The Brief
- Food vendors at Seattle Center’s Panda Fest are taking comfort in heightened security measures—including metal detectors, bag checks, and visible police presence—following a shooting at the grounds a month prior.
- Organizers expect around 10,000 ticketed visitors for the event, which enforces strict entrance screening and bans all weapons, mobility equipment, self-defense sprays, smoking products, and illegal drugs.
- Vendors who experienced the previous shooting firsthand or avoided it report that the city and organizers’ multi-layered safety strategy provides the peace of mind needed to participate.
SEATTLE – Food vendors are returning to Seattle Center this weekend for Panda Fest, taking comfort in heightened safety measures following a shooting at the same grounds a month prior.
Organizers expect roughly 10,000 ticketed visitors to attend the weekend-long festival, which requires a ticket for entry.
Vendors seek peace of mind to return
The enhanced security protocols follow a July 26 shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival held at the same venue.
For participating vendors, the earlier violence remains top of mind. Kady Muongvang, owner of Kady Lao Street Food, noted that the incident was frightening, but shared that her team prayed for safety and hopes visitors turn out to enjoy specialty dishes like papaya salad and homemade Lao sausage.…