Several major special events will take place this weekend, including the U District Street Fair and the Beat the Bridge run. Drivers passing through the University District, Montlake, Ballard, Pike Place Market or Alki areas may encounter congestion at times and some streets may be closed. Travelers may want to consider using alternate modes such as walking, bicycling, bus, or light rail to get around the city.  

FRIDAY, MAY 18:

Bike to Work and Summer Streets Party:   For this Ballard event, 22^nd Avenue NW will be closed between NW Market Street and Ballard Avenue NW from 2 to 8 p.m. The Bike to Work and Summer Streets Party itself will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. An estimated 800 people are expected to participate.  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/summer_ballard.htm

East African Communities March:  East African Communities of Seattle and other horn communities plan a march to the Federal Building on Friday, starting at 3 p.m. from 14^th Avenue S and Yesler Way. The demonstration is a protest against the ongoing massacre of innocent civilians in Ethiopia.

Seattle Storm: Seattle Storm will play Los Angeles at Key Arena starting at 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 19:

42^nd Annual University District Street Fair: This Seattle tradition is expected to attract an estimated 25,000 people on both Saturday and Sunday. The following streets will be closed from 2:30 a.m. on Saturday to 2:30 a.m. on Monday: University Way NE between NE 50^th Street and NE Campus Parkway; NE 47^th Street, NE 43^rd Street, NE 42^nd Street, and NE 41^st Street between 15^th Avenue NE and Brooklyn Avenue NE. The hours of the event on Saturday will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. http://udistrictstreetfair.org/

Seattle’s Best 15K: The race will start at Gas Works Park at 7 a.m., continue counter clockwise around Lake Union with a jaunt along Nickerson and a U-turn just before the Ballard Bridge. The course will use sidewalks, bike trails and some streets, and then will return to Gas Works Park.  Police Officers will assist runners through major intersections.  An estimated 1,000 participants are expected. Please see http://www.seattle15k.com/ for route detail.

Franklin High School Art Festival: Approximately 250 people are expected at the Franklin High School Art Festival. S. Mount Baker Boulevard will be closed to eastbound traffic between 30^th Avenue S. and 32^nd Avenue S. (adjacent to the school) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Seattle Cheese Festival: Pike Place and side streets between Pike Place and First Avenue will be closed from 5 p.m. on Friday, May 18 through 5 p.m. Sunday, May 20 for the Seattle Cheese Festival at the Pike Place Market. The event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is expected to attract an estimated 15,000 people each day.  http://seattlecheesefestival.com/

SUNDAY, MAY 20:

42^nd Annual University District Street Fair: (See the event description above.)

Seattle Cheese Festival: (See the event description above.)

Nordstrom Beat the Bridge 8K Run & Walk: An estimated 11,500 people are expected to participate in this 8K run, with the goal of getting over the University Bridge before it opens. The event starts at 8:30 a.m., but Montlake Boulevard NE between NE 44^th Street and NE Pacific Street will close at 7:30 a.m. to stage the runners. The University Bridge will go up around 9 a.m. and will remain up for approximately five minutes. The route starts at Montlake Boulevard NE and NE Pacific Street, then heads south on Montlake across the Montlake Bridge to E. Roanoke St; continues west on Roanoke to W. Montlake Place E; turns south on W. Montlake to 19^th Avenue E; then south on 19^th to E. Lynn Street; west on Lynn to Boyer Avenue E; northwest on Boyer to Fuhrman Avenue E; northwest on Fuhrman to the University Bridge, north across bridge to Lincoln Way NE; east on Lincoln to Brooklyn Avenue NE; south on Brooklyn to NE Pacific Street; east on Pacific to NE Pacific Place; east on Pacific Place to Montlake Boulevard NE; north on Montlake to NE 44^th Street; and ends with a u-turn and finishes in Husky Stadium. http://www.beatthebridge.org/site/PageServer

West Seattle 5K Run & Walk:  An estimated 1,600 people are expected for this West Seattle race. The event will start at 9:30 a.m. on Alki Avenue SW at 60^th Avenue SW. The race will continue east on Alki to Anchor Park (1100 Alki Avenue SW), make a u-turn and head back to the starting point.  http://westseattle5k.com/

Alki Seattle Summer Streets Party:  Alki Avenue SW will be closed between 63^rd Avenue SW and 56^th Avenue SW from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for this Summer Streets event.  The event hours will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Water Taxi will continue to operate and the Don Armeni Boat Ramp will be open.  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/summer_alki.htm