Events, Communication, & Marketing

Events & Festivals

The Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) produces Lunar New Year, Dragon Fest, and C-ID Night Market. Event management includes sponsorships, coordinating with City of Seattle Special Events Office and other permitting agencies, soliciting food booths, food trucks, and crafting booths to vend at events, market and promote the events to bring thousands of event attendees to Chinatown-ID.

These events serve to preserve tradition and promote culture while stimulating the local economy to neighboring businesses. Additionally, CIDBIA partners with community members and organizations on collaborative events and promote neighborhood celebrations, including Hai! Japantown, CID Block Party, CID Bar Crawl, and more.

CIDBIA events serve as fundraisers for the organization and are 100% funded by outside sponsorships. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, click here. You can also contact us at events@cidbia.org 

Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate Seattle’s Chinatown-International District’s annual Lunar New Year with stunning non-stop live cultural entertainment, lion and dragon dances, kids costume parade, and a Food Walk that introduces visitors to the diverse and delicious cuisines of the district and more! 

Dragon Fest

Centered in the heart of Seattle’s historic Chinatown-ID, the Dragon Festival is one of Seattle’s largest annual Asian American celebration. Dragon Fest brings the streets to life with colorful live multi-cultural performances, historic walking and food tours – including the popular Food Walk that gives festival goers an opportunity to take their taste buds on a trip around the world, kids’ activities, and an open air market that features food, arts, and crafts! With a wealth of family friendly activities, food and outdoor market; the Dragon Fest is the premier pan Asian American celebration in the Northwest. 

C-ID Night Market

As the sun sets over the Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, the historic neighborhood awakens to a vibrant Night Market. Thousands of festival goers take to the streets to feast on a variety of international delights from food trucks and vendors dishing out a variety of street food to local restaurants serving up the district’s popular staples. The wealth of food is complemented by an outdoor international market, performances and an all ages dance party. With a diverse variety of food choices, shopping and entertainment; the Chinatown-ID has the largest Night Market in Seattle! 

Food Walks

Over the years, CIDBIA has held variations of Food Walk activities that continues to grow in popularity. C-ID Food Walks offer businesses an opportunity to present a new dish, seasonal drink, or small retail promotion on a scale of price range. Customers can simply pick up a menu and explore around the neighborhood to sample new items or revisit old classics. Food Walks are usually held in the summer season or alongside events & special occasions such as Small Business Saturday. 

Marketing & Communications

There is a lot to celebrate about the Chinatown-International District. Through our major events, festivals, and targeted marketing efforts, we reach visitors from cruise ships and downtown conventions, as well as Seattleites who are looking to explore culture and history right in their backyard.

In addition to marketing materials and promotions, the CIDBIA looks for opportunities to provide consistent communication with local stakeholders. 

Communicatons

• Bi-Weekly Neighborhood eNewsletter: inform ratepayers on activities in Chinatown-ID, promote businesses, upcoming events, resources, and news that are sent via email every other Tuesday.
• Monthly Look Ahead Marketing eNewsletter: highlight events and gatherings in the neighborhood, introduce new store openings, relay special promotions from businesses to external subscribers.
• Bi-Annual Billing Newsletter: updates for ratepayers on neighborhood events, sanitation, public safety, policy and advocacy, and general CIDBIA news mailed out to ratepayers twice a year.

Marketing

• CIDBIA manages, curates, shares, and boosts posts and events through social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @iheartid
• Website management for seattlechinatownid.com and cidbia.org by updating content and improving website functionalities, including total rebranding and rebuilding of both websites. 
• Japantown Seattle social media management and strategic planning for Japantown-focused events.
• New business resources include ribbons and scissors for ribbon cutting and grand opening, social media promotions, and an information packet/welcome kit for introducing CIDBIA services. 

advertising

CIDBIA partners with government agencies and local partners for tourism marketing to capture travelers in Seattle to visit Chinatown-International District. Our advertisement projects are funded by grants, with the goal to promote the neighborhood through video and storytelling series, bus and light rail ads, print and digital media, and more.