Lesser-Known Seafair Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Whenever Seafair comes roaring into town, the Blue Angels and hydroplanes tend to steal as much thunder as they generate.

But some of the best moments of the two-month-long summer celebration happen during the smaller, neighborhood-based events. Take the Milk Carton Derby at Green Lake (7/11), where families and friends attempt to keep hilarious dairy-container-buoyed boats afloat (and passengers out of the milfoil). Or any of the long-running neighborhood parades, such the West Seattle Grand Parade (7/18), the Chinatown Seafair Parade (7/20) or the Greenwood Seafair Parade (7/22), now in its 65th year. Area drill teams—including the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, synchronized and sparkling since the 1950s—practice for months to get precision moves parade-ready, and the concentration visible on their faces inspires a swell of local pride.

In a city booming as quickly as Seattle, the small-town vibe at these events can feel like a quiet, comforting surprise. seafair.com