Accessibility

Bumbershoot welcomes all people with disabilities. We are continuously striving to enhance our efforts to ensure access to event amenities without limitations based on abilities.

Please read this informational guide thoroughly before sending an inquiry email. For any accessibility-related questions not answered in the guide, please email us at accessibility@bumbershoot.com. We welcome and encourage all feedback and suggestions from our guests with disabilities. We will do our best to assist you and address your accessibility needs.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY

The venue is navigable for guests with mobility disabilities. The event is held primarily on cement, with stages and other guest areas on natural grassy terrain. There are accessible routes connected throughout the venue including parking, entrances, stages, accessible viewing areas, vendors, and all other activity areas.

Attendees must navigate the festival grounds between stages on their own or with the support of a companion, as the festival does not offer transportation between stages.

We encourage all guests with mobility disabilities to utilize personal forms of transportation, including wheelchairs and scooters. Guests are also permitted to bring crutches, walkers, and canes into the event. If you need to recharge your motorized mobility device, you may do so at an Accessibility Services Hub. Guests should bring all cords and accessories needed to charge their devices. Chargers must use a 110-volt, 20 amp circuit.

The Seattle Center offers a limited number of wheelchairs at the Customer Service booth within the Armory. To borrow a wheelchair, complete a form at the Armory Customer Services booth and present valid photo identification. Guests will need to head to this customer service booth to rent out their wheelchairs.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

There will be a limited number of accessible parking spots for guests with disabilities located near the event site, which will be available on a first come, first served basis. Each of these parking garage options require payment upon entry, subject to the lots terms and conditions. You are required to bring a valid, state-issued handicap placard, permit, or license plate to enter this parking lot park in accessible spots within these lots. The person to whom the handicap credential is issued must be present in the vehicle, as a driver or passenger.

Accessible parking can be found at:

  • Level 1 of the Mercer Street Garage
    • Note: Due to height restrictions, the stalls at this facility are not van-accessible.
  • The 5th Avenue garage
    • Van-accessible encouraged
  • 5th Avenue Memorial Stadium Lot
  • The 1st Avenue garage
    • Dozens of private lots and street parking surrounding Seattle Center

RIDESHARE + ACCESSIBILITY LOADING/ UNLOADING ZONE

Guests with disabilities can be dropped off and picked up by friends and family or a rideshare at the Accessibility Loading & Unloading Zone located at the MoPop Turnaround on 5th Ave and Harrison, near the GREEN GATE entrance . Please follow directional signage and traffic attendants to this zone..

ACCESSIBILITY ENTRANCE

There will be designated accessible entry lanes labeled with signage located at both festival entrances: GREEN GATE located at the MoPop Turnaround on 5th Ave and Harrison and RED GATE located at Mercer St & 2nd Ave N, outside of Rep Theatre. These entry lanes will be labeled with signage and an Accessibility Representative will be present to direct guests to this entry lane. Guests with disabilities and up to one (1) companion may use these entry lanes to safely enter the venue. Please visit an Accessibility Services Hub upon arrival to the event to request the accessibility accommodations and services you need.

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES HUB

Please Note: You must stop here to get your accessibility wristband. This wristband is free of charge and will grant you access to the accessibility services required on account of a disability or injury. There is no accessibility pre-registration before the event - this is all done onsite at the event. There is not an “accessibility ticket” that needs to be purchased in order to utilize accessibility services at Bumbershoot. 

The primary Accessibility Services Hub is conveniently located inside the event, next to the Guest Services booth between the Fisher and Fountain stages. There will also be a hub just outside of the GREEN GATE Entrance. The exact location of these hubs will be labeled on the event map when it is released.

At an Accessibility Services Hub, you can:

  • Learn about accessibility services and receive answers to your questions
  • Receive an accessibility wristband
  • Effective Communication check-in
  • Register service animals

Wristband Policies

  • Accessibility wristbands are valid for the duration of the festival.
  • DO NOT remove your wristband for the duration of the festival.
  • One (1) accessibility companion wristband will be issued per guest with a disability.
  • Additional wristbands may be issued for families with young children.

If a person with a disability wishes to change their companion, they can obtain a new accessibility companion wristband by returning the formerly used companion wristband to an Accessibility Services Hub, where it will be replaced. We are unable to reissue any accessibility wristbands unless the original wristband is brought back to us to be reissued.

ACCESSIBLE VIEWING AREAS

There will be accessible viewing areas made available to guests with disabilities at designated stages. For more information on how to gain access to these areas, please visit us at the Accessibility Services Hub.

Accessible Viewing Area Policies:

  • Companions may be asked to stand in the back of the viewing area if capacity is reached.
  • These viewing areas are non-smoking.
  • Guests are not allowed to save spots.
  • If a guest is not-present for longer than 60 minutes, their spot will be given to another guest with a disability.
  • Do not block the view of the guests behind you.
  • All seating is first come, first served.

SERVICE ANIMALS

Service animals are permitted throughout the venue. However, emotional support animals, therapy animals, companion animals, and pets are not permitted into the event. Any animal whose task is to provide protection, emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship is not considered a service animal and will not be allowed into the venue. Only service animals that have been individually trained and are under the proper care of their owners will be allowed within the premises.

The following guidelines must be followed:

  • All service animals must be verified by the Accessibility Coordinator or Manager before entering the event venue.
  • Once verified, service animal handlers are required to fill out a Service Animal Agreement before proceeding into the event grounds. Once signed, service animals will receive a service animal wristband or tag to indicate verification.
  • Service animals must remain by the handler’s side at all times and must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
    • If these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or if the handler’s disability prevents the use of these devices, the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
  • Service animals must be housebroken and should use the service animal relief area.
  • Anyone bringing an animal will be responsible for and liable for any damage or injury caused by the animal.
  • All service animals should have legally required vaccinations. The Accessibility Coordinator or Manager may ask for proof of vaccination during the verification process.
  • All service animals must receive a service animal credential at an Accessibility Services Hub in order to enter the venue.

We ask that you do not leave your animal in your car while you're attending the event, as vehicles without active air conditioning may become too hot and unsafe for any animal.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION REQUESTS

We accept requests for any of the following services:

  • ASL Interpretation
  • Live Captioning
  • Other forms of Effective Communication (such as: large format print/braille literature, guided tours for guests with visual disabilities, assistive listening devices, or any other accommodation not listed)

To ensure adequate time for planning, requests for these services should be made no later than 30 days before the event. The cutoff date for this event is August 1st, 2026. While we will strive to accommodate requests submitted less than 30 days prior to the event, we cannot guarantee fulfillment after the cutoff date. To submit a request, please fill out our Effective Communication Request Form.

We are pleased to offer professional ASL interpretation for the below performances:
All showcases at SIFF will have ASL interpreters.

Once you arrive, please check-in at an Accessibility Services Hub to be provided with information on how to access our effective communication method(s).

SENSORY ACCOMMODATIONS

Sensory Kits

A limited number of sensory kits will be available for check-out, with a valid ID, at the Accessibility Services Hub located between the Fountain and Fisher stages, as well as in the Quiet Room - Armory 3rd floor, Room 301.

Quiet Room

For guests that might need a sensory-break from the event, there will be a quiet room located inside the Armory in Armory Room 301, on the 3rd floor. This room is specifically designated for people with sensory sensitivities that need a space to decompress.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • First Aid: We have several First Aid locations throughout the venue, noted on the event map. Professional medical staff can provide assistance to your medical needs at these locations.
  • Special Dietary Needs: The event will have food vendors that provide gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free dietary options. For those with special dietary needs beyond what will be offered at the event, please contact us at accessibility@bumbershoot.com for further assistance.
  • Prescription Medications: All prescription medications must be in the original manufacturer container with your name on it, which matches your government-issued photo ID. Please only bring a sufficient amount of medication for the duration of the event. Your medications must be cleared by the medical team at the event entrance.
  • Other Services: If you require assistance on account of pregnancy, nursing, or breast milk pumping, please reach out to the information team at info@bumbershoot.com.

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & SUGGESTIONS

Bumbershoot will consider requests by guests with disabilities for reasonable modification of event policies, practices or procedures, or for auxiliary aids and services that will permit the guest equal enjoyment of the goods and services offered at the event. We encourage you to make any such request as far in advance as possible to enhance our ability to evaluate and fulfill the request.

To help us continually make our event more accessible, we encourage you to contact us at accessibility@bumbershoot.com for any of your accessibility-related needs. Additionally, if you have any questions about our accessible policies or services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We hope you find this guide informative; we look forward to seeing you at Bumbershoot!

More details can be found in our FAQ