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
2024 Seafair Weekend Information
Dates: Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4, 2024 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: Main Gate, 4326 South Genesee Street, Seattle, WA 98118.
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 $25 (adult 13-61). Child (6-12) or Senior (62+) $15.
- 3-day GA pass: $100 includes Gate Admission & Pit Access all 3 days.
- 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.
- Grandstand seating: Includes General Admission and unreserved bleacher seat (first-come, first-served). Friday $45, Saturday OR Sunday $95.
- Captain’s Club & Pit Pass: fully furnished, tented raised pavilion equipped with an open sun deck and a catered lunch served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 1-day and 3-day passes available $225-$1650. More info: Captain’s Club – 2024 Seafair Premium Experience — Seafair
- Blue Angels Walk Down at Boeing Field: For the first time ever, watch the blues on the flightline. GA $49. VIP $75. Blue Angels Walk Down at Boeing Field — Seafair
Seafair Weekend Discount Tickets
Here are the ways to save on admission to Seafair Weekend.
- Advanced online prices are lowest when tickets go on sale in spring. Ticket info: Seafair Tickets – 2024 General Admission and Premium Seating Passes — Seafair
- Seafair offers volunteer opportunities at Seafair Summer Fourth, Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade, and Seafair Weekend Festival featuring the Boeing Air Show and Seafair Hydroplane Races. Volunteer info: Volunteer — Seafair
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. Duties vary by event but may include set up, take down, hospitality, volunteer coordination and check-in, ushering, information booth, security, first aid, runners, photography, social media, and behind-the-scenes operational duties.
Do you have a special skill like carpentry, plumbing, CPR, driving a forklift, or a dive certificate? Are you a boat owner? Seafair has teams that can use your talents.
All volunteers must be registered before July 1st. More info: 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 parking area.
Other transportation options are summarized below.
Link Light Rail + Metro Bus #50:
- Use the Sound Transit Trip planner and take Link Light Rail to Columbia City station. Round-trip adult (19-64) fare is $4.50-$7.00 round trip, depending on distance traveled. An ORCA (myorca.com) card is recommended to facilitate transfer from Light Rail to Bus. Or use the Transit GO Ticket app or ticket machines at each station.
- In Seattle, park at any convenient Sound Transit Link Light Rail station (parking prices vary).
- In north Seattle, you could park at University of Washington E17-19 & E21 lots, just south of Husky Stadium ($4/hour, $19.50/daily). Pay by phone parking is available.
- In south Seattle, you could park at the Sea-Tac Airport General Parking Garage. Daily rate: $8/hours, $37.00/day. Reservations are available 14-120 days in advance: $47.00/day. More info: ParkSEA.org.
- Take Metro Bus #50 from Columbia City Station to the Seafair entrance about one mile away.
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
(Most Seafair events occur June-August with a few promotional and fundraising events at other times of the year. If nothing is listed below, there are no upcoming Seafair Events in our calendar…yet.)
Online
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