Sesame Street event to bring thousands to Lincoln Park later this month

When Sesame Street announced back in April that its 50th-anniversary tour would include a Seattle stop, the exact location was TBA. Leaders of two West Seattle neighborhood organizations have been notified that the event will be held at Lincoln Park. The Fauntleroy and Morgan Junction Community Associations have both been notified by organizers that the event is set for 9 am-3 pm on Saturday, July 27th, with setup the day before. The notification shows that it’ll be at the open field area near the north parking lot. The organizers expect 4,000 people to attend, but not all at once; the notice explains, “Please note that this is a free, ticketed event whereby guests are required to reserve a time slot in advance.” The event will include a 30-to-40-minute stage show presented multiple times as part of a “family fun festival,” according to the official announcement of Sesame Street’s visit, which also will include filming around Seattle. This is the second-to-last stop on the tour. The RSVP link from here doesn’t seem to go anywhere so we’re checking on whether that means it’s sold out.

Gebus July 10, 2019 (10:37 am)

According to the event brite website the event is already sold out.:(

WSB July 10, 2019 (11:28 am)

There’s also a page that says ‘contact organizers.’ So I am checking anyway.
Kathleen July 10, 2019 (6:27 pm)

I’m curious about the compensation to the city for such a large-scale event, particularly the excess in traffic, litter, facilities use, displacement of park users, and, most importantly, the inevitable stressors on park flora and fauna. We seem to give PBS a pass as it overtakes the park for its own “wholesome” agenda, but will this be a precedent for other, less revered, organizations seeking to impose additional broad-scale entertainment opportunities? Not In My Back Park.
- WSB July 10, 2019 (6:54 pm)
  
  Here are the various fees the city charges:
  https://www.seattle.gov/special-events-office/handbook/permit-fees
- Lagartija Nick July 11, 2019 (12:33 pm)
  
  Kathleen, how do I contact you so I can get your permission to use your park?

Vanessa July 10, 2019 (10:40 am)

Oh. Reminds me of when some company wanted to put a commercial zip line in Lincoln Park. “Oh, heck no”, the town said. We don’t want our park trashed!” The town won. I hope Sesame Street takes good care of our beloved park. Too bad some place like Marymoor Park or larger venue for parking was chosen.

Josh July 10, 2019 (11:57 am)

Vanessa, we can all take light rail there!
- Ice July 10, 2019 (12:24 pm)
  
  Lincoln Park is incredibly easy to access by bus. The C is one of the most frequently running buses in the city and it has a stop directly in front of Lincoln Park.

newnative July 10, 2019 (11:38 am)

that’s weird that tickets were sold to an event before the location was revealed? Perhaps it wasn’t really open to the public to begin with? Too bad local families can’t be included.

WSB July 10, 2019 (12:13 pm)

I don’t know when the announcement of the location was made. We didn’t get the original news release. I contacted the organizers after the Lincoln Park notification was called to our attention by the community-group leaders – the organizers of special events are required by the city to reach out to communities that might be affected by their events but that doesn’t always include notifying local media. – TR
- Raised on Sesame Street July 10, 2019 (12:26 pm)
  
  Lots of things appear to be wrong with their Seattle ticket managing through Event Brite (including copying and pasting the Denver location in the Seattle event). Nevertheless you can reach the available tickets for afternoon entry: 11:45, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00, at the following web link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sesame-street-road-trip-seattle-wa-tickets-64256305339?aff=ebapiClick on Register and will take you to the page below. Scroll down for later times which are not sold out.
  - WSB July 10, 2019 (12:40 pm)
    
    I found that page too but did not want to point to it given the address confusion … until and unless I can get some info (pursuing as we speak).
    - Raised on Sesame Street July 11, 2019 (12:03 pm)
      
      The address is at least updated now to Lincoln Park. The line from the Sesame Street theme song: “Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street,” is now playing in my head. Glad people were able to get tickets.
    - WSB July 11, 2019 (12:45 pm)
      
      Yay! I emailed them yesterday about the discrepancy and included the URL so perhaps – though I haven’t seen a reply yet – that helped.
  - Gebus July 11, 2019 (1:35 pm)
    
    Thanks so much for finding that link I got some tickets :)

Alex July 10, 2019 (12:21 pm)

Where do they expect 4,000 people to park?

zmmr July 10, 2019 (1:27 pm)

I am going to charge $50 per vehicle plus $10 per passenger for parking on my space.Time to make big money
Gene July 10, 2019 (1:42 pm)

See above comment- they’ll no doubt be taking the C-
- R. jackson July 26, 2019 (2:03 pm)
  
  I’m going to guess that families with children (who are not familiar with WS, much less our bus system) will most likely choose to drive, not take the C Line. Last weekend was a nightmare with visitors and ferry traffic – all converging onto the same two-lane street. Cars spilled over into all the side streets, making it nearly impossible to have enough sight-distance to pull out onto Fauntleroy.
Maria July 10, 2019 (4:51 pm)

Using math and common sense, I realize that there will not be 4,000 vehicles at any one time. Kids don’t drive, so if they come by car they will be coming with friends and families in carpools. Then there is public transportation like people take to the stadiums. Then there are locals who will walk/bike there. There will be inconveniences, but this is a city and I’m glad there are cool things that come to town.

Guy Olson July 10, 2019 (12:22 pm)

Complaining about Sesame Street? That is some next level NIMBY stuff right there!

Anne July 10, 2019 (1:44 pm)

Don’t see complaints about Sesame Street- comments about ticket availability & parking- yes-but complaining about show-no.
- James July 10, 2019 (10:44 pm)
  
  Kathleen posted about “NOT IN MY BACK PARK”. Fearing use of her personal park would have some kind of diminished use, or damaged caused– now or in the future. People need to get over themselves and realize we have to share this planet. There are too many people, and each person has an attitude, chip, ailment, lousy disposition, and/or general issue. Chill out, and stay inside with your TV and internet for once. Kids need an outlet, and nurturing. Not hostility, grumpiness, or Kathleen’s puritanical park use viewpoint. The park is doing fine. Now for the unkempt curbs/sidewalks, uncut grass, or unswept and slippery broken up sidewalks of California Ave… well then, I’m for some complaining, lol.
Jim Walker July 10, 2019 (4:06 pm)

Yikes, where is the love? Thousands of kids are going to have an experience they will remember for their entire lifetimes. NIMBY indeed!

Lola July 10, 2019 (2:15 pm)

Thank you. I will make sure to avoid the area that day. Wow 4,000, good luck trying to wait in line for the Ferry as I guarantee you people will be parking on the street for this event. Do we know how many parking spots we have in the combined parking lots? I know it is not 4,000. Thank you for the info you bring to us on happenings in our part of town.

Ice July 10, 2019 (2:41 pm)

I know, why didn’t they think to have a parking space for each ticket sold? Inconsiderate companies like Sesame Street really need to make sure each individual child can drive their own car there without parking hassals.
donttreadonme July 10, 2019 (3:16 pm)

That darn PBS!
- Guy Olson July 10, 2019 (6:25 pm)
  
  I blame Fred Rogers!

Steve July 10, 2019 (4:22 pm)

“No one goes there anymore – there’s not enough parking!”

mem July 10, 2019 (4:28 pm)

Thank you raised on Sesame Street!! Just got my 4 tickets for 12:30. What a treat for my grandsons.

anonyme July 10, 2019 (5:55 pm)

Sounds like fun for kids, but Lincoln Park seems a bizarre setting for such an event. Someplace like Seattle Center or one of the larger parks that are set up for such events would have been more appropriate. I doubt most Seattleites will be taking the entire family on the bus, nor will everyone be leaving immediately afterward – so parking concerns seem valid.

ArborHeightsRes July 10, 2019 (7:21 pm)

I am glad that this is happening. I also wonder if the city is going to use it as a revenue source by ticketing all of the cars that are going to park in the No Parking/Ferry Zone along Fauntleroy during this time? Or in the city hoping that all of the cars will just find parking in the residential areas so that the ferry riders aren’t bothered.

artlore July 10, 2019 (7:45 pm)

I love Sesame Street, and I love that there are summer programs and activities for families. But we live within a block of Lincoln Park, and there’s not enough parking when they have small events like cross-country meets. Cars are parked on blind corners and in front of hydrants. Add 200 vehicles an hour to the typical weekend ferry traffic and it will be a “challenge” to say the least. I’d leave town but I probably won’t be able to get out of my driveway.

PigeonRidge Ben July 10, 2019 (10:53 pm)

What a privilege

Ali July 10, 2019 (9:44 pm)

I am so excited to walk to this event with my kids. Chaos can be fun.I just got tickets. Here’s a link https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sesame-workshop

anonyme July 11, 2019 (10:41 am)

I think Ali just hit the nail on the head. Some people just love chaos. That probably explains the way Seattle functions (it doesn’t). Kathleen actually makes some good points that have nothing to do with criticizing either Sesame Street or PBS – which, from inside experience, I can tell you are not the sacred icons you might think. The only question is whether or not Lincoln Park is an appropriate venue for such an event. It isn’t.

Tori July 13, 2019 (4:19 pm)

Well- its sold out. and i live 4 blocks away. If anyone has extras….

R. Jackson July 17, 2019 (1:54 pm)

I think the folks ganging up on Kathleen likely don’t live in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the park. Indeed, the park is a busy place, especially during the summer months. On weekends, cars back up into neighborhood streets and unfortunately, visitors often ignore street signs and park right up to intersections and blocking visibility, making it dangerous for residents to pull out onto Fauntleroy – which is usually very congested. (We’ve repeatedly called SPD parking enforcement to no avail.) I knew the park was busy when we moved here. Yes, I get that it’s public park here for the enjoyment of all. But I’m just not sure the city thought through the implications of allowing such a large event during the summer – and having to compete with all the ferry traffic traveling to/from Vashon – all at the same time. So I guess I can understand why my neighbors are not looking forward to the event.

Philip Patten July 19, 2019 (12:31 pm)

If the city were going to enforce the 2 hour limit without an RPZ sticker then maybe locals could find parking. The city won’t. So it is illegally violating its own laws in order to have event parking, and is giving away parking rights we pay for.

Sorry, comment time is over.