Plan your whole season with our A-list of summer fun

Love the long calendars, but need the pithy, boiled-down version? Did you always use Cliffs Notes in English class? Here's a summerlong, weekend-by-weekend Best Bets edition of Summer Guide, perfect for reading on your iPhone.

May 15-16 weekend

The perennial kickoff to Seattle's festival season is the University District StreetFair, which in its 41st year claims to be the longest-running street fair in America. Whether you have a gray ponytail and remember the day of macramé plant hangers (oh, you still have one from the '69 U District street fair?) or you're a young sprout in need of some handcrafted bangles for your latest piercings, this is the place for you. Tip: Flame-retardant leisure-wear recommended; there are likely to be fire jugglers. www.udistrictchamber.org/StreetFair.

And don't forget: The Seattle Cheese Festival at Pike Place Market (smile and say "pepper jack"); the Clean Water Classic surfing bash at Westport; or perhaps some good-natured pillaging at Poulsbo's Viking Fest.

May 22-23 weekend

Raise a pint pot of ale (though it may be "re-enacted ale") to Her Majesty as re-enactors at Tacoma's Fort Nisqually Living History Museum celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday, circa 1850s. Tip: Historically correct flak jackets suggested; there are likely to be musket salutes. www.fortnisqually.org.And don't forget: The Penn Cove Water Festival, with tribal canoe races, on Whidbey Island; Point Robinson Kite Day on Vashon Island; or maybe the Great Kilted Run (do you like knees?) at Seattle's Magnuson Park.

May 28-31 weekend

It's Memorial Day weekend, and in Seattle that brings the four-day Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center. On Day One alone, there's Deano the Clown, a punk marching band, a 12-piece Afro-funk orchestra, and more toe-tapping, dancing-around-the-fountain free entertainment (donations suggested) than you can shake an Afro-funk drumstick at. www.nwfolklife.org.

And don't forget: The Kitsap Harbor Festival (with seagull-calling contest); the Ski to Sea multisport race in Bellingham; and the Edmonds Jazz Connection, a weekend of hot music.

June 5-6 weekend

Chill out with some fresh salt air and tour classic yachts at the Edmonds Rotary Waterfront Festival. www.edmondswaterfrontfestival.com.

And don't forget: The Duvall Days Country Livin' Festival; the Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, with hot lumpia at Seattle Center; and the Bellingham Scottish Highland Games, dedicated to kilts, bagpipes and caber tossing (bring your hard-hat).

June 12-13 weekend

If you like things that go fast and make a splash, and you have the human tendency to eat daily, Issaquah's Tastin' n Racin' festival was made for you. Hot boats, classic cars and festival food at Lake Sammamish State Park. www.tastinracin.com.

And don't forget: Festival Sundiata, celebrating African-American culture and arts, at Seattle Center.

June 19-20 weekend

Where better to cosmically tune into summer's official arrival than the Center of the Universe — or the north end of the Fremont Bridge, whichever is easier to get to from your place. The Fremont Fair and its accompanying Solstice Parade is uniquely weird and wonderful. Expect chalk fairies, stilt walkers, Afro-Brazilian dancers, and very large puppets. Prediction: All bicycle riders in the parade will be modestly clothed. And Sarah Palin will win a MacArthur genius award. fremontartscouncil.org and www.fremontfair.org.

And don't forget: Washington Brewers Festival, bringing 200 craft beers to Saint Edward State Park; Meeker Days Festival in Puyallup, which claims to be Pierce County's biggest street festival; and the annual Edmonds Arts Festival.

June 26-27 weekend

Score a one-two punch of classic Seattle summer doings: Saturday, wander 23 blocks of Greenwood Avenue among a showcase of '50s finned beauties and hellfire hot rods at the Greenwood Car Show. Sunday, line Fourth Avenue downtown for one of the season's premier showcases for showing off, as the Seattle Pride Parade spotlights a rainbow of colorful floats and personalities. www.greenwoodcarshow.com and www.seattlepridefest.org.

And don't forget: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, with long runs and long riffs; Bellevue Strawberry Festival, in the Crossroads neighborhood; and the Shoreline Arts Festival.

July 3-4 weekend

Seattle luminaries and citizen supporters showed their stuff with an 11th-hour financial rescue of the Family Fourth at Lake Union, the city's big fireworks show. Show your support by showing up (www.family4th.org). Looking for fireworks closer to your own neighborhood? See our full list of July Fourth events in Summer Guide.

And don't forget: Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival, with lots to keep you entertained until the fireworks go boom.

July 10-11 weekend

Seafair swashbuckles into town, with sabers rattling and anchors splashing. It's time for the Seafair Pirate's Landing at Alki Beach and the Seafair Milk Carton Derby at Green Lake, both on July 10. See www.seafair.com.

And don't forget: July becomes fat with festivals, including Redmond Derby Days, which atones with a slimming-down bike ride; Arlington Fly-in & Airshow, with experimental aircraft; Kent Cornucopia Days, the ever-popular Chinatown-International District Summer Fest, the tasty Ballard Seafoodfest, Mercer Island Summer Celebration and more.

July 17-18 weekend

The events list doesn't thin out and neither will you, with this weekend's Bite of Seattle at Seattle Center. After five falafel plates, go run five times around the International Fountain (and try to dodge the water jets when it plays "Ode to Joy").

And don't forget: Kla Ha Ya Days (say that five times fast) in Snohomish; White Center Jubilee Days; Kirkland Uncorked, with wine flowing on the Eastside; lavender festivals in Sequim and on San Juan Island; and the heart-thumping dancing and toe-tapping tunes of Seafair Indian Days Pow Wow and the Darrington Bluegrass Festival.

July 24-25 weekend

It's the Eastside's artiest weekend of the year, with the prestigious Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair, plus companion fairs all over downtown Bellevue. www.bellevuearts.org/fair.

And don't forget: Renton River Days, which wins hearts with its happily hokey Rubber Ducky Derby; Lake Stevens Aqua Fest, with events on land and lake, and the popular 100-foot dancing dragon of the Chinatown Seafair Parade.

July 31-Aug. 1 weekend

Seafair's Torchlight Parade lights up downtown Seattle on the 31st.

And don't forget: Tour de Terrace, summer fun in Mountlake Terrace; and more fun with bagpipes: the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering in Enumclaw.

Aug. 7-8 weekend

It's time for the THUNDERBOATS, THUNDERBOATS, THUNDERBOATS (cue echo effect) and the AIR SHOOOWWWW (cue Blue Angels to drown out announcer). The Seafair hydroplane races (and the running of the Albert Lee Cup — yes, we lost GM and got an appliance dealer) take over Lake Washington. The Seafair Air Show takes over the skies above. www.seafair.com.

And don't forget: Magnolia SummerFest and the Anacortes Arts Festival.

Aug. 14-15 weekend

It's scaled down and maybe even more down-home, which might just add to the appeal. And it's now called the City of Enumclaw and King County Fair. "Celebrate Homegrown" is the theme, Aug. 12-14. www.ci.enumclaw.wa.us.

And don't forget: Morton Loggers Jubilee, Auburn Good Ol' Days Festival, and North Bend's Festival at Mount Si.

Aug. 21-22 weekend

Cool off at the coast, at Long Beach's Washington State International Kite Festival (Aug 16-21). Or stick close to home and help Celebrate Shoreline (Aug. 17-22). www.kitefestival.com or www.shorelinewa.gov.

And don't forget: Snoqualmie Railroad Days.

Aug. 28-29 weekend

Fall must be coming. It's fair time in Monroe, with the launch of the Evergreen State Fair (Aug. 26-Sept. 6). www.evergreenfair.org.

And don't forget: Makah Days in Neah Bay, or Tibet Fest at Seattle Center.

Sept. 4-6 weekend

Labor Day weekend equals Bumbershoot, Seattle's biggest contemporary and pop music extravaganza, which sometimes requires bumbershoots (that's Mary Poppins-ese for "umbrella"), but not always. www.bumbershoot.org.

And don't forget: Ellensburg Rodeo and Bremerton Blackberry Festival.

Sept. 11-12 weekend

The Puyallup Fair is the big Bertha of fairs around Pugetville. Go get your annual dose of upside-down carnival rides and deep-fried things that really shouldn't be deep fried. And see if the giant pumpkins have broken any records this year. www.thefair.com.

And don't forget: Celebrate everything salty and wet, at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival and Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival; or head for the Aki Matsuri Japanese Cultural Arts Festival in Bellevue.

Sept. 18-19 weekend

Check out the results of the World Championship of Sand Sculpting, held this year in, of all places, non-sandy Federal Way. Sculptures should be completed by this date, to remain on display through Oct. 3. www.worldchampionshipofsandsculpting.com.

And don't forget: Fiestas Patrias, celebrating Latino culture, at Seattle Center.

Brian J. Cantwell: 206-748-5724 or bcantwell@seattletimes.com