| Revision as of 19:04, 24 May 2017 edit71.197.246.8 (talk) Added Seafair Clowns, Commodores, Boat Club, and Parade Marshals.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 01:09, 16 July 2024 edit undoSounderBruce (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers112,497 editsm overbolding; script-assisted date audit and style fixes per MOS:NUM | ||
| (38 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|Summer celebration in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}} | |||
| {{Primary sources|date=June 2013}} | {{Primary sources|date=June 2013}} | ||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} | |||
| {{Infobox recurring event | {{Infobox recurring event | ||
| |name = Seafair | |name = Seafair | ||
| |logo = | |logo = Seafair logo.svg | ||
| |image = | |image = | ||
| |caption = | |caption = | ||
| |location = ], ], |
|location = ], ], U.S. | ||
| |years_active = |
|years_active = 1950–2019, 2021–present | ||
| |dates = | |dates = | ||
| |genre = | |genre = | ||
| |website = {{URL|http://www.seafair. |
|website = {{URL|http://www.seafair.org}} | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ] performing over ] in 2007, with the ] skyline in the background.]] | ] performing over ] in 2007, with the ] skyline in the background.]] | ||
| ⚫ | '''Seafair''' is |
||
| ⚫ | '''Seafair''' is an annual summer ] in ], ], that encompasses a wide variety of small ] events leading up to several major citywide celebrations. Its main events include the ] (and accompanying Torchlight Run), ] ] races, and an ] that often features the ]. Seafair also encompasses smaller ] and local ]s around the city and ]. | ||
| ⚫ | ==Events== | ||
| ⚫ | Seafair begins in mid-June; since |
||
| Seafair has been an annual event in Seattle since 1950 but its roots can be traced to the 1911 Seattle ] Celebrations. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ⚫ | In 2013, an ] ] show at ] known as the |
||
| The 2020 schedule for Seafair was cancelled on May 20, 2020, due to the ] and restrictions on public gatherings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wafai |first=Yasmeen |date=May 20, 2020 |title=Seafair cancels major summer 2020 events |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/events/seafair-reschuled-to-2021-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 20, 2020}}</ref> The next edition of Seafair was also cancelled in April 2021, stating that "while encouraged by ]'s Phase 3 guidelines that support small and medium size events to return with limitations, Seafair leadership recognizes the guidelines will not support events the scale of a city-wide festival."<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 21, 2021|title=Pandemic sidelines Seafair unlimited hydroplane racing again as event moves virtual|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/pandemic-sidelines-seafair-unlimited-hydroplane-racing-again-as-event-moves-virtual/|access-date=June 25, 2021|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ===The Triathlon and Torchlight festivities=== | |||
| ⚫ | The Seafair ] is held on the shores of ] from ]. It features both Sprint - half-mile ], {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} ] ride, and 5 km ]. Participants can compete individually or as a team. Typically, the Seafair Triathlon is held the third weekend of July. In 2007, the Seafair Triathlon saw a record turnout of 2,200.<ref>participants </ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ==Events== | ||
| ⚫ | The last weekend in July belongs to the ] and ]. Many local organizations participate in these events, held on the streets of ]. The local woman who has been selected as "Miss Seafair" (prior to 1972, "Seafair Queen") plays a prominent role in the parade. It is traditionally preceded by the Torchlight Run, a short (8 km) race through the city's streets in which many participants run in ]. | ||
| ⚫ | Seafair begins in mid-June; since 1949, its arrival has been heralded by the ] Landing on ], and the Milk Carton Derby on ], a whimsical boat race in which all the boats have been constructed out of empty ] cartons.<ref></ref> Entries always range from those carefully shaped for speed and stability to those designed for maximum amusement. The Derby is usually associated with a variety of activities for children and families on the shores of Green Lake. | ||
| ⚫ | A ] was added in 2002, follow three years later by the full Seafair ]. Participants can run or walk the {{convert|21.0975|km|mi|adj=on}} and {{convert|42.195|km|mi|adj=on}} courses. If a shorter distance is more appealing, participants can run or walk a 5 km course. The 2008 Seafair Half Marathon and Seafair Marathon began at ], crossed the ], and ended at ]'s Bellevue Downtown Park. After the race, live music was performed. In 2009, the Seafair Marathon and Half Marathon were replaced with the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon.<ref></ref> | ||
| ===The Seafair Cup and the Blue Angels=== | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In 2013, an ] ] show at ] known as the Seafair Summer Fourth was added. The event serves as a ''de facto'' successor to the ''Family Fourth'' fireworks event formerly held at the same site, which had been discontinued by its organizers due to a lack of funding. The event was revived under the auspices of Seafair with the financial support of local sponsors.<ref name=seattletimes-fireworks>{{cite web|title=McGinn got heads-up, has plan to salvage Fourth of July fireworks|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020740892_seattlefireworksxml.html|work=Seattle Times|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name=seafair-fourth>{{cite web|title=SEAFAIR SUMMER FOURTH – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO|url=http://www.seattlechamber.com/News/Article/13-06-20/Seafair_Summer_Fourth_%E2%80%93_Know_Before_You_Go.aspx|publisher=]|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref> | ||
| Due to government budget cuts, the Blue Angels did not perform at Seafair 2013; they were replaced by the ]<ref name=seattletimes-fireworks/> | |||
| ⚫ | The Seafair ] is held on the shores of ] from ]. It features both Sprint - half-mile ], {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} ] ride, and 5 km ]. Participants can compete individually or as a team. Typically, the Seafair Triathlon is held the third weekend of July. In 2007, the Seafair Triathlon saw a record turnout of 2,200.<ref>participants </ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ==Groups== | ||
| ===The |
===The Torchlight festivities=== | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | Another aspect of Seafair is the involvement of the ], an organization that works year-round entertaining children in ]s and performing other acts of ] including extensive fundraising. However, the ]s also usually perform loud—occasionally offensive—antics at Seafair (in an attempt to live up to their name) that cause perennial objection to their prominent involvement in the festivities. Despite this reputation, most people who enjoy Seafair see them as an essential part of the event.<ref></ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The last weekend in July belongs to the ] and ]. Many local organizations participate in these events, held on the streets of ]. The local woman who has been selected as "Miss Seafair" (prior to 1972, "Seafair Queen") plays a prominent role in the parade. It is traditionally preceded by the Torchlight Run, a short (8 km) race through the city's streets in which many participants run in ]. | ||
| <big>'''The '''</big> | |||
| ===Seafair Weekend=== | |||
| The mission of the Seafair Clowns is to serve the community by spreading joy and laughter through charitable visits and participation in local events. During the Seafair season, they dedicate over 125 hours to appearing at local events and visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and care centers. The 65 members continue spreading happiness year-round, supporting a variety of charitable organizations throughout the Puget Sound region and beyond.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seafairclowns.org/|title=Seattle Seafair Clowns|website=Seattle Seafair Clowns|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| One of the most popular events of the festival is the Seafair Weekend, held traditionally the first weekend of August on ]. Seafair Weekend main events include ] on the water and ] in the sky.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seafair.com/events/2019/seafair-weekend-festival |title=Seafair Weekend Festival |website=www.seafair.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727042304/https://www.seafair.com/events/2019/seafair-weekend-festival |archive-date=July 27, 2019}} </ref> | |||
| The ] is an ] unlimited ] circuit stop at ] on Lake Washington, in the ] neighborhood. The races attract tens of thousands of spectators, both those standing on the public shores of the lake, and those in ]s anchored just outside the course in the lake itself. | |||
| '''<big>The </big>''' | |||
| ⚫ | A tradition started in 1972, the ] is an ] coincidently with the days of the Seafair Cup. World-class aerobatics teams perform their aerial stunts over Lake Washington, most prominently the ] and ]. Notoriously, the ] have been attending the Air Show annually since its first edition, excepting in three occasions. The aerobatics show is a slightly controversial part of Seafair, as some local residents fear an accident involving the low-flying aircraft, and some find the noise of the ]s irritating.<ref></ref> There was no show at Seafair in 1994 and 1995 as a result of a dispute with the FAA about whether they could safely fly over Lake Washington. In 1996 the Blue Angels flew over ], west of downtown Seattle, in a separate event from the hydroplane race, but this was a financial flop, and they returned to being part of the race-weekend festivities over Lake Washington in 1997.<ref></ref> Due to government budget cuts, the Blue Angels did not perform at Seafair 2013; they were replaced by the ].<ref name=seattletimes-fireworks/> From 2019, the aerobatics show fly-over area was moved south to avoid the closing of the floating bridges carrying ] between ] and Seattle during the three days of Seafair Weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/washington/seattle/seafair-weekend-2019-what-you-need-know|title = Seafair Weekend 2019: What You Need to Know|date = August 2019}}</ref> | ||
| As the Seafair Festival's official Goodwill Ambassadors, Seafair Commodores have been serving the Seattle community for over 60 years. Active all year round, they represent Seattle and Seafair at festivals throughout the Northwest and British Columbia, as well as community service projects. They are a group of business leaders who continue to honor their original mission by raising money for the Seafair Foundation and Scholarship Program for Women. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Groups== | ||
| '''<big>The </big>''' | |||
| ===Seafair Pirates=== | |||
| The Seafair Boat Club is a not-for-profit organization chartered to organize volunteers in support of Seafair festival water-oriented activities throughout the greater Seattle area. These activities include the Denny's Milk Carton Derby on Greenlake in July, the Albert Lee Cup at Seafair on Lake Washington in August, and the Special People's Holiday Cruise throughout the Northwest in December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seafairboatclub.org/newsite/about/|title=About Us – Seafair Boat Club|website=www.seafairboatclub.org|language=en|access-date=2017-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| {{main|Seafair Pirates}} | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | Another aspect of Seafair is the involvement of the ], an organization that works year-round entertaining children in ]s and performing other acts of ] including extensive fundraising. However, the ]s also usually perform loud—occasionally offensive—antics at Seafair (in an attempt to live up to their name) that cause perennial objection to their prominent involvement in the festivities. Despite this reputation, most people who enjoy Seafair see them as an essential part of the event.<ref></ref> | ||
| '''<big></big>''' | |||
| The Parade Marshals assist in the planning, promotion and production of the Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade at SEAFAIR. The Parade is one of the top in the nation and each summer it attracts more than 300,000 people to the parade route in downtown Seattle; making a wonderful family event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seafairparademarshals.org/about-us.html|title=About Us {{!}} SEAFAIR Parade Marshals|website=www.seafairparademarshals.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
| {{Seattle Center}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 01:09, 16 July 2024
Summer celebration in Seattle, Washington, U.S. | This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Seafair" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Seafair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location(s) | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Years active | 1950–2019, 2021–present |
| Website | www |
Seafair is an annual summer festival in Seattle, Washington, that encompasses a wide variety of small neighborhood events leading up to several major citywide celebrations. Its main events include the Torchlight Parade (and accompanying Torchlight Run), Seafair Cup hydroplane races, and an air show that often features the Blue Angels. Seafair also encompasses smaller block parties and local parades around the city and Seattle metropolitan area.
Seafair has been an annual event in Seattle since 1950 but its roots can be traced to the 1911 Seattle Golden Potlatch Celebrations.
History
The 2020 schedule for Seafair was cancelled on May 20, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings. The next edition of Seafair was also cancelled in April 2021, stating that "while encouraged by Governor Inslee's Phase 3 guidelines that support small and medium size events to return with limitations, Seafair leadership recognizes the guidelines will not support events the scale of a city-wide festival."
Events
Seafair begins in mid-June; since 1949, its arrival has been heralded by the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki Beach, and the Milk Carton Derby on Green Lake, a whimsical boat race in which all the boats have been constructed out of empty milk cartons. Entries always range from those carefully shaped for speed and stability to those designed for maximum amusement. The Derby is usually associated with a variety of activities for children and families on the shores of Green Lake.
A half marathon was added in 2002, follow three years later by the full Seafair Marathon. Participants can run or walk the 21.0975-kilometre (13.1094 mi) and 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) courses. If a shorter distance is more appealing, participants can run or walk a 5 km course. The 2008 Seafair Half Marathon and Seafair Marathon began at Husky Stadium, crossed the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, and ended at Bellevue, Washington's Bellevue Downtown Park. After the race, live music was performed. In 2009, the Seafair Marathon and Half Marathon were replaced with the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon.
In 2013, an Independence Day fireworks show at Lake Union known as the Seafair Summer Fourth was added. The event serves as a de facto successor to the Family Fourth fireworks event formerly held at the same site, which had been discontinued by its organizers due to a lack of funding. The event was revived under the auspices of Seafair with the financial support of local sponsors.
The Seafair Triathlon is held on the shores of Lake Washington from Seward Park. It features both Sprint - half-mile swim, 12-mile (19 km) bike ride, and 5 km run - and Olympic distances. Participants can compete individually or as a team. Typically, the Seafair Triathlon is held the third weekend of July. In 2007, the Seafair Triathlon saw a record turnout of 2,200.
The Torchlight festivities
The last weekend in July belongs to the Torchlight Parade and Torchlight Run. Many local organizations participate in these events, held on the streets of Downtown Seattle. The local woman who has been selected as "Miss Seafair" (prior to 1972, "Seafair Queen") plays a prominent role in the parade. It is traditionally preceded by the Torchlight Run, a short (8 km) race through the city's streets in which many participants run in costume.
Seafair Weekend
One of the most popular events of the festival is the Seafair Weekend, held traditionally the first weekend of August on Genesee Park. Seafair Weekend main events include hydroplane racing on the water and aerobatics show in the sky.
The Seafair Cup is an American Boat Racing Association unlimited hydroplane racing circuit stop at Stan Sayres Memorial Park on Lake Washington, in the Seward Park neighborhood. The races attract tens of thousands of spectators, both those standing on the public shores of the lake, and those in boats anchored just outside the course in the lake itself.
A tradition started in 1972, the Seafair Air Show is an aerobatics show coincidently with the days of the Seafair Cup. World-class aerobatics teams perform their aerial stunts over Lake Washington, most prominently the US Navy Blue Angels and US Army Golden Knights. Notoriously, the Blue Angels have been attending the Air Show annually since its first edition, excepting in three occasions. The aerobatics show is a slightly controversial part of Seafair, as some local residents fear an accident involving the low-flying aircraft, and some find the noise of the jet engines irritating. There was no show at Seafair in 1994 and 1995 as a result of a dispute with the FAA about whether they could safely fly over Lake Washington. In 1996 the Blue Angels flew over Elliott Bay, west of downtown Seattle, in a separate event from the hydroplane race, but this was a financial flop, and they returned to being part of the race-weekend festivities over Lake Washington in 1997. Due to government budget cuts, the Blue Angels did not perform at Seafair 2013; they were replaced by the Patriots Jet Team. From 2019, the aerobatics show fly-over area was moved south to avoid the closing of the floating bridges carrying Interstate 90 between Mercer Island and Seattle during the three days of Seafair Weekend.
Groups
Seafair Pirates
Main article: Seafair Pirates
Another aspect of Seafair is the involvement of the Seafair Pirates, an organization that works year-round entertaining children in hospitals and performing other acts of community service including extensive fundraising. However, the pirates also usually perform loud—occasionally offensive—antics at Seafair (in an attempt to live up to their name) that cause perennial objection to their prominent involvement in the festivities. Despite this reputation, most people who enjoy Seafair see them as an essential part of the event.
References
- Wafai, Yasmeen (May 20, 2020). "Seafair cancels major summer 2020 events". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- "Pandemic sidelines Seafair unlimited hydroplane racing again as event moves virtual". The Seattle Times. April 21, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- History of Seafair - 1970's
- The Seattle Times: Rock 'n' roll run set to replace Seafair Marathon, by Jayda Evans, August 6, 2008
- ^ "McGinn got heads-up, has plan to salvage Fourth of July fireworks". Seattle Times. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- "SEAFAIR SUMMER FOURTH – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO". Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- participants Seafair Triathlon
- "Seafair Weekend Festival". www.seafair.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019.
- Capitol Hill Seattle blog - No More Blue Angels Over Homes Please
- History of Seafair - 1990's
- "Seafair Weekend 2019: What You Need to Know". August 2019.
- The Seattle Times: Seafair hooked on its pirates, By Victor Gonzales, July 9th, 2005
