Mark your calendars, cider lovers — Cider Summit Seattle is turning 15, and the Emerald City’s favorite fizzy celebration is bringing its biggest party yet to the Lawn at Discovery Center. On September 11 and 12, 2026, more than 40 cidermakers will pour upwards of 125 different ciders, meads, cider cocktails, and fruit spirits for a weekend that’s part tasting room, part block party, and part love letter to Pacific Northwest craft beverage culture. Since its founding, Cider Summit has grown into the region’s signature cider event, and this year’s milestone anniversary comes loaded with extras: a hosted four-course cider-and-cupcake pairing, a dog-friendly lounge, a fruit cider showdown decided by festival-goers themselves, and enough Seattle food-truck fare to fuel a full day of sipping. Whether you’re a cider die-hard or just cider-curious, this is the kind of event where you show up for the drinks and stay for the discovery.
Details worth raising a glass to:
- Friday, September 11: 3–8 p.m. (VIP entry starts at 2 p.m.)
- Saturday, September 12: Noon–5 p.m., plus an 11 a.m. cider-and-cupcake pairing session
- Where: The Lawn at Discovery Center, 101 Westlake Ave. N, South Lake Union
- Tickets: VIP from $45, General Admission from $35 (prices rise closer to the event and at the gate)
- Bonus: Designated driver tickets available at the gate for $10–$11, complimentary water included
- 21+ event — no minors allowed
Beyond the pours, festivalgoers can wander the Heritage Cider Pavilion for small-batch, farm-based ciders, vote in the Oregon Fruit Co. Fruit Cider Challenge, browse festival merch at the event store, and let their pups relax at the Dog Lounge, hosted by Seattle Humane Society. Proceeds from the weekend help support the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, Seattle Humane Society, and the NW Cider Association — so every sip does a little good, too.
History of Cider Summit
Long before “craft cider” was a household phrase, Cider Summit founder Alan Shapiro was cutting his teeth in the beverage world as one of the earliest sales reps for Pete’s Brewing Company, the outfit behind Pete’s Wicked Ale — one of America’s original craft beer brands. Those years forged a relationship with industry friend Mark Browner, who Shapiro credits with planting the seed for today’s Cider Summit. Cider itself entered the picture in 2003, when Shapiro founded SBS Imports and secured U.S. rights to import Aspall Cyder from Suffolk, England. A visit to the historic cidery left a lasting impression, sparking his mission to build American craft cider into a category as vibrant as craft beer. After a couple years of planning, Shapiro partnered with the team behind Seattle Beer Week, and the very first Cider Summit launched in Seattle in September 2010 — an instant hit that quickly expanded to Portland, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Fifteen years later, Shapiro is still at the helm, still introducing new producers to curious drinkers, and still proving cider deserves just as much spotlight as beer or wine.
Address: 101 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Website: https://cidersummitseattle.com