A couple of annual festivities are likely to affect traffic this weekend as we head into the winter holiday season:
Figgy Pudding Caroling
Westlake Center
Friday, December 2
The Westlake Center and nearby streets will be packed Friday night with carolers from around the region for “The 25th Silver Anniversary Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition.” An estimated 9,000 people are expected to fill the streets for this competition for the best singing—some reverent and some wacky—to raise funds for the Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank. Drivers should expect congestion and merry revelers in the area, and should plan either to allow more time for their trip, or perhaps to join in the festivities for a good cause.
Our Lady of the Americas Religious Procession
First Hill
Saturday, December 3
On Saturday morning, approximately 800 people are expected to participate in the one and one-half mile Our Lady of the Americas Religious Procession from Saint Mary’s Church in the Central District to the Saint James Cathedral on First Hill. A series of events will start at 9:30 a.m. with a service held at Saint Mary’s on 20th Avenue South.
At 10:30 a.m. a procession will start at 20th Avenue South and South Weller Street, and will proceed north with a Seattle Police escort on 20th Avenue to East Fir Street, west on Fir to 12th Avenue, north on 12th to Cherry Street, west on Cherry to James Street, west on James to Ninth Avenue, and north on Ninth Street, ending at Columbia Street.
At noon the mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be held at the Saint James Cathedral. The event customarily fills the church to its capacity of 1,200 persons. Drivers should expect congestion in the vicinity of the procession and near Saint James Cathedral.
For more information: Michael Shea, (206) 684-5098
Media contact: Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548