Dancers at a past Seafair Torchlight Parade. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade Please note – You can click any of the drop-down links to go directly to a specific topic:
- Seafair Torchlight Run and Parade
- Chinatown International District Celebration
- Construction snapshot
- Transit and trip planning resources
Happy Friday, Seattle! We have some fun events going on this weekend, including the Seafair Torchlight Parade and the Chinatown International District Celebration. With hot weather still in the forecast, we encourage you to take precautions to stay safe if you plan on getting out to enjoy these events (see more details below).
We’ve also put together some construction notes for your awareness, including updates on WSDOT’s ongoing Revive I-5 work. As always, we encourage travelers to consider riding transit such as the Link light rail, the bus, or the West Seattle Water Taxi to reach your destinations. Riding a bike or scooter share is also a great option. Having fewer cars on the street can help lessen traffic and make travel easier for everyone.
Read on for more travel tips for this weekend!
Community Celebrations and Events
Seafair Torchlight Run and Parade
One of the city’s most beloved summer traditions takes place this Saturday, July 30! First off is the Amazon Seafair Torchlight Run, an evening race through downtown Seattle. Participants have the option to complete a 5K or an 8K run and are encouraged to wear fun, creative costumes. Because the race kicks off the Torchlight Parade, runners can expect to see parade spectators cheering them on!
The 5K and 8K run options both begin at 6 p.m., and you can register here.
Then, at 7 p.m., the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade sets off from the Space Needle. The parade celebrates the diverse cultures of our region, with more than 100 colorful floats participating. Past parades have featured everything from precision drill teams to dragon dancers, providing amazement and fun for all ages.
Travelers should plan for street closures and large crowds at these events. With that in mind, we encourage you to consider riding transit to attend the run or parade. The Link light rail station nearest to Seattle Center and the Space Needle is Westlake station, and King County Metro has many bus routes that also serve the area. Finally, the Seattle Center Monorail is a quick trip connecting Seattle Center to downtown Seattle.
Chinatown International District Celebration
Also happening Saturday, July 30, the Chinatown International District (CID) Celebration is a neighborhood party featuring a variety of multicultural, family-friendly entertainment, music, games, raffles, and delicious food. The chance to participate in a dragon dance, live performances using traditional instruments, and a kung fu demonstration are sure to be highlights.
The event will take place at Hing Hay Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with representatives from other city departments, Team SDOT will also be present with a booth. We encourage you to come talk to us about our ongoing projects and other transportation topics!
Travelers can expect the following street closures for the event:
- S King Street between 6th Ave S and Maynard Ave S
- Maynard Ave S between S Jackson Street and S King Street
- 6th Ave S between S Jackson Street and S King Street
Luckily, taking transit to the CID is easy. The Link light rail drops you right in the heart of the neighborhood (Chinatown International District station). The area is also served by many Metro bus routes and the Seattle Streetcar (First Hill line).
Construction snapshot
SDOT construction work
West Seattle and South Park
Starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30, we’ll close the on-ramp from eastbound SW Spokane St to the Spokane St Viaduct, along with eastbound lanes of the Spokane St Viaduct. A signed detour will be in place along S Spokane St. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m., Monday, August 1.
The closure is needed to install signage, striping, and new bridge expansion joints, which allow the bridge to expand and contract during winter and summer months.
Also on Saturday, asphalt crews will be working in the vicinity of 37th Ave SW and Fauntleroy SW. We anticipate work to begin as early as 6 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. Though there will be minimal traffic impacts, you may experience delays in the area.
On Saturday and Sunday, July 31, we will be working at 16th Ave SW and SW Cambridge St to update curb bulbs and curb ramps. Traffic will be maintained throughout the work zone. However, please anticipate delays.
On Sunday, July 31, crews will be installing wheel stops on 6th Ave S from Michigan St to Lucile St. We anticipate minimal impact to traffic as the work will mainly be conducted from the shoulder and parking lanes. With all planned construction, please navigate the area with caution.
For the latest SDOT travel information, you can follow our SDOT Traffic Twitter account @sdottraffic, or visit our Seattle Travelers web page for real time traffic camera information.
WSDOT construction work
Revive I-5
By 10 p.m. on Friday, July 29, contractor crews working for WSDOT will begin work on the right side of six expansion joints. The collector/distributor and I-90 ramps to southbound I-5 will be closed until 5 a.m. Monday, August 1.
Revive I-5 work is scheduled to continue every weekend this summer through around the end of September. You can visit the Revive I-5 website for the latest information, and you can keep up with WSDOT on Twitter at @wsdot_traffic.
Burke-Gilman Trail Work
A friendly heads up that Seattle Parks and Recreation will be closing sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail for annual maintenance this weekend. Work will take place Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Signs on site will indicate the closed sections.
The sections of the trail affected are:
- 42nd Pl NE and Rivera Pl to NE 125th St
- NE 125th St to Lakeside Pl NE
- Lakeside Pl NE to NE 112th St
- NE 112th St to NE 100th
Transit and trip planning resources
As of last week, Link light rail service has returned to normal, with trains arriving about every 8 minutes at peak times!
The light rail and King County Metro both have helpful resources to help you map your route. Simply enter your start and end addresses into Metro’s trip planning tool or Sound Transit’s trip planning tool to find the transit route that works best for you. Google Maps also offers transit planning and biking, walking, and other trip planning options.
Finally, given the hot weather, it’s important to take precautions so we can all stay safe. Use sun protection and stay hydrated if you’re out and about this weekend. If you’re driving, be sure to plan ahead. We encourage you to consider carpooling and leave extra time to reach your destination. Make sure you have enough gas, and check that your vehicle is in good working condition. You can find more information about traveling in extreme heat in our recent blog post.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to plan and prepare your travel in advance. We appreciate your attention and help in making sure we can all get around the city safely and smoothly. Enjoy your weekend!
