Seafair Weekend is the culmination of Seattle’s summer festival. One of Seattle’s favorite traditions at Genesee Park in south Seattle on Lake Washington. It’s an exhilarating rite of summer like nowhere else in the country.
The 3-day festival features the U.S. Navy Blue Angels highlighting the Boeing Air Show hydroplane race competitions, and pro wake boarders performing incredible stunts. Mix in food vendors, beer gardens, live music, and activities for the whole family, and you have one spectacular weekend.
Seafair Weekend includes hydroplane races on Lake Washington and an air show overhead, headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, plus wakeboard competition, food booths, entertainment, and more – photos and photo collage by Carole Cancler
2023 Seafair Weekend Information
Dates: Friday, August 4 – Sunday, August 6, 2023
Location: Main Gate, 4326 South Genesee Street, Seattle, WA 98118.
Time: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Be sure to get the Seafair App, available in Google Play or Apple iTunes. The Seafair App features up to the minute event information, customizable digital schedules, festival maps, food & drink information and specials, social media integration, and more.
Seafair Weekend regular ticket prices
General Admission gets you into the fair; bring a blanket, chairs, etc. to sit along the grassy (hard, bumpy) shoreline. Pit passes are extra, which get you up close and personal to the hydroplanes and their crew. If you want to sit in the bleachers, you need to purchase Grandstand seating (unreserved) or Captain’s Club (reserved) tickets. The following list includes regular admission prices. Available Discount Seafair ticket deals are listed below.
- General Admission Friday: GATE ADMISSION is FREE on Friday.
- One-day General Admission: (Saturday OR Sunday): Adult (age 13-61) $35. Seniors (62+)/Youth (6-12) $13. Children 5 and younger are free.
- 3-day GA pass: (Friday-Sunday). Adult (age 13-61) $55. Seniors (62+)/Youth (6-12) $22.
- Grandstand seating: Includes GA bleacher seat (first-come, first-served). Friday $45. Saturday OR Sunday $95.
- Pit pass (Friday-Sunday): $15/per day. Not included with general admission or grandstand ticket. This is worth the bucks. Get up close to the racing action, boats, crews, and drivers.
- Captain’s Club & Pit Pass: Includes reserved bleacher seat. Friday $150. Saturday OR Sunday $175. 3-day pass $450.
Seafair Weekend Discount Tickets
Here are the ways to save on admission to Seafair Weekend.
- Early bird discount: $5 off GENERAL ADMISSION tickets thru June 30: Ticketing — Seafair
- General Admission Friday: GA is FREE courtesy of Quil Ceda Creek Casino. So, you can attend two days for $35 by purchasing a general admission ticket for Saturday or Sunday, as well as attend for free on Friday.
- Military discounts: Show your Military I.D. at the gate for free entrance. Military Family Discount $20 Per Person with military I.D. at the gate.
- 3-day GA pass: (Friday-Sunday). Adult (age 13-61) $55. Seniors (62+)/Youth (6-12) $22.
- 3-day Captain’s Club reserved seat & Pit Pass $450.
More info: Seafair Weekend Festival (seafair.org)
![Spirit of the Navy hydroplane at Seattle Seafair By U.S. Navy photo by 2nd Class Eric J. Rowley [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.greaterseattleonthecheap.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Spirit-of-the-Navy-hydroplane-at-Seattle-Seafair-By-U.S.-Navy-photo-by-2nd-Class-Eric-J.-Rowley-Public-domain-via-Wikimedia-Commons-e1530146527891.jpg)
Spirit of the Navy hydroplane at Seattle Seafair – U.S. Navy photo by 2nd Class Eric J. Rowley [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons. This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.
Seafair Volunteer Opportunities
Seafair’s volunteer opportunities are endless, whether you want to volunteer for a few hours one day or for a whole weekend on the water with a front row seat to the Blue Angels. There are also group volunteer opportunities and leadership training.
It’s a memorable way to earn community service hours or become a leader in your community or simply join the behind the scenes fun and meet lots of people.
Seafair uses Shiftboard, an online scheduling software, for all volunteer registration, scheduling and messaging. In order to volunteer, first you must create a free account and register. It takes Seafair 48 hours to process your registration before you can then sign up for available jobs and shifts.
Find out more about volunteering at Seafair, visit: Volunteer — Seafair
Seafair Parking and Transportation Information
Parking and transportation options to Seafair at Genesee Park in south Seattle:
Park at Seafair (not recommended). Traffic is very congested and slow in the neighborhoods surrounding the Seafair Weekend site. So, it’s generally recommended to avoid parking at the Seafair site because it is expensive, very limited, sells out early, and you’ll spend considerable time waiting in traffic to get to and from the site. However, if you wish, it is $50 each day (Friday-Sunday) to park in the official Seafair parking lot. The Seafair Parking lot is located South of S. Genesee St. and is accessed from 42nd Ave. S. Limited paid ADA parking is available on-site on a first come, first served basis. A state-issued, accessible placard is required for access. Buy a parking pass in advance on the Seafair website.
There are several other transportation options, summarized below. Depending on the size of your group, some of these parking options may cost about the same as on-site parking. But you will spend more time at Seafair and less time sitting in traffic.
Link Light Rail + Metro Bus #50.
- In Seattle, park at any convenient Sound Transit Link Light Rail station (parking prices vary) and take Light Rail to Columbia City station. Round-trip adult (19-64) fare is $4.50-$7.00 round trip, depending on distance traveled. Pay with ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app or use ticket machines at each station. An ORCA card is advised to facilitate transfer from Light Rail to Bus: Trip planner | Sound Transit.
- In north Seattle, you can also park at University of Washington E17-19 & E21 lots, just south of Husky Stadium ($4/hour)— Pay by phone parking is available.
- In south Seattle, you can also park at the Sea-Tac Airport General Parking Garage ($6/hr; $36/day)—Pre-Booked Parking is available at ParkSEA.org. Take Metro Bus #50 from Columbia City Station to the Seafair entrance (about 1 mile, so you can also walk it).
Metro Bus Route 50 will be operating a standard schedule with stops at Genesee Park & Columbia City Station. Use the Sound Transit trip planner to figure out your route. An ORCA card is advised to facilitate transfer from Light Rail to Bus: Trip planner | Sound Transit
More info: Seafair Weekend Festival (seafair.org)
But wait! There’s more…
- Seattle Seafair history: 1950 to present day
- Seafair signature events and community festivals
- Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle
- Where to see the Blue Angels for free Seafair Weekend
- Find more Cultural heritage festivals in the Puget Sound region.
- More festivals of all kinds on our big list of annual festivals, fairs, and parades.
- More free and cheap things to do every day: Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
- Still more ideas for frugal fun: Greater Seattle on the Cheap home page.
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Upcoming Seafair Events in the Puget Sound region
(If nothing is listed below, there are no upcoming Seafair Events in our calendar. We usually update our calendar beginning in April or May. Most Seafair events occur June-August with a few promotional and fundraising events at other times of the year.)
Carole Cancler says
I don’t know.
Charles says
I bought my tickets online and have them via email. Do I have to print them physically to get in or will they accept them if I show them the tickets on my phone?
Carole Cancler says
We could do a lot of things 35 years ago that we can’t do today. Then again, we can do things today we couldn’t do 35 years ago. Hopefully, things even out.
Carole Cancler says
Yes, I believe so.
Heather Jones says
Can I buy kids ticket at the south entrance?
L Smith says
There was in the 80s
Carole Cancler says
Found this small print on the Seafair website (https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/2920307/2017-seafair-weekend-general-admission-seattle-albert-lee-appliance-cup-at-seafair-weekend-and-boeing-seafair-air-show), which state DAY OF starts August 4 at 12:00AM: “ADULT ADMISSION AGE 13-64 (DAY OF) / SENIOR AGE 65+ / YOUTH (12 AND UNDER) Public Onsale: August 4, 2017 12:00 AM to August 6, 2017 12:30 PM”.
Carole Cancler says
Found this small print on the Seafair website (https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/2920307/2017-seafair-weekend-general-admission-seattle-albert-lee-appliance-cup-at-seafair-weekend-and-boeing-seafair-air-show), which state DAY OF starts August 4 at 12:00AM: “ADULT ADMISSION AGE 13-64 (DAY OF) / SENIOR AGE 65+ / YOUTH (12 AND UNDER) Public Onsale: August 4, 2017 12:00 AM to August 6, 2017 12:30 PM”.
Carole Cancler says
The 50% off admission is with CBC only, not anyone on a bike.
Ed Mulligan says
Why is it that tickets on sale right now (8/4) for tomorrow (8/5) are priced at “Day Of” ($40) prices?
Tony says
Website pricing is inaccurate. Today is Friday and I’m trying to buy tickets for Sunday. its clearly not the weekend, but they are charging weekend prices. I can’t get anyone to call or email back. Went to Safeway and found them for cheaper.
Troy says
Is the 50% off admission only for biking with the Cascade bicycling club? Or is it for anyone on a bicycle?
Thanks
Carole Cancler says
Hi Ric, not sure what you are referring to. There are several parking lot entrances, one on 42nd, one off 46th and others; the parking map is here: http://d2w7gersd1ix5b.cloudfront.net/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=seafair2017&f=Seafair_2017_Parking_Map.pdf.
Carole Cancler says
You’d have to ask Seafair, we have nothing to do with their ticket prices. Friday is, and has always been, free. Thousands upon thousands of people go. You can volunteer and get in for free. Or, you can start a new family tradition. That’s not a bad idea, either. Here are a few ideas to get you started: https://www.greaterseattleonthecheap.com/5-cheap-ways-to-get-away-from-seafair/
Carole Cancler says
No, it’s completely closed–it’s fenced off and full of vendors and music stages, etc. And there’s no camping allowed there ever, in any case.
Carole Cancler says
I have heard that as well, but can’t confirm. The main gate is on 43rd and Genesee. I believe there is another entrance on 49th and Lake Washington Blvd S.
Ric says
That should be 46th Ave S and S Snoqualmie St, there is no street access at 42nd Ave So.
Jason says
I stopped by Albert Lee and the Home bank for tickets for Friday and they were sold out. I was told that we could still get in, just in a separate non ticket line. Is that correct?
Ben says
Can you camp overnight at genesse park on seafair weekend?
Will St.Germain says
Why are the admission prices so high! If my wife and i go and take our daughter it will cost $180 just to get in the gate! That is ridiculous! For what? To see 5 or 6 boats and some obnoxious planes. Seafair is dying because of the anti-family attitude. I guess Safari is trying to get back to the old days, when only punks and drunks went. I for one will not be wasting $180 on this joke. I guess we will have to start a new family tradition. Thanks a lot.
Carole Cancler says
Cara, I do not believe so. You will likely need to re-route for the day, up Genesee to 38th. They don’t really have a good map of the event this year, as they have in years past. This map shows the event boundaries: http://d2w7gersd1ix5b.cloudfront.net/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=seafair2017&f=Neighborhood_Closures_2017.pdf and this map shows parking: http://d2w7gersd1ix5b.cloudfront.net/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=seafair2017&f=Seafair_2017_Parking_Map.pdf. The event entrance is on the south end of the event, at 49th Ave S and Lake Washington Blvd. There may be another entrance off Genesee. But I don’t really know if there is an entrance/exit on the north, but I don’t think there is. Even though it’s free on Friday, you still need a ticket. Seafair phone and email: (206) 728-0123 and info@seafair.com.
Cara Ross says
I commute by bike along Lake Washington Blvd. Will I be able to ride through the event on Friday?
Carole Cancler says
$40 each day (Friday-Sunday) to park in the official Seafair parking lot. It’s limited and sells out early. Purchase parking in advance here: http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/10942. The Seafair Parking lot is located South of S. Genesee St. and is accessed from 42nd Ave. S.
Steve, thanks for your question. We’ve updated the parking and transportation information on this page.
Steve svenson says
How much is parking in the official lot
Carole Cancler says
We found the following information on the Seafair Weekend ticket site (http://www.seafair.com/p/34):
General Admission Adults (ages 13-64): $30 in advance, $40 at the gate. Seniors (65+)/Youth (12 and under): $10. Pit passes are an additional $10 per person per day (no age discount). But this gets you into the “pits” where the hydroplanes and their crews are for an up-close and personal look at these unique boats. Buy advance tickets here: http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/10942
And on this page, http://www.seafair.com/events/2017/seafair-weekend, we found the following MILITARY/VETERAN FREE ADMISSION information, PLUS DISCOUNT TICKETS for their guests:
Military & Boeing Employees: Boeing Employees & contractors and active duty, reserve, & retired military may enter Seafair Weekend Festival for free by presenting their Boeing or Military ID badge at the special Boeing & Military entry gate at Genesee Park. Boeing employees & contractors and active duty, reserve, & retired military may also purchase additional reduced price general admission tickets for $20 per ticket, per day. Tickets can be purchased through the Boeing store or at the gate.
Bennie, Thanks so much for asking about military and veteran discount tickets. We’ve update our post with the new info. Hope you go and have a great time!
Bennie Joseph Jones JR says
Hi. I’d like to know if there are Military, disabled veterans discounts for tickets for the hydro races on Sunday. Also, i have a wife and two grand sons ages 6 and 9 who’ll be coming in from, CA that will attend the Sunday event. Can you let me know how much for them? Thank you.
Carole Cancler says
The free shuttle is available from the Columbia City Light Rail Station at Martin Luther King Jr Way and Alaska St. Here’ more info about light rail: http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Link-light-rail. If you take the bus from your neighborhood to Seafair, Routes 7 and 50 stop near the Seafair entrance. Here’s where to plan a bus trip: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/#plan-a-trip
Lillian says
Where is the 5 minutes free shuttle to the seafair entrance?
Carole Cancler says
You purchase them on site, just outside the pits. There is someone there who will check for your valid pass, or sell you one. I believe it’s cash only, $10 per person.
becky says
Where can I purchase pit passes