Fifteen years. Let that sink in for a second.
That’s fifteen years of Cider Summit Seattle setting up shop in the heart of the city, fifteen years of artisan cidermakers pouring their hearts (and their heritage apples) into taster glasses for thirsty fans, and fifteen years of me personally underestimating how many good ciders exist outside the six or seven that I can name off the top of my head. (Don’t judge me: I’m working on it.) Every single year, I’m wrong about the popularity of cider. Every single year, I’m happy to be wrong, and happy Cider Summit endures. It’s sinking in: cider is not going anywhere, and I need to lend it more attention.
The region’s largest hard cider tasting festival returns Friday, September 11 (3 – 8 p.m., with a VIP session kicking things off at 2 p.m.) and Saturday, September 12 (noon – 5 p.m.), right back where it belongs — South Lake Union, 101 Westlake Ave. N. If you’ve been before, you know the drill. If you haven’t, buckle up. Tickets are on sale now!
The Numbers Are Kind of Absurd
More than 40 producers. Over 125 ciders, meads, cider cocktails, and fruit spirits. Sourced from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. And it’s not just pour-and-go, either — plenty of the cidermakers themselves show up to talk shop, offer advice for cider-food pairing possibilities, and generally make you feel smarter about cider than you actually are. Let the experts guide your afternoon’s tasting experience.
“We’re very excited to celebrate this benchmark,” said Alan Shapiro, Cider Summit co-founder and producer, who has watched this thing grow from a scrappy regional gathering into the PNW’s signature cider event. “Each year, we’re excited to introduce a range of new vendors and new products to even our most loyal festival attendees.”
Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the NW Cider Association, put it even more plainly: since 2010, this has been the event. Not an event. The event.
“Each year, our members and cider fans throughout the region look forward to Cider Summit Seattle,” Ritchie said. “Since 2010, it has been the area’s signature cider event. We’re excited to see its momentum continue in the PNW.”
Fifteen years of momentum. That’s not a fluke — that’s a community showing up. Seriously, most festivals of this ilk don’t last more than five years — cider, beer, spirits, whatever. The 15-year run is an impressive testament to cider’s enduring popularity. This ain’t no bandwagon, but you are still welcome to jump on if you’re new. Like me.
The Cider & Cupcake Pairing Is Back, and It’s the Best Kind of Weird
New-ish this year (or at least a delightfully, deliciously returning twist: a hosted four-course pairing session on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon, featuring Slightly Furry Cider paired with cupcakes from noted Seattle bakeries.
Cider and cupcakes. Not cider and cheese, not cider and charcuterie — cupcakes. I don’t make the rules, I just report on the sugar-fueled chaos, and honestly? I’m all about it. Space is capped at 60 participants, and there’s a surprise bonus tasting thrown in, so if that’s your idea of a well-spent Saturday morning, don’t sleep on it: secure your spot.
Tickets, Because Logistics Matter
Here’s the breakdown — pricing goes up the longer you wait, so if you’re the type who buys concert tickets the day they drop, this is your moment to shine:
- VIP tickets – $45+ through July 31, $50+ after. Includes early entry on Sept. 11, 16 tasting tickets, and a festival tasting glass.
- General admission – $35+ through July 31, $40+ through Sept. 11, $55 at the gate. Includes 12 tasting tickets and a tasting glass.
- Cider & Cupcake paired tasting – $30+ add-on to any ticket. Limited to 60 people.
- Designated driver tickets – $10/$11, gate only, comes with a bottle of water because someone’s got to get everyone home safely. Minors are not allowed at the festival, full stop.
Advance tickets are online-only, and additional tasting tickets run $2 each once you’re onsite. Sales close at 11:59 a.m. on September 11 — so procrastinators, you technically have until the morning of. I don’t recommend it, but I respect the hustle.
Beyond the Cider — Because a Festival Needs More Than Just Drinking
- Food from Miss Café and Kathmandu MoMoCha, plus snack reinforcements from KaffeeKlatsch, Little Jamie’s Mini Donuts, Don & Joe’s Meats, and Salt Blade Handcrafted Meats.
- Oregon Fruit Co. Fruit Cider Challenge — vote via QR code for your favorite. Democracy, but make it cider.
- Heritage Cider Pavilion, spotlighting farm-based regional artisanal producers doing things the old-fashioned way.
- Dog Lounge, hosted by and benefitting Seattle Humane Society. Shade, water, treats, and — this is the important part — well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome at the festival. Bring the good boy. He’s earned a cider festival too.
- Event store for bottles, cans, merch, and backup tasting tickets when your first batch runs out faster than expected (it will).
- Cider Summit Rewards, with post-event bonus offers and discounts from sponsors and local vendors, because the fun doesn’t have to end when the lawn empties out.
The Bottom Line
Fifteen years is a long time for anything to stay good (let alone stay this good), but Cider Summit Seattle has managed it by doing the simple things right: great producers, real conversation, and just enough unexpected creativity (looking at you, you scrumptious cupcakes) to keep it interesting.
Mark the calendar. Buy early. Bring the dog, but leave the kids and toddlers at home. See you on the lawn.
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