Seafair Weekend Caps off Today, Aug. 7, With Blue Angels, Hydro Races

Sunday Aug. 7 is the last day to enjoy the Puget Sound's annual Seafair Weekend celebrations in the sky and in the water.

Seafair Weekend officially is at Genesee Park in Seattle, 4316 S. Genesee Street, where the hydro races will be conducted, but many can enjoy the Blue Angels as they perform over Lake Washington.

Festivities in the air

The Blue Angels will take to the skies, disrupting Interstate 90 between Seattle and Mercer Island between 12:45 p.m. - 2:40 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Interstate 90 east of Mercer Island will not be closed, although drivers should be aware that heavy traffic makes it difficult to get to exits, according to the Department of Transportation.

Interstate 90 will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, eastbound and westbound, mainline and express lanes, between Interstate 5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island during that time.

The ramps that will be closed are:

• Northbound I-5 to eastbound I-90 ramp (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• Southbound I-5 to eastbound I-90 ramp (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• Southbound and northbound Rainier Avenue ramps (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• 76th Avenue to westbound I-90 (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• Island Crest Way to westbound I-90 (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• Eastbound I-90 to West Mercer Way (closed up to 30 minutes prior to show or practice)
• East Mercer Way to westbound I-90 (closed up one hour prior to show or practice)
• West Mercer Way to westbound I-90 (up to one hour prior to show or practice)

The city of Bellevue is also helping boaters who are taking to Lake Washington to enjoy the festivities with extra staff at the  and with extra parking at the  parking lot. (Transportation is not being provided between the boat launch and the parking lot.)

Festivities in the Water

The Albert Lee Cup hydroplane races runs through Sunday. Hydro fans can catch the action at Genesse Park on the shore of Lake Washington.

To avoid parking and traffic chaos, take the bus to the lake. Shuttle service to the Albert Lee Cup races will be provided Sunday from Sound Transit Link light rail’s Othello Station (Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Othello Street) to Stan Sayres Pit near Genesee Park on Lake Washington. This is the only Metro-operated hydro shuttle this year.

Seafair organizers suggest that drivers find pay parking near Westlake Center in Seattle or in the Sea-Tac Airport parking lot for easy access to Link light rail. Click here for details.

The shuttles from Othello Station are free. There are also regular bus routes within walking distance of the race viewing area. Use the online Trip Planner, or call Metro’s Customer Information Office at 206-553-3000 for assistance.

Sunday Schedule

• 7:30am: GATES OPEN
• 8:30am: Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Session C
• 9:20am: Unlimited Light Hydroplane Testing Session 3
• 10am: Opening Ceremonies / National Anthem
• 10:25am: Vintage Hydroplanes
• 10:40am: Unlimited Hydroplanes Heat 2A Racing presented by 76
• 11am: Unlimited Hydroplanes Heat 2B Racing presented by 76
• Noon: Unlimited Hydroplanes Heat 3A Racing presented by Tulalip Resort Casino
• 12:20pm: Unlimited Hydroplanes Heat 3B Racing presented by Western Washington Hyundai Dealers
• 12:35pm: Vintage Hydroplanes
• 3pm: Unlimited Hydroplane Provisional Heat Racing
• 4:20pm: Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Final Racing presented by Graham Trucking
• 4:40pm: Unlimited Hydroplane Final Racing presented by Albert Lee Appliance
• 5:15pm: Albert Lee Cup Awards Presentation
  6pm: GATES CLOSE

-- Information from Bellevue Patch archives