2003

Aug 29 - Sept 1, 2003

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Year 2003Starts 2003-08-29Ends 2003-09-01

Older: 2002 Newer: 2004

Overview

Bumbershoot '03

Artwork by Frank Zepponi & Matt Richardson

By 2003, Bumbershoot was continuing to evolve alongside a rapidly changing Seattle.

Now more than three decades removed from its origins as Festival ’71, the event remained one of the country’s most distinctive multidisciplinary arts festivals. Produced by One Reel, Bumbershoot continued its annual transformation of Seattle Center into a Labor Day weekend gathering of music, film, theater, dance, literature, and visual art.

The early 2000s were a period of reinvention for the festival. While music programming continued to draw large audiences, organizers also worked to highlight the broader artistic scope that had long defined Bumbershoot, emphasizing film programs, contemporary dance, visual arts exhibitions, and literary events alongside the major stages.

This blend of large-scale entertainment and exploratory programming remained Bumbershoot’s signature strength. The festival encouraged audiences to wander, discover new artists, and encounter creative work they might not otherwise experience.

By 2003, Bumbershoot had become more than an annual event. It was a long-standing cultural tradition, a gathering where Seattle’s creative communities met each year under one umbrella.

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2003

Overview

Bumbershoot '03

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