This year’s Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle will be held only on Saturday and Sunday and restrict attendees to 21 and older.
SEATTLE — There will be a handful of noticeable changes to this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party, which begins Saturday in the heart of the popular Seattle neighborhood.
After years of the event being held over a three-day period, this year’s festival will only be held on Saturday and Sunday.
It will also be restricted to attendees 21 and older for the first time in history “to optimize the festival layout, providing a better customer, fan and neighborhood experience.”
In 2024, several concert-goers complained on social media about poor crowd control, overcrowding and people fainting.
“It was crazy! The entire 76 gas station, bless the souls of the people working there, that place is packed with everybody,” said Santana Alvarado, who worked outside the venue last year. “I’m sure I saw the mosh pit in a random part of the street.”
According to previously released data by the Seattle Fire Department, more than 70 people were treated for minor injuries or complaints during the first two days of last year’s festival.
“It was really busy… it was pretty crazy, but it’s cool. It’s a really fun vibe,” added Willow Campbell.
A spokesperson for the Seattle Fire Department told KING 5 the agency “performs onsite inspections for permitted special events to ensure compliance with permit conditions established by the City of Seattle Special Events Office.”
They said the inspection includes a review of emergency egress routes and maximum occupancy loads.
“In regard to crowd control, it’s the venue’s responsibility to track how many people have entered the venue area per the approved occupancy load limit,” the spokesperson added. “SFD conducts an on-site inspection once the majority of the venue is set-up, and then may conduct unannounced inspections during the duration of the event.”
The marketing manager for Daydream State, which owns and operates the festival, addressed safety concerns in an interview with KING 5.
“We work extremely close with Seattle Fire, just trying to ensure the safety of everyone here. It’s the single most important element of any large scale event, including music festival, so it’s really working closely with them just to ensure that we’re providing the safest, most secure, most comfortable experience possible,” said Grace Lindsey.
The spokesperson said Daydream State has contracted with an independent EMS service provider to respond to initial incidents this year. SFD will be available as needed and will still respond to 911 calls inside the venue.
In 2023, Essence Greene-Madden was killed by a stray bullet. At the time, officers reported a large crowd had gathered with vehicles driving recklessly at the intersection of Broadway and East Pike Street shortly after the block party ended.
The Seattle Police Department did not respond to KING 5’s request for comment on its patrol plans for the 2025 block party.
Last year, the department said SWAT would be on standby.