Every entrance to Fisher Pavilion will have metal detectors and bag checks when Panda Fest opens Friday, Aug. 28, a direct response to the mass shooting that killed three people at The Bite of Seattle on July 26.
The three-day Asian food and culture festival expects up to 25,000 attendees at Seattle Center through Sunday, Aug. 30.
It's the event's second year in the Queen Anne neighborhood, and the first large-scale festival to return to the campus since the shooting outside the Armory left two bystanders and one suspected shooter dead and four others wounded, including a 2-year-old boy.
Panda Fest organizer Biu Biu Xu told KIRO 7 that safety drove the decision to install OpenGate walk-through detection systems at every entry point, supplemented by handheld wands and expanded check-in lanes.
"I feel like safety is the first priority of the events … Different cities have different regulations and policies, so we feel like it's safer for everyone to use OpenGate because it's a fast way to detect anything," Xu said.
Organizers are coordinating directly with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Center staff. Interim SPD Chief Andre Sayles, appointed July 31 after Chief Shon Barnes resigned in the shooting's aftermath, said at a July 31 press conference that officers would increase their presence at all public events.
Panda Fest's ticketed, enclosed footprint at Fisher Pavilion gives organizers a structural advantage over the free, open-access Bite of Seattle. Controlled entry points make screening every attendee feasible. Organizers encourage arriving early to allow extra time through security.
What to expect
More than 60 food vendors will serve over 200 dishes spanning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines. Over half the vendors are Seattle-area businesses, according to organizers. The festival also features a marketplace of 20-plus craft and apparel vendors, live performances, cultural programming and a 15-foot inflatable panda.
Tickets and hours
- Friday, Aug. 28: 4–10 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 29: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 30: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
General admission is $14 ($16 on Saturday). VIP tickets run $35 ($37 Saturday). Walk-up gate admission is $20, subject to capacity. Children under six get in free with a complimentary panda headband.
No outside food or beverages are allowed, with exceptions for medical dietary needs and baby formula. Only service animals are permitted on festival grounds.
The security landscape
The July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting was gang-related, according to police, involving at least three suspects armed with ghost guns. A 15-year-old was charged. A third suspect remains unidentified. The investigation is ongoing.
Seattle Center's safety page states that planning varies by event and involves collaboration among producers, venue operators and public safety agencies.
Panda Fest runs at Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison St., steps from the Space Needle.
