SeaFair 2014 – One of the most exciting events in the greater Seattle area is almost here once again! Seafair features parades for the whole family, the soaring Boeing Air Show, high-octane hydroplane races, and memories being made darn near every minute.
Seattle hosts Seafair every summer- and it’s a lot more than just a weekend thing. It’s a month-long, region-wide barbecue, that brings an entire community together in celebration. Now well past its 60th year of celebration, Seafair has been about community events, parades, Miss Seafair, the Navy and Coast Guard, amateur athletics, airplanes and of course, boat racing. But more than anything, Seafair is all about the people who attend.
Seafair has more than 5,000 volunteers, hundreds of thousands of spectators who come out for the parades and hydroplane races, and many more that participate in Seafair’s torchlight run and triathlon. And who could forget the youth who participate in the Miss Seafair Scholarship?
During the month, Seafair will be host to drill teams that practice endlessly to get in sync, hydroplane crews tuning turbine engines to their peak, Pirates and Clowns who visit hospitals and convalescent centers year round, and all the well-rehearsed marching bands you could ever ask for.
Seafair is put together by a dedicated 40-member Board of Directors, a talented year-round staff of only 7 and a dozen seasonal staff and summer interns that make things happen.
Seafair is for everyone. Most events are completely free and as a recent local newspaper column stated, it’s a part of what makes up a “Quintessential Northwesterner”. Here’s the schedule of events:
–Seafair Festival Kick Off
Sunday, June 15 | Westlake Park | 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
–Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon – A Seafair Signature Event
Saturday, June 21 | Seattle Center | 7 a.m
–Seafair Pirates Landing
Saturday, June 28 | Alki Beach | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
–Seafair Summer Fourth
Friday, July 4 | Gas Works Park & South Lake Union Park | 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
–PCC Natural Markets Seafair Milk Carton Derby featuring ZICO Seafair Stand Up Paddleboarding, an Urban Surf Competition & the Group Health Seafair Battle for the Paddle
Saturday, July 12 | Green Lake | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Also featuring the Seafair Stand Up Paddleboarding Competition and the Seafair Battle for the Paddle
–Seafair Triathlon & Kids Seafair Triathlon
Sunday, July 20 | Seward Park | 6:30 a.m.
–MISS SEAFAIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN CORONATON
Thursday, July 24 | Seattle Repertory Theatre | 7 p.m.
–SEAFAIR TORCHLIGHT NIGHT FEATURING…
Saturday, July 26 | Downtown Seattle | 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
–Seattle Center Seafair Torchlight FanFest
Seattle Center | 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Seattle Center
–Michelob ULTRA Seafair Torchlight Run
Seattle Center/Downtown Seattle | 6:30 p.m.
– Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade
Downtown Seattle/4th Avenue | 7:30 p.m.
–SEAFAIR FLEET WEEK & BOEING MARITIME CELEBRATION FEATURING…
Parade of Ships
Wednesday, July 30 | Pier 62/63 | 1:45 p.m.
Ship Tours
Thursday, July 31 – Saturday, August 2 | Pier 66 and Other Locations TBA | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 3 | Pier 66 and Other Locations TBA | 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
–SEAFAIR WEEKEND FEATURING…
August 1 – 3 | Genesee Park on Lake Washington | Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun. 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
–Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, Boeing Seafair Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Graham Trucking Seafair Cup – F1 Prop Tunnel Boat Racing, Seafair Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition, Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience, Seafair Saturday Night Concert featuring Fireworks Show, Live Music & Entertainment, Interactive Exhibits & Booths, Food Court & Beer Gardens
Seafair has become a huge source of local Northwest pride over the years. The Puget Sound is as robust, diverse and booming as ever, making Seafair more important than ever. As other cities become homogenized, Seafair is a one of the many unique catalysts that keep us unique.
Over 2 million people become part of the Sea Fair events and celebrations each year, and can that many people be wrong? Be sure to join the festivities this year if you haven’t before, and you’ll be back year after year just like the rest of us.
