Torchlight Run and Torchlight Parade Saturday Night – Plan for Traffic Delays
Saturday night, 300,000 people are expected to line Fourth Avenue through downtown Seattle for one of the city’s most spectacular annual parades – the Torchlight Parade at Seafair. Prior to the parade, some 4,200 participants will make their way through downtown Seattle in the Seafair Torchlight 8K Run and 5K Run and Walk; the northbound lanes of Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for the event between West Seattle Bridge and the Western Avenue off-ramp from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. Some of the other weekend events anticipating large crowds include Mariners games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; the Seattle Dragon Boat Festival and Race at Lake Union on Saturday; Pista sa Nayon – theFilipino American community festival at Seward Park on Sunday; and the Alki (Beach) Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday.
Motorists should allow extra time for possible traffic delays associated with the events, particularly on Saturday. The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages drivers to reduce their stress and their impact on the environment by leaving the car at home and trying one of the many 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 27
Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour: 8 – 11 p.m.
Gas Works Park
1,500 expected
Traffic may be congested on streets adjacent to the park.
Festival of the Fountains: 6 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Pacific Science Center
600 expected
Streets closed from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.: Second Avenue N between Denny Way and Thomas Street
Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals: 7:10 – 10 p.m.
Safeco Field
26,000 attending
Expect heavier traffic around stadium before and after the game.
Saturday, July 28
Seattle Dragon Boat (Race and) Festival: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lake Union and at South Lake Union Park
900 attending
Traffic may be heavy on streets surrounding the south end of Lake Union.
Alki Art Fair: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Alki Beach Park
3,000 attending
Expect congestion in the area.
The Roosevelt Bull Moose Festival: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Roosevelt Neighborhood
1,000 attending
Streets closed 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.: NE 64th Street from Roosevelt Way NE and Ninth Avenue NE, Ninth Avenue NE from NE 64th Street to NE 63rd Street, and NE 63rd Street from Ninth Avenue east to the alley.
Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals: 1:10 – 4 p.m.
Safeco Field
32,000 attending
Expect congestion in the area surrounding the stadium before and after the game.
Seafair Torchlight Run: 6:30 p.m.
Start: Seattle Center – through downtown – End: Seattle Center
4,200 participants
5K Route: Starts at Seattle Center; south on Second Avenue N to Denny Way; west on Denny to Fourth Avenue; south on Fourth to Seneca Street; west on Seneca onto the northbound lanes of the SR-99 Alaskan Way Viaduct; exit at Western Avenue; north on Western to Broad Street; east on Broad to Second Avenue; north on Second into the Seattle Center.
8K route: Start at Seattle Center; south on Second Avenue N to Denny Way; west on Denny to Fourth Avenue; south on Fourth to S Washington Street; west on Washington to First Avenue S; south on First to S Royal Brougham Way; west on Royal Brougham onto northbound lanes of SR-99 viaduct; exit at Western Avenue; north on Western to Broad Street; east on Broad to Second Avenue; north on Second into the Seattle Center.
NOTE: Alaskan Way Viaduct closed from 5:30 – 8 p.m.: Between the West Seattle Bridge and the Western Avenue off-ramp.
Plan on heavy congestion in the vicinity of the parade route.
Torchlight Parade at Seafair: 7:30 p.m.
Fourth Avenue
300,000 attending
Parade staging on streets around the Seattle Center .
Streets closed along the parade route: Starts at Fourth Avenue N and Broad Street; goes south on Fourth to S Washington Street; parade disperses on streets south of S Washington.
Expect heavy congestion in the downtown area.
Sunday, July 29
Alki Art Fair: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Alki Beach Park
3,000 attending
Expect congestion in the area.
St. James Cathedral Parish Picnic: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Adjacent to St James Cathedral
500 attending
Streets closed from 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. : Terry Avenue between Marion and Columbia streets.
Expect congestion on surrounding streets.
Pista sa Nayon: 9a.m. – 8 p.m.
Filipino American community festival at Seward Park
10,000 attending
Expect heavy congestion in the area surrounding Seward Park.
Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals: 1:10 – 4 p.m.
Safeco Field
20,000 attending
Plan on congestion surrounding the stadium before and after the game.
Contact: Peg Nielsen, 206-684-8114
