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No fireworks, no Blue Angels, no hydros, no parade: Seafair cancels 2020 ‘signature events’

May 20, 2020 12:58 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Blue Angels | Coronavirus | West Seattle news

(August 2019 photo by Monica Zaborac)

Announced today by Seafair:

As part of the Seattle summer experience, the non-profit Seafair has been creating lasting memories for the Northwest community for generations. Given the uncertainty surrounding public health safety, and combined with guidance from local and state governments, Seafair is rescheduling its major events to next year. Already, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are confirmed for August 6-8, 2021, and the Fourth of July fireworks show will be back, bigger than ever.

“We are deeply disappointed but together we will get through this emergency,” said Eric Corning, President and CEO of Seafair. “Events will be an important part of our recovery, and we look forward to working with our sponsorship partners, volunteers, and stakeholders to produce a festival with the Blue Angels, fireworks, pirates, clowns, parades, and all of the neighborhood community events. We will stay active in the community this summer to bring people together to celebrate online and in-person, within the COVID-19 guidelines.”

Seafair will be in contact via email with all current ticket holders in the coming days to discuss their options.

As organizers of the largest community summer events in Seattle, bringing millions of Northwesterners together, Seafair is committed to be a catalyst to reunite community and celebrate what it means to live in the Puget Sound region in 2021. The team at Seafair, including board, staff, and the over 3,000 volunteers, are looking forward to doing just that for the community that we love.

Affected 2020 Seafair Festival Signature Events (produced by Seafair)

July 4 – Seafair Summer 4th – Gas Works Park and Lake Union Park

July 11 – Seafair Milk Carton Derby – Green Lake Aqua Theatre

July 19 – Seafair Triathlon – Seward Park

July 25 – Torchlight Run – Downtown Seattle

July 25 – Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade – Downtown Seattle

July 31 – August 2 – Seafair Weekend Festival featuring the Boeing Seafair Air Show and HomeStreet Bank Cup – Genesee Park / Lake Washington

The annual Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki wasn’t mentioned, though it’s usually in June, and large events are unlikely to be allowed by then.

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41 Replies to "No fireworks, no Blue Angels, no hydros, no parade: Seafair cancels 2020 'signature events'"

  • JeffK May 20, 2020 (1:15 pm)

    Duh?

    • WSB May 20, 2020 (1:38 pm)

      Not necessarily. Could have had a fireworks show or air show without a spectator area, for example. Not saying they should have, but they could have. So, cancellation announcements are in order when the decisions are final – TR

  • Zmmr May 20, 2020 (1:39 pm)

    Stay homeEat ice creamWorkout with jane Fonda jazzercise Life is good Quiet quiet no noise 

    • Sunflower May 20, 2020 (4:21 pm)

      ;)

      It doesn’t hurt to look for the bright side, keeping in mind how difficult and concerning things also are.

      Life is certainly good for all the wildlife, who are getting a short break from our noise and pollution right now. It would be great to see some positive changes come out of all this.

      • LB May 20, 2020 (7:49 pm)

        Well said! 

  • KBear May 20, 2020 (1:44 pm)

    Oh, there WILL be fireworks. I have no doubt of that.

    • Also John May 20, 2020 (6:05 pm)

      ALL illegal and not a single piece of garbage picked up.  These people piss me off.

    • wilson May 20, 2020 (7:17 pm)

        Yes, there will

  • CJ May 20, 2020 (1:46 pm)

    Bummer summer here we come…

    • Sunflower May 20, 2020 (4:37 pm)

      It will be different, does it have to be a bummer?I’m going to try to finally read all the books. Maybe start a zoom book club…

  • Cycleman May 20, 2020 (2:44 pm)

    Didn’t think any of those events were gonna happen but thanks for the info. Stay home and stay safe

  • Beto May 20, 2020 (2:54 pm)

    Well, there’s always next year.  

  • anonyme May 20, 2020 (3:02 pm)

    It would be fine with me if the official fireworks went forward without spectators, although that would be difficult to enforce. I would much rather our police enforce residential fireworks violations for a change.  Unfortunately, I have the feeling that it will be even more horrific than usual this year due to the substantial ME ME ME crowd here in Seattle, who have had their ability to act like entitled jerks somewhat inhibited as of late.

  • Gina May 20, 2020 (3:05 pm)

    Tribal firework sales will depend on access restriction to their lands. Much stricter than state restrictions for some

  • Sue T. May 20, 2020 (3:08 pm)

    I’ve never before heard the Seafair hydroplane race called the HomeStreet Bank Cup. When did that happen?

    • WSB May 20, 2020 (3:44 pm)

      Last year.

      • Wes C Adle May 20, 2020 (10:44 pm)

        And it was the Albert Lee Cup prior to that. Sponsorship is required to “fuel” the event.

  • norskgirl May 20, 2020 (3:12 pm)

    I suspect there will be more fireworks and noise from the stay-at-homes than ever!  

  • John W May 20, 2020 (3:25 pm)

    Canadian Military Jet Crashes During Flyover for Coronavirus Workers, Killing One

    • John May 20, 2020 (4:21 pm)

      And you’re aware that accidents happen right?! Most of these flyovers are done because training is necessary and pilots have to log a certain amount of hours

      • heartless May 21, 2020 (9:13 pm)

        You’re almost there, just a couple steps further–and why do they have to log a certain amount of hours?

  • John May 20, 2020 (4:20 pm)

    More useless fear-based decisions. This is blown way out of proportion and there’s been an overreaction

    • heartless May 21, 2020 (10:46 pm)

      In this scenario, an under-reaction would be too many people dead, yeah?

      And an overreaction would be…  too few people dead?

      Am I reading you right?  

  • Peter May 20, 2020 (5:55 pm)

    Goin to have to revise the old song to “What do you do without a drunken sailor?”

  • Bradley May 20, 2020 (7:00 pm)

    There will be more neighborhood fireworks this year than ever before. Get your earplugs now before the rush.

    • Ice May 21, 2020 (1:35 am)

      I’ll bet you a dollar that if we could some how appreciably measure the amount of fireworks that go off this year compared to last, it would be less.

      • Bradley May 21, 2020 (2:58 am)

        Last year was the most I’ve ever seen here in Arbor Heights, but this year will be epic for a few reasons: 1) the vendors know people won’t have professional shows to go to so they’ll have 46 days to increase their stock. 2) everyone knows there’s ZERO SPD enforcement. 3) all other Seafair events are cancelled, leaving July 4th as a stand-alone. 4) people have cabin fever and pent-up aggression to blow-off after the pandemic. 5) “Do it Yourself” is a big theme this year.

        • Ice May 21, 2020 (7:38 pm)

          I just think access to fireworks is going to be way reduced to previous years. I’ve also read things that correlate the amount of fireworks with economic activity, and since we’re basically standing at the beginning of a recession, most people don’t have extra cash to buy fireworks.

          • heartless May 21, 2020 (9:15 pm)

            Yep.  Less disposable income.

    • AMD May 21, 2020 (8:26 am)

      If the fireworks stands are open, I’d agree with you.  That seems iffy, though.  Most people will not drive to the reservation if they can’t buy fireworks at Safeway (and even if they could, reservations themselves are already saying they’ll curb or stop fireworks sales this year).  On the plus side, we won’t have to choose between going out to spend the holiday with family and staying home with the hose ready to put out fires in the yard from errant fireworks.

  • Anna May 20, 2020 (9:48 pm)

    My 12.5 year old epileptic dog is wondering if this means the neighborhood fireworks will be more awful than they already are.

    • Maria May 23, 2020 (2:08 pm)

      I have an almost 12 year old epi baby, equally not fond of fireworks and the stress they cause. Wishing you guys a seizure-free summer! 

  • Christina May 21, 2020 (9:07 pm)

    I think it’s unfair that they would cancel Seafair and all that but they’re still allowing the Washington State Fair to go on doesn’t make any sense

  • Gina May 22, 2020 (7:51 am)

    Washington State Fair is in September after phase 4. On the Fair website visitors will attend at their own risk and expect exposure to covid19. King County Fair has been cancelled, Skagit County Fair has been cancelled. Evergreen State Fair has been cancelled.I think I’ll make scones at home.

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