📆 Saturday, June 27th – Sunday, August 4th
🏴☠️ Seafair Weekend Fest: Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th
🎟 See the full calendar of events
“Seafair” has a magical ring to it. To newbies, it might sound like Seafair involves carnivals on Puget Sound or clowns juggling on jet skis. That’s not exactly what Seafair is—although it’s not far from that.
Seafair Weekend happens yearly in Seattle (except for the pandemic years when it didn’t). It’s older than the Space Needle, and it’s become a collection of citywide parties that celebrate Seattle and its “seas,” AKA Lake Washington and Elliott Bay. The fest is technically ten weeks long, with events throughout the summer—but when many people say “Seafair,” they’re referring to the roaring Blue Angels and racing hydroplanes and docked Navy ships. All of that goes down the first weekend of August.
Also, something special this year: Seafair is turning 75! Let’s get into it.
🇺🇸 Torchlight Parade @ Westlake Park
📸: Courtesy Seafair
📆 Saturday, July 27th
⏰ Festivities start @ 1 pm | Parade starts @ 3 pm
📍 Along 4th Ave + Westlake Park: 400 Pine St, Seattle
🎟️ Free + Reserved seats starting @ $40 | More info here
While it’s the weekend before Seafair Weekend, the Torchlight Parade that passes by Westlake Park kicks off a very busy week of maritime-adjacent partying. Expect over 100 entries, according to organizers, which includes presenting partner Alaska Airlines. Athletes, military bands, and, of course, pirates will be in attendance. Show up a little early for the pre-parade festival at Westlake Park.
🎖️ Fleet Week @ Seattle Waterfront
📸: Courtesy Seafair
📆 Tuesday, July 30th – Sunday, August 4th
⏰ Times vary
📍Seattle waterfront: Pier 46
🎟️ Free ship tours | More info here
Luckily for us Emerald City citizens, we can enjoy the splendor of sailors invading the city yearly during Fleet Week. A part of Seafair, the Seattle Fleet Week Boeing Maritime Celebration has been held at the waterfront since 1950. What is it? Well, it’s when US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ships that have been deployed return to dock in major cities for one week.
@theticketsea Ahoy sailors and Seattleites, it’s Fleet Week ⚓️ A part of Seafair (@seafairfestival), the Seattle Fleet Week Boeing Maritime Celebration has been held at the waterfront since 1950. What is Fleet Week? It’s when US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ships that have been deployed return to dock in major cities for one week. The sailors get a chance to enjoy the city, and they also offer us an opportunity to tour their fleet. Below is a list of some tour dates and times. See a full list by clicking our link in bio 🫡 ⚓️ PIER 46 ⚓️ 🚢 US Navy Ship Tours 🚢 August 3rd, 4th, and 6th: Tours 9:30 am – 3 pm August 5th: Tours 9:30 am – 11 am 🚢 US Coast Guard Ship Tours 🚢 August 4th – 6th: Tours 9:30 am – 3 pm ⚓️ PIER 62 ⚓️ 🚢 US Coast Guard Ship Tours 🚢 August 1st: Tours in the afternoon ⚓️ PIER 66 ⚓️ 🚢 US Coast Guard Ship Tours 🚢 August 2nd: Tours 9:30 am – 3 pm August 3rd: Tours 9:30 am – 11 am Tours are free and open to the public. On Tuesday, Pier 62 was the place to be for the Parade of Ships and performances by US Navy Band Northwest! Ships featured were the USS Barry, HMCS Yellowknife, and HMCS Edmonton. 🖊️ @patheresa_ #theticket #fleetweekseattle #seafair ♬ original sound – TheTicketSeattle
Fleet Week starts with a Parade of Ships on Tuesday, July 30th at 1 pm when all the ships make their way to dock. The sailors unload to explore, and we can take a peep at multiple piers. Click here for a list of ship tour dates and times.
🪵 The Log Boom @ Lake Washington
📸: Courtesy Seafair
📆 Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th
⏰ All day
📍 Lake Washington
🎟️ $300 – $925 for boats| More info here
Okay, now to the yearly Seafair Weekend Festival. It’s a multifaceted fest that happens around Lake Washington and Seattle’s Genesee Park from Friday to Sunday, August 2nd through 4th. Core events include hydroplane racing and the Seafair airshow (see below), but Seafair Weekend also includes an annual giant boat party, fondly referred to as a log boom. (Think this but with people.) The fest calls it the “largest floating party in 2024,” and boaters can register at Seafair’s site. Sections sell out fast, so vroom vroom, or whatever sounds boats make.
✈️ Seafair Airshow @ Genesee Park + Lake Washington
📸: Courtesy Seafair
📆 Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th
⏰ 9 am – 6 pm
📍 Genesee Park and Playfield: 4316 South Genesee St, Seattle
🎟️ General Admission: Free (Friday Only), $15 – $40 (Saturday and Sunday) | More info here
What’s the roaring you hear every August? It’s this, the Boeing Seafair Airshow. The unmistakable roar of the US Navy’s Blue Angels is a yearly feature, but those beasts are just one part of the show. Head to Genesee Park for the main action. Friday general admission is free.
BOEING AIRSHOW SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
11:10 AM – US Army Golden Knights
1:05 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:35 PM – US Air Force C17
1:50 PM – US Air Force F35A
2:15 PM – PBY-5A Catalina
2:30 PM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
2:40 PM – Boeing Air Show
3:10 PM – US Marines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
SATURDAY
10:50 AM – Boeing Air Show
11 AM – PBY-5A Catalina
11:15 AM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
1 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:30 PM – US Air Force C17
1:45 PM – US Air Force F35A
3:10 PM – US Marines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
SUNDAY
11 AM
• Opening Ceremonies
• King County Helo Flag Presentation
• National Anthem Singer
11:10 AM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
12 PM – US Army Golden Knights
1 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:30 PM – US Air Force C17
1:45 PM – US Air Force F35A
2:10 PM – PBY-5A Catalina
3:05 PM – Boeing Flyover
3:10 PM – USMarines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
🌊 Hydroplane Gold Cup Race @ Lake Washington
📸: Courtesy Seafair
📆 Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th
⏰ 9 am – 6 pm
📍 Lake Washington
🎟️ More info here
While the airshow has people’s heads in the clouds, the hydroplane racing has them craning their necks across Lake Washington. Culminating with the HomeStreet Bank Gold Cup Race, hydroplanes race at over 220 MPH during shows throughout Seafair Weekend. Peep the schedule below.
H1 HYDROPLANE RACING SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
9 AM – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:35 AM – Vintage Hydroplanes
10:55 AM – J Hydro Heat 1
11:10 AM – US Army Golden Knights
11:40 AM – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
1:05 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:35 PM – US Air Force C17
1:50 PM – US Air Force F35A
2:15 PM – PBY-5A Catalina
2:30 PM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
2:40 PM – Boeing Air Show
2:50 PM – Vintage Hydroplanes
3:10 PM – US Marines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
SATURDAY
9 AM – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:30 AM – J Hydro Heat 2
10:50 AM – Boeing Air Show
11 AM – PBY-5A Catalina
11:15 AM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
11:35 AM – Vintage Hydroplanes
11:55 AM – US Army Golden Knights
12:25 PM – H1 Heat 1A 5 Minute Gun
12:30 PM – H1 Heat 1A
12:45 PM – H1 Heat 1B 5 Minute Gun
12:50 PM – H1 Heat 1B
1 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:30 PM – US Air Force C17
1:45 PM – US Air Force F35A
2:15 PM – Vintage Hydroplanes
2:35 PM – H1 Heat 2A 5 Minute Gun
2:40 PM – H1 Heat 2A
2:55 PM – H1 Heat 2B 5 Minute Gun
3 PM – H1 Heat 2B
3:10 PM – US Marines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
SUNDAY
9 AM – H1 Testing
10 AM – J Hydro Heat 3
10:20 AM – H1 Testing
11 AM
• Opening Ceremonies
• King County Helo Flag Presentation
• National Anthem Singer
11:10 AM – US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
11:20 AM – J Hydro Final
11:40 AM – Vintage Hydroplanes
12 PM – US Army Golden Knights
12:25 PM – H1 Heat 3A 5 Minute Gun
12:30 PM – H1 Heat 3A
12:45 PM – H1 Heat 3B 5 Minute Gun
12:50 PM – H1 Heat 3B
1 PM – US Navy EA-18G Growler
1:30 PM – US Air Force C17
1:45 PM – US Air Force F35A
2:10 PM – PBY-5A Catalina
2:40 PM – Apollo Mechanical Cup Final 5 Minute Gun
2:45 PM – Apollo Mechanical Cup Final
3:05 PM – Boeing Flyover
3:10 PM – US Marines F35B
3:35 PM – US Navy Blue Angels
4:35 PM – H1 Awards Ceremony
👀 Jet Blast Bash @ The Museum of Flight
📸: The Museum of Flight
📆 Saturday, August 3rd – Sunday, August 4th
⏰ 10 am – 5 pm
📍 The Museum of Flight: 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle
🎟️ Included with Museum admission: $18 – $26 | More info here
Want to watch the Blue Angels right as they take off? The Museum of Flight is the spot, located near where the Blue Angels are stationed at the King County International Airport terminal. In addition to the up-front view, the Museum’s Jet Blast Bash features food, a beer garden, family activities, DJs, and Blue Angels history talks. The fest is also an opportunity to check out the Museum in general, which we definitely recommend.
