An insider's guide to Bumbershoot

This is Bumbershoot's 35th anniversary, and Seattle Times music critic Patrick MacDonald has been to all 34 previous editions. Here are his Top 10 Bumbershoot Secrets, revealed for the first time!

1. Best bathrooms: Third floor of Center House. Take the stairs at the back of the hall on the second floor (aka the Food Circus) next to the stage, or ride the elevator (next to the cash machine). The bathrooms are never crowded and have plenty of hot water and paper towels, changing tables for baby and a pay phone (the least busiest in the building) right outside.

2. Best parking: Downtown Seattle. Avoid traffic jams at Seattle Center. Park downtown and take the monorail — running every five minutes during Bumbershoot — or one of the many bus lines that serve Seattle Center (get a Metro Day Pass from any driver on Saturday, Sunday or Monday and ride all day for $2.50). Street parking is free Sunday and Monday. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Metro will run a Bumbershoot shuttle between Northgate Park & Ride and Seattle Center every 20 minutes. Metro Rideshare is an option, especially for the elderly or those with limited mobility (information at www.rideshareonline.com). There are bike racks at the Mercer Street, First Avenue North and Space Needle entrances. Find further transportation information online: www.bumbershoot.org.

3. How to secure those annoying passes to the nighttime Mainstage shows: Drop by early and pick up a Mainstage pass for that day by showing your Bumbershoot ticket stub. One pass per person. Then leave and come back later — yes, you can come and go at Bumbershoot, which most people don't realize. Because of the big names performing on the Mainstage this year, most passes for nighttime shows (they're not required for daytime shows) will probably be gone by 1 p.m. daily. (Don't get me started about the stupid passes — they're completely unnecessary and only create hassles.)

4. Where to find peace and quiet: When the crowds and the noise get to you, and your tired feet are killing you, head to our favorite place, the third floor of Center House. There are plenty of places to sit and relax and a much underused, supervised play area for kids (it is also the Lost Kids Station). You can bring up food and drink from the Food Circus below. And create some souvenirs in the photo booth!

5. Best time to go: Friday is always the least crowded, most family-friendly day. Free admission for kids 6-12 with a coupon from Chevron stations or ExtraMile Convenience Stores. (Kids 5 and younger get in free all four days.) Because of fewer people, you can get into almost anything you want. There are fewer acts Friday because there are no daytime Mainstage shows. But the lineup this year is stellar, including the Donnas, New York Dolls and Garbage on the Mainstage, starting at 6:15 p.m. Also playing are Maktub, Mavis Staples, Smoosh, Razrez, Baby Gramps and Stan Ridgway. Friday is the best day to take in the permanent art and literary exhibits because they're uncrowded.

6. Cheap water: There's plenty of food and drink (including beer gardens) at Bumbershoot, but if you object to paying $2 for a little bottle of water, go out the First Avenue North entrance/exit, cross the street to the QFC and pick up cheap bottled water. You can take it back into Bumbershoot — but only if it's unopened! You can also bring your own food to Bumbershoot, as long as it is in paper or plastic containers (no glass).

7. Have a plan: Although you can go unprepared and find plenty to see and do, it's best to go with a plan, especially for those Mainstage shows (remember, you must get a pass beforehand!). On Saturday and Sunday, the most crowded days, you may have to sit through an act you don't particularly want to see to be there for the act you do want to catch — especially in the indoor venues. That takes a plan. When you can't get into a show you want to see, you should have a backup plan. Walking around looking for something interesting can get tiring.

8. Stretch your Bumbershoot dollar: While at Seattle Center, you might as well visit the Space Needle, especially if you have out-of-town guests. Your Bumbershoot ticket stub gets you half-price admission to the Observation Deck. Your stub is also good for a discount membership at Experience Music Project.

9. No-nos: Did you know that cameras are banned at Bumbershoot? They are. And if it rains, we're all out of luck, as Bumbershoot allows no bumbershoots (another name for umbrellas). Also banned: chairs, even the folding kind; audio or visual equipment; laser pointers and noisemakers of any kind. Pets are allowed at Seattle Center, but be kind to animals and leave your dogs or other pets at home.

10. If money is no object: Get yourself a Gold or Platinum Pass, at $160 and $260 respectively. They get you into everything, with no lines and no waiting, and with one of these, you won't need a pass for Mainstage shows and you can skip the line through the VIP entrance. Plenty of other perks, too, including parking. Information: www.bumbershoot.org.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312

or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com