The weekend events get an early start with tonight’s National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) at the Cinerama Theatre featuring films by directors who are all under the age of 22 and the Seattle Mariners play the first of four games against the Los Angeles Angels. On Saturday and Sunday, it’ll be a plant-lovers’ paradise at the annual FlorAbundance Plant Sale in the Washington Park Arboretum. Billed as “the region’s largest and best plant sale,” the event supports the Arboretum Foundation’s mission. Also two events will draw large crowds on both Saturday and Sunday at the Seattle Center – the Emerald City Feis American-Irish dance competition and the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival. Sunday morning two races will get underway – the Top Pot Doughnut Dash around Green Lake which benefits Childhaven and the Seattle Urban Trek adventure race in the downtown core area that combines treasure hunting, running, social media, problem solving and team work. Teams of three will race for several hours on a 7-10 mile course which starts on the Seattle Waterfront.
Those are just some of the events happening over the next few days. For more events and details, please see the schedule below:
Thursday, April 25
NFFTY Opening Night: 7:30 p.m.
Cinerama Theater (Fourth Avenue and Lenora)
900 attending
The curb lane along Fourth Avenue will be used for drop-off and pick-up of attendees.
Mariners vs. LA Angels: 7:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
15,000 attending
There may be some congestion surrounding the stadium.
Friday, April 26
Seattle Symphony “Untuxed” Concert: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Benaroya Hall
420 students
School buses will drop off and pick up students between Second Avenue and Third Avenue on University Street.
Expect congestion in the area between 6 and 8:30 p.m.
Mariners vs. LA Angels: 7:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
24,000 expected
There may be some congestion surrounding the stadium.
Saturday, April 27
Emerald City Feis: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center, First Avenue N and Republican Street
1000 expected
Traffic may be a little heavier than usual on the First Avenue N side of the center grounds.
FlorAbundance Plant Sale: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum
900 attending
Parking will be on the right side of Arboretum Drive. Traffic will be one-way going south on Arboretum Drive, and the south gate will be open to exiting vehicles. Handicapped parking will be available on the left side of Arboretum Drive, immediately south of the Visitors Center. There will be electric golf carts operating up and down Arboretum Drive, ferrying shoppers to and from their cars. Allow for some traffic congestion.
Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fisher Pavilion, Armory, Center House main floor, and surrounding areas of Seattle Center
1000 attending
Expect heavier traffic on the Broad Street side of the center grounds.
Mariners vs. LA Angels: 6:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
28,000 expected
There may be some congestion surrounding the stadium.
Sunday, April 28
Emerald City Feis: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center, First Avenue N and Republican Street
1000 expected
Traffic may be a little heavier than usual on the First Avenue N side of the center grounds.
Top Pot Doughnut Dash: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Green Lake Park
2,500 participating
Starts and finishes near the Green Lake Community Center and basketball courts moving clockwise around Green Lake on the park trails and onto streets adjacent to the Park. Expect congestion on surrounding streets.
Seattle Urban Trek: 9 a.m.
Bell Harbor Conference Center (Alaskan Way and Bell Street)
450 participants
Event starts and finishes at Bell Harbor Conference Center. The beginning of the race will close the west curb lane of Alaskan Way from Bell Street to Wall Street; remainder of the event takes place on sidewalks and will not involve street closures.
FlorAbundance Plant Sale: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Washington Park Arboretum
700 expected
Parking will be on the right side of Arboretum Drive. Traffic will be one-way going south on Arboretum Drive, and the south gate will be open to exiting vehicles. Handicapped parking will be available on the left side of Arboretum Drive, immediately south of the Visitors Center. There will be electric golf carts operating up and down Arboretum Drive, ferrying shoppers to and from their cars. Allow for some traffic congestion.
Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fisher Pavilion, Armory, Center House main floor and surrounding areas of Seattle Center
1000 attending
Expect heavier traffic on the Broad Street side of the center grounds.
Mariners vs. LA Angels: 1:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
24,000 attending
There may be some congestion surrounding the stadium.
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