Seafair originated from Seattle’s 1951-1952 centennial celebration planning, but its roots can be traced to the 1911 Seattle Golden Potlatch Celebrations. Designed as an opportunity to boost tourism and promote boating, the first Seafair was a ten-day line-up of events held August 11-20, 1950. This included building the 5,500 seat Aqua Theater at Green Lake in only 75 days.
The first Seafair featured parades (including the Torchlight Parade), boat races on Green Lake, amateur athletic events, royalty, and a variety of community festivals, including Seattle Bon Odori (which has taken place annually in Seattle since 1932). The first year of festivies kicked off with the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki Beach. Deemed a success, the Seafair festival would expand the next summer by including the Gold Cup hydroplane race on Lake Washington. In 1972, the Milk Carton Derby and the US Navy’s Blue Angels’ highly anticipated airshow became beloved annual traditions.
Today Seafair has grown into a multi-week series of events and activities featuring over 30 sanctioned events that reach more than two-million people, made possible with the help of nearly 3,000 volunteers. Due to the current global pandemic, 2020 will be the first year since it began that no in-person events will be held. This exhibit provides a glimpse into the evolution of the celebration for the past 71 years.
Seafair originated from Seattle’s 1951-1952 centennial celebration planning, but its roots can be traced to the 1911 Seattle Golden Potlatch Celebrations. Designed as an opportunity to boost tourism and promote boating, the first Seafair was a ten-day line-up of events held August 11-20, 1950. This included building the 5,500 seat Aqua Theater at Green Lake in only 75 days.
The first Seafair featured parades (including the Torchlight Parade), boat races on Green Lake, amateur athletic events, royalty, and a variety of community festivals, including Seattle Bon Odori (which has taken place annually in Seattle since 1932). The first year of festivies kicked off with the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki Beach. Deemed a success, the Seafair festival would expand the next summer by including the Gold Cup hydroplane race on Lake Washington. In 1972, the Milk Carton Derby and the US Navy’s Blue Angels’ highly anticipated airshow became beloved annual traditions.
Today Seafair has grown into a multi-week series of events and activities featuring over 30 sanctioned events that reach more than two-million people, made possible with the help of nearly 3,000 volunteers. Due to the c
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