It’s that time, Seafair activities are starting to pick up steam. Tomorrow, Saturday, July 25th brings the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Seafair Pirate Run to the streets of Seattle. And, it all starts at Seattle Center, so plan ahead for any traffic and parking issues it may bring along with it.
While up to 300,000 spectators are still grabbing spots to view the parade, the Seafair Pirate Run will be starting and ending at Seattle Center. The 5K/8K run starts at 6:30pm at the Seattle Center. Roughly 4,500 runners will head down the Viaduct to Royal Brougham and back to the Seattle Center to finish just as the parade gets going.
The parade starts at 7:30pm and the route takes it from the Seattle Center down 4th Ave to Pioneer Square. The main viewing area is at Westlake, but parade goers will line the route both north and south of Westlake. Pre-parade staging will occur near the Seattle Center, so expect road closures. Per SDOT:
“The northbound lanes of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 7:45 p.m. for the 5 k and 8 K Seafair Torchlight Run races. At approximately 6 p.m. Fourth Avenue will close from Broad Street to South Washington Street, complicating traffic circulation in the downtown area. Fourth will reopen around 10:30 p.m. and routes out of downtown will be congested as the crowds leave the event.”
King County Metrol service will be rerouted and delayed by the events from 3pm to 10:45pm – specifically around the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle, Alaskan Way Viaduct and adjacent areas.