reusable water bottles more convenient: Seattle adds free downtown water refill stations ahead of FIFA World Cup – Axios Seattle.

There are new Seattle Restored pop-ups for you to shop. In partnership with Good Business Network of Washington, we match small business owners with vacant commercial storefronts to host pop-up shops. These new Downtown shops are in their space for the next six months, so be sure to check them out:

• 🕯️✨ Noir Lux Candle Co. Collective on Fourth Avenue is a Black woman-owned lifestyle and home fragrance brand rooted in community, creativity, and self-care.
• 📕🖼️ Paper Pushers Print Shop on Fifth Avenue is a bookstore and community space. You’ll find zines, artist books, prints, and other independent small-press publications.
• 🪐🚀 The Moonride Trading Post is an experiential retail space on Fifth Avenue featuring intergalactic goods and otherworldly art.

Looking ahead

🎺🌧️ Bad Weather Brass Band returns with music in the plaza on First Avenue and Pike Street outside Salt & Straw around 6 p.m. on May 15 and 22, with pop-up brass performances in Downtown, rain or shine.

Credit: Friends of Little Siagon

🛍️🧋 Meet the Maker: Spring Market is happening Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Little Saigon Creative. This community art market celebrates local Asian American creatives and small businesses, offering handmade goods, art, food, and drinks.

🌍🎶 Come celebrate Spirit of Africa at Seattle Center on Saturday, May 16 with free cultural performances, music, food, and community programming in the Armory Food and Event Hall as part of the Seattle Center Festál series.

🌊🐠 Join Splash!, the Seattle Aquarium’s 21 and up fundraising gala on Saturday, May 16. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the event begins in the Ocean Pavilion before continuing at Pier 62 for dinner, programming, and a paddle-raise supporting marine life conservation and research. The yearly fundraiser focuses on raising awareness and funds to keep marine education accessible to Seattle.

Credit: Seattle Chamber of Connection

🌞🎉 Experience your Best Day Ever Downtown on Saturday, May 30. Best Day Ever is a series of free, full-day celebrations of Seattle’s neighborhoods. Fifty Seattle residents will spend six hours in a truly immersive day Downtown, including free local food. Space is limited, RSVP today!