Summer weekends in Seattle bring summer festivals and special events. This weekend brings a number of excellent choices for fun.

The Pioneer Square Fire Festival ^[1] helps fund the development of a Seattle Fire Department Museum at 2nd Ave S & S Main St. Free admission on Saturday gives you access to displays of historic photos, fire-related memorabilia and eight historic fire rigs, including a hand-drawn pumper and a horse-drawn steamer. The festival itself starts on Friday at noon in Pioneer Square with the Out to Lunch Concert Series, featuring Ellen Jewel. The Fire Festival’s official opening ceremony begins at 1:30, followed by the Firefighter Combat Challenge, a series of musical performances and the McCoy’s Firehouse 10th Anniversary Spaghetti Feed. Saturday’s line up of events includes the Fire Museum displays, a display of classic police cars, more musical performances and many more fun activities–don’t forget to go pan for gold at the Klondike Museum, visit the food and beer gardens and join the raffle drawings for hot prizes.

Celebrate French culture at the Seattle Center’s ^[2]Bastille Day weekend celebration Saturday and Sunday featuring cultural exhibits, French food and wine and live music.

Sunday at the Pike Place Market ^[3] is the Berry Bash, celebrating berries and cherries with pie eating contests, live music, games, crafts, and chef cooking demos.

Also on Sunday is the Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon ^[4] at Bell Harbor Center where you can discover and taste fine artisan and gourmet chocolates, watch chef demonstrations and visit the chocolate spa.