THING is back! The eclectic and intimate three-day, all-ages music and arts festival set against the majestic backdrop of the Salish Sea at historic Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA, returns for its third year from August 25 – 27, 2023. Produced by Seattle Theatre Group (STG) and Adam Zacks, THING celebrates a diverse lineup of local to international musical acts, comedians, podcasts, food, community workshops, and more.
This year’s edition features a tightly curated lineup including music headliners Fleet Foxes, Lil Yachty, Sylvan Esso, Thundercat, and Cigarettes After Sex; comedians Sarah Sherman, Kate Berlant, and Jacqueline Novak; podcasts featuring Amanda Knox & Christopher Robinson, Ken Jennings & John Roderick, Ben Lee & Ione Skye; and so much more.
“It’s great to be back for a third year of THING,” said Adam Zacks, STG’s Chief Programming Officer and creator of THING. “We’re proud to present this excellent lineup featuring multiple genres and disciplines—and are thrilled to return to magnificent Fort Worden. It’s my hope that everyone feels truly welcome at THING and fully embraces the spirit of discovering something new.”
“Fort Worden Hospitality is thrilled to welcome THING back to Port Townsend for the third time after such an artistically enjoyable and critically well-received 2022 festival,” added Matt Gurney, CEO of Fort Worden Hospitality. “Seattle Theatre Group is a great partner of ours, aligned in working to ensure the event is exciting, inclusive, and fun for all ages. Each year STG programs a great weekend of music, arts, and culture. This August, we hope to see you at Fort Worden.”
This year’s festival features expanded amenities in addition to various camping and parking options available for purchase. Three-day, single-day, and VIP passes are available. New to THING are General Admission+ passes, which include premium experiences like onsite parking, an exclusive outdoor hangout space, a private bar and refreshment areas, and dedicated restrooms.
THING is an all-ages festival (children 12 and under are free) with opportunities for the entire family to play, celebrate, and enjoy time together. In addition to eclectic music programming, THING features events that uplift community organizations and arts nonprofits that operate throughout the greater Puget Sound region, with a special emphasis on STG’s Education and Community Engagement programming. This programming will include a variety of dance, theatre, artmaking, and movement workshops along with local youth music arts, hip-hop collaborations, and spoken word.
THING 2023 LINEUP:
FLEET FOXES • LIL YACHTY • SYLVAN ESSO • THUNDERCAT • CIGARETTES AFTER SEX • TASH SULTANA • DIGABLE PLANETS • SAMIA SYML • THREE SACRED SOULS • MILD HIGH CLUB • THE BETHS • THE BUDOS BAND • BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD • LAUFEY • BEN LEE • JOHN CARROL KIRBY • HATCHIE • GRACE LOVE • Y LA BAMBA • KASSA OVERALL • HIGH PULP • GEESE • RICHY MITCH & THE COAL MINERS • KING TUFF • DJ DADBOD • SOUL GLO • MJ LENDERMAN • KING YOUNGBLOOD • JOSEPH KECKLER • MODERN BIOLOGY • SPEAKER NABIL AYERS • SARAH SHERMAN • KATE BERLANT • JACQUELINE NOVAK • LABYRINTHS WITH AMANDA KNOX & CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON • WEIRDER TOGETHER WITH BEN LEE & IONE SKYE • OMNIBUS WITH KEN JENNINGS & JOHN RODERICK • ELEVATE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS • MORE MUSIC @ THE MOORE • PNW MIC • INDIGENOUS STORY TELLERS • LANTERN PARADE • AND MORE!
ABOUT SEATTLE THEATRE GROUP (STG) Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization whose mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of the region's cultural identity while keeping three historic venues, The Paramount, Moore, and Neptune, alive and vibrant.
ABOUT FORT WORDEN Fort Worden and its epic natural setting of Port Townsend—dubbed “the Paris of the Pacific Northwest” by Sunset Magazine—is the kind of destination that stays with one for a lifetime. Originally designed as a military base to protect Puget Sound, Fort Worden has evolved into an iconic and cherished state park and lifelong learning center with accommodations, venues, restaurants, and catering. Fort Worden’s magnificent setting encompasses 434 acres with 12 miles of forested hiking trails, two miles of walkable saltwater beaches and commanding views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains as well as views across the Strait of Juan De Fuca to the San Juan Islands.