COUNTDOWN: One week until Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach

(2024 photo by David Hutchinson)

So far, next Saturday (June 28) looks to be a lot more like beach weather than today – good thing since Alki is likely to be thronged by hundreds more people than usual, with this year’s Seafair Pirates Landing set for early afternoon. If you haven’t been before, it’s a relatively compact event these days, with cannon fire sounding offshore as the Pirates approach on a borrowed barge that brings them close enough to wade ashore and mingle menacingly with their fans. There’s usually a bit of bluster as they seize the key to the city or county from a politician and/or Seafair royalty, and eventually they board their motorized landlubbing vessel Moby Duck to roll away. The current estimate for the landing is around 1:30 pm, but don’t procrastinate if you want to see them, because it could be earlier. (You can expect to see the Pirates back here three weeks after that, for the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 19!)

5 Replies to "COUNTDOWN: One week until Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach"

  • Thomas June 21, 2025 (8:48 pm)

    I love West Seattle but this is our worst tradition. 

    • Brent June 22, 2025 (8:11 am)

      It’s mostly for the kids…also what other traditions does WS have? Genuinely curious. There’s the tree lighting and holiday decorations but having trouble thinking of more. 

      • Kristina June 22, 2025 (6:28 pm)

        Brent, traditions my daughter enjoyed included egg hunts, Fourth of July parade(she decorated her bike to join in), the kids dance section at Hiawatha (now other parks) summer concerts, the bouncy house kid zone at Summerfest, Santa in the Junction along with the choirs and booths, trick or treat in the Junction, naturalists on beaches at low tide, various parades, and so much more. There were outdoor movies, 5ks suitable for kids, Alki Art Fair with food and music, riding the rented pedal bike cars at Alki in summer…The year I took my (then young) daughter to Alki to see the pirates, the men dressed as pirates were clearly drunk, and came through the crowd on the beach pawing at women. Not my favorite memory, nor my daughter’s.

    • Derp June 22, 2025 (8:58 am)

      This is a Seattle tradition, not just West Seattle. Everybody loves the Seafair Pirates. Whats your problem. 

    • Lucy June 22, 2025 (12:29 pm)

      This would be an excellent weekend for you to plan to be out of town!!!

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