Arts and Culture
Arts, Culture & History
Take in the Rhythm of Issaquah
Issaquah is a multi-cultural community deeply dedicated to supporting arts and culture. We celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and a deep connection to the natural environment through the visual arts. On most evenings you will find live music and Broadway-quality theatrical productions happening here year-round. We welcome you to join our cultural celebrations organized by community organizations each season. Visit the EVENTS CALENDAR for a quick view of what is happening during your stay. You ARE welcome here!
Celebrate Your Culture or Grow Your Cultural Competency
Welcome! The City of Issaquah is an inclusive community that welcomes everyone. Learn more about our efforts, and how you can participate. See how equity in Issaquah is being addressed here.
Culture is Celebrated Seasonally
Check out the Visit Issaquah Calendar of Events for cultural event offerings during your visit.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Creating unforgettable moments...
Art by Fire
Large Group Glassblowing Events or Teambuilding!
Bring your family or friends to experience the fascinating fun of turning molten glass into your own work of art. You work one-on-one with our glassblowers to make your own work of art. For adults and kids ages 5+ and no experience is required. Your beautiful work of art will be ready to go home 2 business days later.
Groups may bring in catering to enhance the experience.
195 Front Street N
Boehm's Candies
Chocolate Making Classes!
The class begins with a tour of our factory and an explanation of how chocolate is made. After seeing how Bohem's makes the many different types of candies, you’ll have the opportunity to create your own chocolate masterpieces! Participants will make their own chocolate mold, clusters, soft center, rocky road, and even decorate a chocolate bar. While your chocolates are drying they will take you on a tour of the chalet where the founder, Julius Boehm, lived and the High Alpine Chapel if available. The class will finish off back in the kitchen where you’ll package your goodies – over 1 ½ pounds of chocolate (a $50.00 value)!
Adults and best for children 8 years and up. Classes are limited to 8 participants. Generally held on Saturdays and Sundays @ 10:30 am or 2:30 pm & Thursdays @ 3:30 pm, depending on staffing. Click HERE for a photo gallery of the experience.
If you have a different day/time in mind or a *larger group, please inquire as they often can accommodate other requests.
255 NE Gilman Blvd.
Mudhouse Pottery
For your next party or event try something new and unique: an artistic adventure! They offer many party and event options so everyone can share in the fun. Celebrate life’s milestones, reconnect with friends, and build stronger bonds with associates, in a fun, stress-free environment.
Want to enjoy a glass of wine with your painting? All you need, is to acquire a banquet permit:
http://liq.wa.gov/licensing/banquet-permits. Then print it and post it at your table!
Mudhouse Pottery Painting is a great venue for:
- birthday parties
- corporate events
- church groups
- baby showers
- bridal showers
- moms' groups
- and more!
317 NW Gilman Blvd
Nifty Knitter
Need a little help? Or just want a great group of fellow fiber artists? Our Stitch Circles will fit the bill nicely! You can join one of our Nifty staff members every week or every once in a while for our stitch circles. Bring your needles or hooks for that extra bit of help from our professionals and a great group of supportive fiber enthusiasts just like you. Purchase a drop in or a five punch card specific to the teacher.
317 NW Gilman Blvd
Northwest Makes
Take an art class in the downtown Issaquah creative distict. Northwest Makes offers small, in-person group classes, perfect for team building/bonding events and "meetings while making." Workshops include block printing, screen printing, sewing and plant dyes, plus more in the works. Classes are for adults, unless otherwise marked for kids. Catering available upon request.
Northwest Makes can also bring a workshop to YOUR location. Visit website to learn more.
160 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 326
Out of the Box Eco Store
Offers sustainable living workshops and environmentally friendly art classes. Attendees get a hands-on experience in making home and personal care products or art project created from recycled or upcycled materials. Perfect team building/bonding experience for the eco-minded or eco-curious small group in a beautiful studio in the heart of Issaquah's historic downtown.
Out of the Box will customize an experience for your group. Find contact information on the website.
17 NW Alder Pl, Suite 205
Squak Art Studio
Specializing in weekly workshop-style art classes, where students get individual coaching from an experienced instructor. Classes are geared towards adults, teenagers & children ages 7+. Flexible lesson plans are tailored to individual students by age and art experience, offering suitable techniques to three levels of challenge.
Children start with cartooning and basic shape building, and later explore realism, interpretive style and composition. Teens and adults build on these same skills, while moving into areas of concept, communication, and advanced technique.
240 Northwest Gilman Blvd.
Take a Trip Back in Time....
Boehm's Candies
Visiting Boehm’s Candies? Learn more about how we work our magic in our candy kitchen, and then visit our retail store at the front of the chalet where you can purchase some of the candies you saw being made!
Self-guided Window Tour (open anytime during retail hours)
Free, self-guided window tour is available anytime during regular retail hours. During production hours, windows along the side of our factory allow you to have a glimpse of the day’s happenings. Watch (and smell!) as our candy maker sets out a fresh batch of peanut brittle, admire the handiwork of our dippers as they roll and dip tasty truffles, and admire the many molded chocolate pieces in our molding and packaging department. Information posted at every window describes each area’s purpose, as well as gives some of the history of Boehm’s. Four large monitors have been added along the window tour to enhance your experience.
The ideal time for a window tour is while our candy makers are in production – Monday through Friday between 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (some areas may be on a lunch break between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm. During holidays, special events, or other unusual circumstances production may be limited or not available for viewing).
Guided Tours (by reservation only)
On the guided tour, you will be escorted through our chocolate factory where you will see the art of handmade chocolate making (and enjoy tasty samples!), the authentic chalet where our founder lived, as well as the beautiful High Alpine Chapel (if not being used for a wedding or event).
There are two types of guided tours: Public tours, where you will join other visitors for the tour; or private tours, where your group will have your own dedicated tour guide.
255 NE Gilman Blvd.
Gilman Village Shopping District
Gilman Village, an Issaquah, WA, landmark for almost half a century. Gilman Village is a mixed use center featuring shops, restaurants, personal services, even a preschool, all residing in houses, buildings and other structures preserved from Issaquah's historic past. It all began in 1972 when Marvin and Ruth Mohl started saving unwanted buildings from around the old farming and mining town of Issaquah, just east of Seattle. They renovated and combined them into an attractive retail area in a park-like setting. Their goal was to create a haven for independent shops and restaurants. A half century later, the 40-plus shops and restaurants that make up Gilman Village constitute one of Puget Sound's best known and most distinctive shopping destinations.
317 NW Gilman Blvd
Historic Downtown Issaquah
Find historic charm and an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, bars brewpubs and boutiques in beautiful and walkable Historic Downtown Issaquah.
Front Street and Sunset Way
Issaquah Depot Museum
The Issaquah train depot played an important part in the city’s economic development and is now a museum with opportunities to interact with educational displays.
78 First Ave NE
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
The Issaquah Hatchery was constructed in 1936 as a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) venture, created to restore the historic salmon runs that once thrived in Issaquah Creek but had been destroyed by logging, coal mining and other activities in the Issaquah Creek Basin.
Feel free to drop by for a self guided tour, or to visit some of the displays and salmon fry that live at the hatchery year-round!
Guided tours are also available for on an as-requested basis. Please contact us at least 2 weeks before your desired tour date to schedule. Tours are $5 per person*
125 W Sunset Way
Triple XXX Rootbeer
Triple XXX Rootbeer serves up 1950's style hamburgers and dairy concoctions in large serving sizes and is proud to host frequent gatherings of vintage automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts. Sunday vintage car shows are a spring/summer tradition. Visit the website for the featured show of the week.
Captivating Sites and Sounds...
Village Theatre
Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining, quality productions since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region’s best-attended theatres, with just over 18,000 Mainstage season subscribers and 220,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having supported the creation of over 175 new works to date.
303 Front Street N
Village Theatre Kids Stage
Youth theatre productions at Village Theatre KIDSTAGE are a special experience! Student-focused yet housed within a professional theatre, our shows are high-quality fun.
Students participate in all areas of KIDSTAGE productions. Students seeking behind-the-scenes roles may be involved through TTP (Technical Theatre Program), working in management, direction, design, orchestral performance, or technical theatre. The technical staff of Village Theatre’s Mainstage shows supports the directors and designers of the KIDSTAGE productions.
120 Front Street N
Website
Vino Bella Wine Bar & Bistro
Live music of all genres, stand-up comedy, and drag queen shows playing Friday, Saturday nights and sometimes Sundays and Wednesdays. Check the website for the line up.
Seating is first come, first seated, standing room thereafter unless noted. Minimum $10 purchase per person during events please.
99 Front Street N
Website
Seasonal Live Entertainment
Check out the Visit Issaquah Calendar of Events for seasonal live entertainment offerings during your visit.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Public Art
Want to see beautiful art by just cruising around Issaquah? The Public Arts tours are self guided and free.
Downtown Issaquah Public Art
Issaquah Highlands Public Art
Utility Box Art Installations
Commissioned by the City of Issaquah Art Commission over 80 installations city-wide are available to enjoy for free.
- “Paper Mountains”, Sean Callahan, near JaKs Restaurant Front Street and Sunset Way
- “Moons” Vikram Madan, stoplight at Julius Boehm pool
- “Home Sweet Home” Pamela Holderman, near Issaquah Creek at Newport Way
- “Heron” Pamela Beer, Gilman Blvd and Front Street
- “Fall “Julie Rackley, Gilman Blvd and Maple Street, Issaquah Commons
- “Crane” Jake Wagoner, Tibbetts Valley Park Newport Way Park and Ride Overflow
- “Triangulum” Marsha Rollinger, East Lake Sammamish Parkway
- “Cascade Nocturne” Scott Hammond, Highlands Drive, Swedish Hospital Entrance
- “Paragliders” Stacy Boyd, Highlands Drive
- “Cascade Autumn” Scott Hammond, Highlands Drive and Lilac, near Issaquah Terrace Apts entrance
- “Composition” Aziz Amrani, Seventh and Gilman
- “Bits of Sunshine” Pamela Beer, Second and Front Street
- “Watch” Cynthia Gerdes, NW Maple and 12th Avenue, near Spring Hill Suites Marriott
- “Journey” Bergljot Hals, Second and Sunset
- “How to Hide an Egg, Pamela Holdeerman, Sunset and Newport
- "Ikebana” Fred Lisaius, 10th & NW Sammamish
- “View from My Kayak” Carrie Schmiitt, Issaquah Fall City Road and Black Nugget
- “Sophia” Pamela Beer, Gilman and 12th (WF)
- “Lulu Art” Ella Campanario, Lake Samm Pkwy / Black Nugget
- “Wheat Grass Sunset” Barbi M. Doll, 17th Ave at Tullys
- ‘Carkeek Pathway” Evan Elizabeth Hilsenberg-Riley, Timberlake Park
- “Heron” Margaret Hynes, Gilman Village Ped Crossing
- “High Summer” Fred Lisaius, Highlands: Park and 10th
- “Coho Run” Maureen Mitchell, Fish Hatchery
- “Painting 1” Trevor Moon, Lake Samm Pkwy / Black Nugget
- “Moonlit Striped Hillside & Screech” Nina O'Neil, NW Samm and 11th Ave (Pickering)
- “Night Trees” Mardie Rhodes, Highlands: Park and 15th
- “Box Top” Carol Whitaker, 700 2nd Ave (IHS)
- “With Chickens” Gail Baker, Gilman Boulevard at 4th Ave NW - near The Egg and Us
- “Hiking Boots” Pamela Beer, 4th Ave NW near Post Office side entrance
- “Where Are Our Children” Lynn Colwell, Maple at Fire Station 72
- “Power of Sisters” Johanna Porter, Maple and Newport Way
- “Grizzly” Nivedita Saju Menon, Highlands: NE Federal Drive at Highlands Drive
- “Sunset” Thane Williams, Front and Dogwood
Get Clinky in the 'Quah
Capri Cellars
Wines, Craft Beer & Cider
A stylish and comfortable setting is an ideal place to learn about wine and discover what you love. Capri Cellars offer many high end and small production wines in our tasting flights as well as by the glass. Many of the wines they have open can only be tasted at the winery's tasting room. The selection changes regularly so you can find something new each time you come visit. Don’t feel like wine? They have craft beers and a selection of ciders to fit any mood.
Experience Tea
Experience Tea classes are fun and informative and are really the backbone of creating an empowered tea-life.
195 Front Street N
Website
Forumla Brewing
At Formula Brewing, they are devoted to delivering exceptional "in glass" and "out of glass" experiences. "In glass" refers to the frequently changing line up of true-to-style beers that will satisfy everyone from the connoisseur to the casual beer lover. "Out of glass" refers to our taproom and beer garden setting that delivers a friendly and relaxing setting for your whole family.!