Friday, July 10, 2009

Skywatch: Crescent Over Greenwood Seafair Parade Route

Cresent Over 85th & Greenwood

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Incandescent blue evening light is a good foil for a sliver of moon and street lights. On June 22 this corner will be lined by throngs of people gathered at the turning point of the 59th annual Greenwood Seafair Parade, complete with Seafair Pirates, Clowns, and Commodores, floats, bands, drill teams, horses, and thousands of spectators enjoying this traditional Wednesday night event. We are nearing the peak of Seattle's summer long festival season when the 60th annual Seafair begins and dozens of events take place in nearly every neighborhood, body of water, and even the skies above when the Blue Angles flying squadron performs. But for right now, all's quiet on the northwestern front of the city.

It's tomorrow you have to worry about. Seafair takes off with a bang when the Seafair Pirates (you remember these guys?) will storm Alki beach a probably detonate a wee bit of gunpowder in the process. Then at 10 AM Greenlake will host the exciting and hysterical Milk Carton Derby (started in 1972, it's Seattle's answer to the homemade boxcar derby. . .we apparently can make any kind of conceivable vessle out of milk cartons and race them and do so every year to win tens of thousands of dollars in fabulous prizes, fame, and glory!). Then will come the 60th annual Wallingford Kiddie Parade and street fair at 11 AM. Phew. . .can you keep up?! That's just the first half of the first day! In 60 years Seattle has had the chance to perfect its festival. In days to come there will be parades, runs, and community events in nearly every neighborhood, including the big Torchlight Parade through downtown on July 25. There are also the Bite of Seattle and the Ballard Seafood Fest, hydroplane races, Wooden Boat Festival, fireworks show. . .well, I'm tired just thinking about all the possibilities for fun. As if Seafair wasn't frenetic enough for our perfect long summer days, we cap it all off at the end of August with Bumbershoot, the amazing, awesome, cool 3 day music and arts festival. Okay, so rest up today. It's your last chance and you are going to need your strength. Oh, and be sure to watch out for the pirates. They are everywhere. Argh!


It's Skywatch Friday and you can see skies all around the world by clicking here.

5 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

That's a beautiful sky, Kim!

And that's some festival you have coming up, not to mention Bumbershoot, which has to be one of the cutest names I've heard.

Have a lovely weekend!

brattcat said...

I second Shell Sherree's comments. Bumbershoot...where did that name come from???

Larry D said...

Great photo, sounds like some interesting activities, love the milk carton derby idea!

Don and Krise said...

Us "northwesterner's" know how to have fun. Even with a goofy name.

Kim said...

Thanks guys! Re. the Bumbershoot name, good question! I'll have to do a little research to know for sure, but since a bumbershoot is an umbrella, I've just assumed it has something to do with Seattle's reputation for rain. It could also be that since many arts are showcased under the umbrella of one event, they chose the name for that reason. I'll look into it and get back to you. Anyone have a theory on this or know how the festival's name came about?