Photo:
courtesy Seafair
Seafair is the high point of a Seattle summer. For 75 years, Seattleites have enjoyed seeing the Blue Angels fly overhead, hearing the roar of hydroplane engines, watching parades around the region and visiting ships. It’s downright fun. Whether or not this is your first Seafair, it’s easy to see that this summer event is one of the city’s most family-friendly traditions!
Let’s do a flyover of all the Seafair Week fun and festivities taking off soon.
Main Seafair schedule of events
Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade
Date and time: Saturday, July 27, 3–6 p.m.
Location: Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle
Start Seafair 75 with a super-charged parade! Your kids will love the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade, a fun summer tradition that celebrates the cultural diversity and traditions of the Pacific Northwest. This annual spectacle is free and open to the public with over 100 entries — from dragon dancers to precision drill teams and marching bands to prancing horses and more.
If you want some pre-parade fun, arrive at Westlake Center at 1 p.m. for a festive atmosphere with live entertainment, food trucks and more. At 3 p.m., the Torchlight Parade launches from Seattle Center and travels down Fourth Ave. If you want a front row seat, start pretty early to stake out a place along Fourth Ave. with your blankets and chairs. Want to get a reserved seat instead? You can purchase an upgraded seating option, including the TV Grandstands, that will move you closer to the action.
Seattle Fleet Week Maritime Celebration
Date and time: Parade of Ships, Tuesday, July 30, 1 p.m.; Fleet Week, Thursday–Sunday, Aug.1–4, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Location: Seattle Waterfront, 928 Alaskan Wy., Seattle
Seafair has hosted Fleet Week on the Seattle Waterfront since 1950, honoring the men and women who serve our country. Seattle Fleet Week launches with the Parade of Ships through Elliott Bay on Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy will sail into town and dock at the waterfront.
Families can also view the parade from viewpoints around Elliott Bay like Myrtle Edwards Park, Jack Block Park on Harbor Island, or from Discovery Park in the Magnolia neighborhood. If you want a unique perspective, try a trip to the Space Needle for a bird’s eye view of the parade from this iconic landmark.
For Fleet Week, the public is invited to Pier 46 to meet the sailors and guardsmen, enjoy free music, and take ship tours.
Seafair Weekend
Date and time: Friday–Sunday, August 2–4, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Genesee Park, 4316 S. Genesee St., Seattle
Seafair Weekend is Seattle’s premier boating event, air show and festival all rolled into one for the last 75 years. One of the can’t miss events of this summer tradition is the flying of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. For roaring engines on the ground and water, Seafair Weekend also showcases hydroplanes and classic cars, live music, a beer garden, and a vibrant array of food options.
Seafair Air Show
Date and time: Friday–Sunday, Aug. 2–4, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Genesee Park, 4316 S. Genesee St., Seattle
The Seafair Air Show runs Friday through Sunday, and it’s where you can witness the amazing flying aerobatics from the best of the best — the Blue Angels — above Lake Washington’s beautiful backdrop. Kids will be starstruck by this adrenaline pumping aerial performance (but if they are sensitive to noise, be sure to put the noise-canceling headphones in your bag). In addition to the Blue Angels, the air show includes displays by civilian pilots, vintage aircraft, parachute demonstrations and the world-renowned U.S. Army Golden Knights. Note that while the Blue Angels conduct their practices over Lake Washington, the I-90 bridge will remain open and pedestrians and cyclists can access the I-90 bridge pathway.
Seafair Air Show Schedule
Friday, Aug. 2
- 11:10 a.m. — U.S. Army Golden Knights
- 1:05 p.m. — Navy EA-18G Growler
- 1:35 p.m. — U.S. Air Force C17
- 1:50 p.m. — U.S. Air Force F35A
- 2:15 p.m. — PBY-5A Catalina
- 2:30 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
- 2:40 p.m. — Boeing Air Show
- 3:10 p.m. — U.S. Marines F35B
- 3:35 p.m. — U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Saturday, Aug. 3
- 10:50 a.m. — Boeing Air Show
- 11 a.m. — PBY-5A Catalina
- 11:15 a.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue
- 1 p.m. — U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler
- 1:30 p.m. — U.S. Air Force C17
- 1:45 p.m. — U.S. Air Force F35A
- 3:10 p.m. — U.S. Marines F35B
- 3:35 p.m. — U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Sunday, Aug. 4
- 11 a.m. — Opening ceremonies, King County helo flag presentation, national anthem
- 11:10 a.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue
- Noon — U.S. Army Golden Knights
- 1 p.m. — U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler
- 1:30 p.m. — U.S. Air Force C17
- 1:45 p.m. — U.S. Air Force F35A
- 2:10 p.m. — PBY-5A Catalina
- 3:05 p.m. — Boeing Flyover
- 3:10 p.m. — U.S. Marines F35B
- 3:35 p.m. — U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Where to watch the Seafair Air Show and Blue Angels
Aubrey Davis Park, Mercer Island
Location: 2030 72nd Ave. S.E., Mercer Island
Aubrey Davis Park is a stellar spot to watch the air show with spectacular views of Lake Washington, the Olympic Mountains, and Seattle’s skyline as the backdrop. Just off the I-90 bridge, Aubrey Davis Park offers quite a bit of space to roam around with ball fields and two playgrounds. Before you watch the Blue Angels, stretch your legs on the walking trails throughout the park. Make a day of it!
Chism Beach Park, Bellevue
Location: 9600 S.E. 11th St., Bellevue
It will be planes galore at Chism Beach Park in Bellevue. This scenic lakeside sandy beach with a lawn makes it an ideal location for your family to kick back and enjoy the sweeping Blue Angels performance. Plus, this park is expertly designed with a play structure built right on the beach. Kids are free to roam around and never miss a beat of playing and planes, while you can do the same.
Colman Park, Seattle
Location: 1740 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle
Adjacent to Mount Baker Park, bring the kids here to walk the green trails and picnic along the waterfront space before any airplane action begins. Colman Park offers amazing views of Lake Washington for the Blue Angels daredevil show.
Medina Beach Park, Medina
Location: 501 Evergreen Point Rd., Medina
Set up a chair or picnic blanket here and gain a panorama view of Lake Washington, the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier. This lakefront park offers a sandy beach for your kiddos to play or you can simply splash around in the water while getting an awesome view of the Blue Angels. Summer is truly sweet.
Meydenbauer Bay Park, Bellevue
Location: 419 98th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
Meydenbauer Bay Park gives way to gorgeous views of Seattle and a hilltop spot for viewing the jets. Adjacent to downtown Bellevue, here you’ll also find ample Lake Washington beachfront with a swimming platform, a pedestrian pier, boat rentals, picnic areas, a playground and beach house with restrooms and changing rooms.
Mount Baker Park, Seattle
Location: 2521 Lake Park Dr. S., Seattle
While small, this beach park is a prime vantage point for watching the Blue Angels. Beyond gazing at the jets in the sky, there is a roped-off swim area with a lifeguard, space to spread out your picnic and a kid-friendly zip line. This park is near the Seafair epicenter, so it’s not a secret and parking is limited. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds and enjoy some pre-flight playtime.
Pritchard Island Beach, Seattle
Location: 8400 55th Ave. S, Seattle
At Pritchard Island Beach, you’ll be close to the action without the full-scale noise and bustle of festivities at Genesee Park. Just a few blocks away from the hydros and hubbub, you’ll find a little beach where kids can splash around in the roped-off swim area, sunbathe on the grassy space, and enjoy both the boats and planes at your leisure. (This is a good freshwater beach option any time of the summer.)
Seward Park, Seattle
Location: 5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S, Seattle
Here you have space to view the planes by land or sea. Seward Park boasts 300 acres of beautiful forests and hiking trails, a nearly 2.5-mile bike and walking path, and beachfront shoreline for the kids to splash around. But if you want to go by sea for a truly unique view, use a small boat, paddle board or canoe to watch from the Bailey Peninsula, where the 50 feet of shoreline at the northern tip of the park is only accessible by boat.
Other Seattle spots for watching the Blue Angels
If you don’t want to make a day of it, but just want to catch a quick glimpse of the planes (before or after naptime), try one of these viewpoints along Lake Washington:
- Day Street Boat Ramp,1402 Lakeside Ave. S., Seattle
- East Portal Viewpoint, 1400 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle
- Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint, 1403 31st Ave. S., Seattle
Argosy’s Seafair Blue Angels viewing cruises
For a prime viewing spot on the water, you may want to splurge on one of Argosy’s Seafair Blue Angels viewing cruises. This four-hour cruise departs from Seattle or Kirkland, cruising around Lake Washington during the air show.
Additional Seafair events
Seafair Weekend Hydroplane Races
Date and time: Friday–Sunday, Aug. 2–4, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Genesee Park, 4316 S. Genesee St., Seattle
Where else can you see boats traveling at 220 miles per hour? The Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Race is a spectacle for kids and adults alike of the world’s fastest racing boats, though you might want to bring earplugs even if you don’t have noise-sensitive kiddos. Lake Washington hosts the iconic Seafair Festival Weekend hydro races and there are lots of ways to get close to the action — from visiting the pits to watching qualifying heats to seeing the winning boat cross the finish line on Sunday afternoon.
Hydroplane race event schedule
Friday, Aug. 2
- 9 a.m. — H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
- 10:35 a.m. — Vintage Hydroplanes
- 10:55 a.m. — J Hydro Heat 1
- 11:40 a.m. — H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
- 2:50 p.m. — Vintage Hydroplanes
Saturday, Aug. 3
- 9 a.m. — H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
- 10:30 a.m. — J Hydro Heat 2
- 11:35 a.m. — Vintage Hydroplanes
- 12:25 p.m. — H1 Heat 1A 5 Minute Gun
- 12:30 p.m. — H1 Heat 1A
- 12:45 p.m. — H1 Heat 1B 5 Minute Gun
- 12:50 p.m. — H1 Heat 1B
- 2:15 p.m. — Vintage Hydroplanes
- 2:35 p.m. — H1 Heat 2A 5 Minute Gun
- 2:40 p.m. — H1 Heat 2A
- 2:55 p.m. — H1 Heat 2B 5 Minute Gun
- 3 p.m. — H1 Heat 2B
Sunday, Aug. 4
- 9 a.m. — H1 Testing
- 10 a.m. — J Hydro Heat 3
- 10:20 a.m. — H1 Testing
- 11 a.m. — Opening ceremonies, King County helo flag presentation, national anthem
- 11:20 a.m. — J Hydro Final
- 11:40 a.m. — Vintage Hydroplanes
- 12:25 p.m. — H1 Heat 3A 5 Minute Gun
- 12:30 p.m. — H1 Heat 3A
- 12:45 p.m. — H1 Heat 3B 5 Minute Gun
- 12:50 p.m. — H1 Heat 3B
- 2:40 p.m. — Apollo Mechanical Cup Final 5 Minute Gun
- 2:45 p.m. — Apollo Mechanical Cup Final
- 4:35 p.m. — H1 Awards Ceremony
Seafair Classic Car Show
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 3–4, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle
The Seafair Classic Car Show on Saturday and Sunday is a huge display of 100 classic vehicles. You’ll see 90-year-old vintage antique cars, along with modified, custom and foreign classic cars. The Classic Car Show is located on Lake Washington Blvd. near the finish line of the hydroplanes race course.
Museum of Flight Jet Blast Bash
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 3–4, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle
The Jet Blast Bash is a two-day event that offers families the opportunity to see the Blue Angels take off and land right in front of the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. Held from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., all activities are free with museum admission. In addition to the airplane viewing, the Jet Blast Bash offers family workshops, informational talks, live music and a beer garden that the adults can enjoy. The Museum of Flight has limited amounts of free parking in the lot, so coming by public transit is a good idea.
Museum of Flight Jet Blast Bash Schedule
- 10 a.m.–5 p.m. — McCormick & Schmick’s Beer Garden (21-and-older only)
- 10:30 a.m. to noon — Family workshop
- 10:50 a.m. (Saturday only) — PBY-5A Catalina take off for the Boeing Seafair Air Show
- 11 a.m. to noon — Blue Angels history talk in the William M. Allen Theater
- 11 a.m.–2 p.m. — Live band performance
- 11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Live broadcast from C89.5 FM
- 11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Food trucks
- 1–2 p.m. — Talk with astronaut Mike Baker
- 1–2:30 p.m. — Family workshop
- 2 p.m. (Sunday only) — PBY-5A Catalina take off for the Boeing Seafair Air Show
- 3:20 p.m. — U.S. Navy Blue Angels Fat Albert takes off for the Boeing Seafair Air Show
- 3:20 p.m. — U.S. Navy Blue Angels #1–#6 take off for the Boeing Seafair Air Show
If you can’t make it to Lake Washington during Seafair Weekend (you never know what a day will hold with kids) never fear, you can still partake in the annual Seafair action remotely. Tune in to KONG TV for live coverage of the races and air show. Or listen to 88.9 FM, The Bridge for Log Boom Radio, Mercer Island High School’s radio station run by students, which will be broadcasting the excitement all weekend long.
If you go to Seafair Weekend …Tickets and seating: General admission on Friday, Aug. 2 is free for everyone! One-day passes for Saturday and Sunday cost $40 for adults; $15 for children ages 6–12 and seniors 62 and older; children 5 and younger are free. All service members receive free admission with military ID and family members receive a reduced ticket price of $20 each. Pit passes cost $15 per day. A three-day championship pass (which includes a pit pass for all three days) is $100. Grandstand seating costs $45 on Friday; $95 on Saturday and Sunday. Captain’s Club seating is $220–$550. Getting to Seafair: Lake Washington’s Genesee Park is the place for a front-row seat to be dazzled by both the air show and hydroplane races, but both general and ADA parking options are limited. Maps, parking, shuttles and transportation information are included on the Seafair website for quick reference. Using public transportation is recommended:
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Editor’s note: The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
