The big holiday season is about to begin. The annual Seattle Turkey Trot gets underway tomorrow morning with some 3,000 participants running and walking the 5K course to raise funds for the Ballard Food Bank. Friday morning, amidst the early holiday shopping crazy-making, Macy’s holds its annual Holiday Parade with an audience of 40,000 expected. The parade moves through downtown Seattle and culminates at Macy’s. Later on, at 5 p.m., the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony and Macy’s Star Lighting and Fireworks will take place. Saturday morning, adults and children will run in the Seattle Marathon and on Sunday morning 15,000 runners will test their endurance on the 26-mile Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon.
The Seattle Department of Transportation urges motorists to save gas and reduce their impact on the environment by planning to take the shortest route and bundling tasks into one trip. Or better yet, consider leaving the car at home and traveling via 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 even walking, if possible.
Thursday, November 22
Seattle Turkey Trot (5K Walk and Run): 9 a.m.
Loyal Way NW between 31st and 32nd Avenue NW – staging area
3,000 participants
Run and Walk route: South on 32nd Avenue NW to NW 77th Street; west on NW 77thto 34th Avenue NW; south on 34th NW to NW 57th Street; west on NW 57th to 37th Place NW; northwest on 37thto the Burke-Gilman Trail; north on the Trail along the east side of Seaview Avenue NW; finish at Golden Gardens Park. More details available at: http://www.seattleturkeytrot.org/
Friday, November 23
My Macy’s Holiday Parade: 8:45 a.m.
Seventh Avenue and Pine Street – staging area
40,000 attending
Parade route: west on Pine Street to Fifth Avenue; south on Fifth to University Street; west on University to Fourth Avenue; north on Fourth to Macy’s (between Pine and Olive).
Streets closed for staging from 7:30 a.m. : Pine Street between Boren Avenue and Seventh Avenue; Ninth Avenue, Eighth Avenue, and Seventh Avenue between Olive Way and Pike Street. All streets reopened by 11 a.m. (with the exception of Pine Street between Fifth and Fourth avenues which will remain closed until the end of the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony).
For more details see: http://www1.macys.com/store/event/index.ognc?action=detail&storeId=411&eventId=12088
Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony and Macy’s Star Lighting and Fireworks: 5 – 5:45 p.m.
Macy’s at Fourth and Pine, tree lighting on Westlake Center Plaza with fireworks (weather permitting)
20,000 attending
Streets closed for event at 4 – 6 or 6:30 p.m.: Fourth Avenue between Union Street and Olive Way; Fifth Avenue between Olive Way and Pike Street; Pine Street between Sixth and Third avenues; Pike Street between Third and Fifth avenues.
More details at: http://www.westlakecenter.com/events/westlake-centers-24th-annual-tree-lighting-celebration
Saturday, November 24
Seattle Marathon 5K Race: 8:30 a.m..
Fifth Avenue N between Republican and Harrison streets – staging
1,800 participants
Marathon route: South on Fifth Avenue N to Cedar Street; west on Cedar to Second Avenue; south on Second to University Street; u-turn at University then north on Second onto Seattle Center grounds; north onto Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Fourth Avenue N; south on Fourth into Memorial Stadium. More details available at: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/5k/eventinfo.php
Seattle Children’s Kids Marathon: 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Fifth Avenue between Republican and Harrison streets (staging area)
3,800 participants
Run route: south on Fifth Avenue N to Broad St; west on Broad to Denny Way; west on Denny to Second Avenue N; north on Second to Republican Street; west on Republican to Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Fourth Avenue N; south on Fourth into Memorial Stadium; all streets reopened by 11 a.m.. More details available at: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/kids/eventinfo.php
Hallmark Channel Presents Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2012: 3 p.m.
Key Arena, Seattle Center
8,800 expected
Traffic could be congested on streets adjacent to the west side of the Seattle Center.
Sunday, November 25:
Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon: 4 waves of participants leave between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m.
Seattle Center – starting and finishing point
15,000 participants
The majority of streets along the 26 – mile course will be closed from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., with streets at the beginning of the course opening earlier. Fifth Avenue N from Mercer to Broad will be closed 5:30 – 9 a.m. for the staging and start of the marathon. The I-90 Express Lanes will be closed between Seattle and Mercer Island from 4 – 11 a.m. Expect delays along the course, and be prepared to follow signed details. It is recommended that motorists should use I-5 to bypass local street closures. For the course route and other details please see: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/marathon/eventinfo.php
Hallmark Channel Presents Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2012: 3 p.m.
Key Arena, Seattle Center
8,800 expected
Traffic could be congested on streets adjacent to the west side of the Seattle Center.
contact: Peg Nielsen, 206-684-8114
