Festivals, Food, Fun Abound – But Plan for Possible Traffic Delays
It’s an event-filled weekend ahead. Some of the many ever-popular events expected to draw crowds in the thousands include the Bite of Seattle, the Capitol Hill Block Party, Bon Odori, Seafair Triathlon, West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade, Chinatown Seafair Parade, and the 2012 Swedish SummeRun.
Since battling traffic can be a pain, why not do something for your sanity and the environment by not driving and trying one of the alternate modes of transportation available – Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible. For more information about the weekend activities, please see the schedule below:
Friday, July 20
Bite of Seattle: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Seattle Center
15,000 attending
Expect congestion in the area around the Center.
Capitol Hill Block Party: 3 p.m. – 12 Midnight
General Broadway area between Pike and Pine streets
9,000 expected
Streets closed from 2 a.m. on Friday, July 20 to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 23: E Pike Street between Broadway and 12th Avenue; Tenth Avenue and 11th Avenue between E Pine Street and E Union Street.
Saturday, July 21
Bite of Seattle: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Seattle Center
30,000 attending
Expect heavy traffic on the streets surrounding the Seattle Center.
Bon Odori Festival: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Seattle Buddhist Temple (1427 S Main Street)
3,000 expected
Streets closed from 5 p.m. Friday, July 20 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 22: S Main Street from 14th Avenue S to 16th Avenue S.
Fat Water Open Water Swim: 7:30 a.m.
Lake Washington between Day Street Boat Launch and Madison Park Beach
350 participants
Expect congestion in the vicinity of Madison Park beach.
Seafair Triathlon Expo: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Triathlon participants will pick up their race packet prior to Sunday’s event
1,020 expected
Street closed from 7a.m. to 3 p.m.: Ninth Avenue between Seneca Street and University Street from
Expect congestion in the area.
Capitol Hill Block Party: 1 p.m. – 12 Midnight
General Broadway area between Pike and Pine streets
9,000 expected
Streets closed from 2 a.m. on Friday, July 20 to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 23: E Pike Street between Broadway and 12th Avenue; 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue between E Pine Street and E Union Street.
Float Dodger 5K: 9:45 a.m.
5k run on a portion of the West Seattle Grand Parade prior to the parade
500 participants
Run route: Starts at California Avenue SW and SW Charlestown Street; heads south on California to SW Edmunds Street: makes a u-turn and then moves north on California to Lander Street; another u-turn and finally south on California to finish at SW Hanford Street.
West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade: 11 a.m.
California Avenue SW
3,000 expected
Streets closed for staging at 8:30 a.m.: California Avenue SW between SW Admiral Way and SW Hanford Street.
Parade route: starts at California Avenue SW and SW Hanford Street; heads on California to SW Edmunds Street.
Expect congestion in the neighborhood.
Refuse to Abuse 5k at Safeco Field: 9 a.m.
Sidewalks adjacent to Safeco Field
1,600
Run route on sidewalks only: starts at Safeco Field Garage Plaza on Occidental Avenue S; heads north on the service road to the east of the garage and stadium to S Royal Brougham Way; then moves west on Royal Brougham to First Avenue S; south on First to Edgar Martinez Drive S; east on Edgar Martinez Drive back into Safeco Field.
Sunday, July 22
Bite of Seattle: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Seattle Center
30,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets surrounding the Seattle Center.
Bon Odori Festival: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Seattle Buddhist Temple (1427 S. Main Street)
1,700 expected
Streets closed from 5 p.m. Friday, July 20 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 22: S Main Street between 14th Avenue S and 16th Avenue S.
Seafair Triathlon: 6:30 a.m. – First wave of contestants moves out
Seward Park, in Lake Washington, and on surrounding roadways
2,000 participating
Streets closed from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Lake Washington Boulevard S will be closed from Seward Park to I-90 from approximately
I-90 Express Lanes will be closed from 6:30 to 10 a.m. between Lake Washington Boulevard S and Mercer Island
Bicycle Sunday follows on Lake Washington Boulevard.
Capitol Hill Block Party: 1 to 10 p.m.
General Broadway area between Pike and Pine streets
9,000 expected
Streets closed from 2 a.m. on Friday, July 20 to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 23: E Pike Street between Broadway and 12th Avenue; Tenth Avenue and 11th Avenue between E Pine Street and E Union Street.
Chinatown Seafair Parade: 7 p.m.
International District
9,500 expected
Parade staging at 5 p.m.: S King Street between Eighth Avenue S and 12th Avenue S, and on 10th Avenue S, between S Jackson and S Weller Street.
Parade route: Starts at S King Street and Eighth Avenue S; turns west on King to Fifth Avenue S; moves south on Fifth to S Weller Street; then goes east on Weller to Eighth Avenue S; and finally south on Eighth to S Lane Street.
Expect congestion throughout the district.
2012 Swedish SummeRun: 8:15 a.m. start
Gathers at Minor Avenue and Madison Street
4,500 participants
5K route: From Madison and Minor runners move north on Minor to Seneca Street; east on Seneca to Union Street; then east on Union to 12th Avenue; north on 12th to Aloha Street; west on Aloha to 11th Avenue; south on 11th to Howell Street; east on Howell to 12th; south on 12th to Union Street; west on Union to Seneca Street; west on Seneca to Minor Avenue; and south on Minor to finish at Marion Street.
Contact: Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114
