Hempfest is probably the best weekend of people-watching in Seattle. Hippies, psuedo hippies, hip-hop kids, wide-eyed first-comers, and everyone in between congregate on the boulder-rimmed shores of Myrtle Edwards Park for the annual summer gathering of stoners masquerading as "hemp advocates." Anyone who has ever been knows it’s more like a cauldron of bad speeches, Lyndon LaRouche flyers, and sloppily dressed teens, but it’s worth a glance if you’ve never been.

Edmond’s own travel magnate and out-of-the-closet pot enthusiast Rick Steves is on the bill this year, adding a little business muscle to the scene while preaching the horrors of incarcerating the non-violent, programmer-type stoners that seem to permeate the region.

In years past, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has lent his name to the cause, as have an assortment of local musical acts of varying quality. While Seattlest considers Hempfest a celebration of corniness, we do agree with the general aims of the movement and recommend the spectacle. Did we mention the people-watching was good?

Those who aren’t enamored with cheap glassware and Bob Marley tapestries can take their hardened hearts up to Belltown for Methfest—a skinnier, faster-heartbeat alternative to the high school party vibe down at Myrtle Edwards. As to whether or not people will actually be advocating for meth rights remains to be seen. However, an assortment of bands playing under the meth banner will be featured at a variety of venues to fill the empty meth rights niche that is so clearly lacking in our political dialogue.

We can’t vouch for the scene at Methfest, as we’re Methfest virgins, but we’re prepared for an ungodly amount of chain-smoking, scratching, and hyper-speed conversation. If you have any broken vacuums or power drills that need tinkering, this is the place to bring them, as able-bodied hands looking for something to focus on should be in abundance.

Methfest schedule:
Day 1: Aug 14 - The Rendezvous 10PM / 21+ / $5
Day 2: Aug 15 - The Comet Tavern 9PM / 21+/ $6
Day 3: Aug 16 - The Josephine 7PM

King Hippie photo courtesy of joeszilagyi from the Seattlest Flickr Pool