Northwest event rocks, rain or shine

Seattle

Sept. 2-5: With concerts, a film festival, dance, theater, comedy, poetry readings and art exhibitions, there’s generally more going on at Bumbershoot than you can shake an umbrella at. Music headliners at Bumbershoot, the Seattle Arts Festival, include Elvis Costello, Garbage, Trey Anastasio (formerly of Phish) and Digable Planets. The 1 Reel Film Festival will run concurrently, as will “In Resonance,” an exhibition of sound art.

Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St. Advance tickets, $18 one day, $55 four days. After Aug. 25, $28 and $80. (206) 628-0888, www.bumbershoot.org.

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Portland, Ore.

Sept. 9-18: The Time-Based Art Festival, now in its third year, draws performers from around the globe who work in dance, video and sound. The free opening performance, by the acrobatic dance troupe STREB -- known for its fusion of scientific principles and general fearlessness -- will be at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Other locations include bridges and sidewalks. The festival winds down with a Dada Ball on Sept. 17.

Locations throughout Portland. Tickets $7-$20. Passes $125-$200. (503) 242-1419, www.pica.org.

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Monterey, Calif.

Sept. 16-18: The Monterey Jazz Festival lures more than 500 musicians to the Central California coast; thousands of jazz fans follow. Opening the 2005 show: tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who played the inaugural event in 1958. Branford Marsalis, the artist in residence, will perform Sunday night. Guitarist John Scofield, the festival’s showcase artist, will pop up on stages across the wooded 20-acre grounds all weekend, including leading a tribute to Ray Charles. Jazz newcomer Madeleine Peyroux, whose Billie Holiday-esque strains are gaining recognition on radio, will sing Sunday. Also making his festival debut: veteran vocalist Tony Bennett.

Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road. $90 grounds pass, $180 with reserved concert seats; day pass $30-$40. (831) 373-3366 , www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

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Albuquerque

Sept. 30-Oct. 9: The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the biggest and best-known hot-air and gas ballooning event in the world, and more than 900 balloons are expected to rise over the city. The mass ascensions, when all the balloons launch at the same time, are at dawn and after sunset. Other favorites: the balloon races, Glowdeo (with balloons shaped like cars, cactuses and animals), walking among the moored balloons, talking to the pilots and, yes, balloon rides.

Balloon Fiesta Park, Interstate 25 at Tramway exit, (888) 422-7277, www.balloonfiesta.com.

-- Pat Connell