History of Seattle Seafair Celebration

Today kicks off Seafair weekend.  The last couple of days the Blue Angels have taken over the skies with their practices.  The first weekend of August is filled with events celebrating Seattle and all that it has to offer.  Let’s take a look at the history of Seafair and how it got to where it is today.

It all started in 1950 when Seattle started planning to celebrate its centennial the following year.  Seattle business leaders tapped a prominent talent who helped create Seafair.  Walter Van Camp, who helped produce a winter carnival for St. Paul in Minnesota, was impatient and wanted to create a celebration in August.  He started with building the theater located in Greenlake, the 55,000 seat Aqua Theater.  Van Camp’s idea was to create a 10-day celebration from August 11-20.  It featured parades, events, and boat races on Greenlake.  Unfortunately, the theater had been demolished in 1979 – except for some concrete grandstands that still remain and part of the Green Lake Small Craft Center.

Seafair wouldn’t be the amazing weekend long event without the hydroplanes.  These had been around since the early 1900’s and finally found a place in the western part of the nation in Seattle.  Previously held on Greenlake, the hydroplane races have moved to Lake Washington and can be seen at Genesee Park.  

The air show for Seafair has also had a long history with the event.  Prior to the Blue Angels, there were several different aircraft demonstrations throughout the years.  We have been lucky to have the US Navy Blue Angels for most of the years since 1972.  This is by far one of the most popular for Seafair.  Booming over the city, the Blue Angels wow the crowds with its twist and turns, and even close proximity to the water, where many like to watch the show.

Many know Seafair for its huge event-packed weekend.  However, Seafair actually starts in June.  The Seafair Pirates make their way to Alki Beach, signifying the start of the summer long extravaganza.  Many neighborhoods around the city host their own summer festival, all part of the glorious Seafair celebration.  As I’ve said before, summer is when Seattle comes alive.  Another notable event comes the weekend before the Seafair weekend.  The Torchlight parade, typically on the last Saturday in July, is a 2.5 mile long parade that starts in Seattle Center and ends near Century Link field. 

Now in its 70th year, the Seattle Seafair celebration is coming to a close with a big bang.  See you on the lake!