Editing Seafair (section)

==Events==
Seafair begins in mid-June; since 1949, its arrival has been heralded by the [[Seafair Pirates]] Landing on [[Alki Beach Park|Alki Beach]], and the Milk Carton Derby on [[Green Lake (Seattle)|Green Lake]], a whimsical boat race in which all the boats have been constructed out of empty [[milk]] cartons.<ref>[http://www.seafair.com/about/history/decades/70s.asp History of Seafair - 1970's]</ref> Entries always range from those carefully shaped for speed and stability to those designed for maximum amusement. The Derby is usually associated with a variety of activities for children and families on the shores of Green Lake.

A [[half marathon]] was added in 2002, follow three years later by the full Seafair [[Marathon (sport)|Marathon]]. Participants can run or walk the {{convert|21.0975|km|mi|adj=on}} and {{convert|42.195|km|mi|adj=on}} courses. If a shorter distance is more appealing, participants can run or walk a 5&nbsp;km course. The 2008 Seafair Half Marathon and Seafair Marathon began at [[Husky Stadium]], crossed the [[Evergreen Point Floating Bridge]], and ended at [[Bellevue, Washington]]'s Bellevue Downtown Park. After the race, live music was performed. In 2009, the Seafair Marathon and Half Marathon were replaced with the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008094409_marathon06.html The Seattle Times: Rock 'n' roll run set to replace Seafair Marathon, by Jayda Evans, August 6, 2008]</ref>

In 2013, an [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] [[fireworks]] show at [[Lake Union]] known as the Seafair Summer Fourth was added. The event serves as a ''de facto'' successor to the ''Family Fourth'' fireworks event formerly held at the same site, which had been discontinued by its organizers due to a lack of funding. The event was revived under the auspices of Seafair with the financial support of local sponsors.<ref name=seattletimes-fireworks>{{cite web|title=McGinn got heads-up, has plan to salvage Fourth of July fireworks|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020740892_seattlefireworksxml.html|work=Seattle Times|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name=seafair-fourth>{{cite web|title=SEAFAIR SUMMER FOURTH – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO|url=http://www.seattlechamber.com/News/Article/13-06-20/Seafair_Summer_Fourth_%E2%80%93_Know_Before_You_Go.aspx|publisher=[[Seattle Chamber of Commerce]]|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref>

The Seafair [[Triathlon]] is held on the shores of [[Lake Washington]] from [[Seward Park, Seattle|Seward Park]].  It features both Sprint - half-mile [[swimming (sport)|swim]], {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} [[bicycle|bike]] ride, and 5&nbsp;km [[running|run - and Olympic distances]]. Participants can compete individually or as a team. Typically, the Seafair Triathlon is held the third weekend of July. In 2007, the Seafair Triathlon saw a record turnout of 2,200.<ref>participants [http://www.seafair.com/events/triathlon/ Seafair Triathlon]</ref>

===The Torchlight festivities===

The last weekend in July belongs to the [[Torchlight Parade]] and [[Torchlight Run]]. Many local organizations participate in these events, held on the streets of [[Downtown Seattle]]. The local woman who has been selected as "Miss Seafair" (prior to 1972, "Seafair Queen") plays a prominent role in the parade. It is traditionally preceded by the Torchlight Run, a short (8&nbsp;km) race through the city's streets in which many participants run in [[costume]].

===Seafair Weekend===
One of the most popular events of the festival is the Seafair Weekend, held traditionally the first weekend of August on [[Genesee Park (Seattle)|Genesee Park]]. Seafair Weekend main events include [[hydroplane racing]] on the water and [[aerobatics|aerobatics show]] in the sky.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seafair.com/events/2019/seafair-weekend-festival |title=Seafair Weekend Festival |website=www.seafair.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727042304/https://www.seafair.com/events/2019/seafair-weekend-festival |archive-date=July 27, 2019}} </ref>

The [[Seafair Cup]] is an [[American Boat Racing Association]] unlimited [[hydroplane racing]] circuit stop at [[Stan Sayres| Stan Sayres Memorial Park]] on Lake Washington, in the [[Seward_Park,_Seattle |Seward Park]] neighborhood. The races attract tens of thousands of spectators, both those standing on the public shores of the lake, and those in [[boat]]s anchored just outside the course in the lake itself.

A tradition started in 1972, the [[Seafair Air Show]] is an [[aerobatics|aerobatics show]] coincidently with the days of the Seafair Cup. World-class aerobatics teams perform their aerial stunts over Lake Washington, most prominently the [[Blue Angels|US Navy Blue Angels]] and [[United States Army Parachute Team|US Army Golden Knights]]. Notoriously, the [[Blue Angels]] have been attending the Air Show annually since its first edition, excepting in three occasions. The aerobatics show is a slightly controversial part of Seafair, as some local residents fear an accident involving the low-flying aircraft, and some find the noise of the [[jet engine]]s irritating.<ref>[http://capitolhillseattle.blogspot.com/2007/04/no-more-blue-angels-over-homes-please.html Capitol Hill Seattle blog - No More Blue Angels Over Homes Please]</ref> There was no show at Seafair in 1994 and 1995 as a result of a dispute with the FAA about whether they could safely fly over Lake Washington. In 1996 the Blue Angels flew over [[Elliott Bay]], west of downtown Seattle, in a separate event from the hydroplane race, but this was a financial flop, and they returned to being part of the race-weekend festivities over Lake Washington in 1997.<ref>[http://www.seafair.com/about/history/decades/90s.asp History of Seafair - 1990's]</ref> Due to government budget cuts, the Blue Angels did not perform at Seafair 2013; they were replaced by the [[Patriots Jet Team]].<ref name=seattletimes-fireworks/> From 2019, the aerobatics show fly-over area was moved south to avoid the closing of the floating bridges carrying [[Interstate 90 in Washington|Interstate 90]] between [[Mercer Island, Washington|Mercer Island]] and Seattle during the three days of Seafair Weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/washington/seattle/seafair-weekend-2019-what-you-need-know|title = Seafair Weekend 2019: What You Need to Know|date = August 2019}}</ref>