The Seattle Traveler

Seattle Celebrates Seafair 2008

by Mary Jo on August 1st, 2008

For many Seattle-ites, this is the best weekend of summer – SeaFair!

With its parades, Blue Angel performances, concert, fireworks, and hydroplane races, it’s the time of year when Seattle gets to strut its stuff.  Now let’s just hope that the weather cooperates!

Here’s the info you’ll need to decide if you’ll venture out for the activities, are just enjoy the show from the comfort of your own home.

My favorite of all the events is the air show featuring the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.  I was downtown on Thursday and saw a little of their practice.  They’re noisy, distracting, and fascinating to watch as they perform their precision aerobatics.

Equally noisy, and equally as dangerous, is the noise and drama in the water with the annual Hydroplane races on Lake Washington.  I much prefer to watch the races at home, but heading down for the time trials (much fewer people around) can be fun.

There will be lots of road closures, detours, and tons of traffic as a couple hundred thousand people flock to the events.  Keep your cool and check traffic reports to avoid what you can.  Bridge closures will be in effect (due to safety requirements of the Blue Angels), so check the floating bridge closure schedule when making plans to cross the lake.

If you have friends who live along the lake, try to get invited over for dinner.  If you have friends with a boat, now is the time to offer to crew.

Admission for the various events range from free to pricey, depending on your seating preference.

Photo credit:  flickr:  Blue Angels;   hydroplane

________________________________

Share This

Related Stories

Photo Op: Blue Angels Flying High at Seafair
Blue Angels Put on a Spectacular SEAFAIR Show
SEAFAIR Air Show & Hydroplane Races
b5media Celebrates Art Around our World
This Weekend. . . Step Back in Time at Port Townsend’s Victorian Festival

POSTED IN: Events, Family Fun, People - Interesting Local People, People Watching, Sound Like a Local - Local "speak", Sports & Recreation