Celebrating 75 Years of Seafair

Before the Seahawks and Mariners made Seattle home and before the 1962 World's Fair and its iconic Space Needle, Seattle celebrated Seafair. Original Seafair events in the '50s included amateur sports tournaments, a royal court, a bicycle race around Lake Sammamish, a steamboat race on Elliott Bay, a Coast Guard lifeboat race, the Aqua Follies at Green Lake, fireworks displays … and the grand finale: the "Gold Cup" unlimited hydroplane races on Lake Washington.

My family is all from the Pacific Northwest and we were immersed in Seafair every summer, from the parade and festivities to the races. My grandfather worked for Boeing and became a part of the pit crew for one of the hydros in the 60's. He loved the roar of the engines, the competition and the excitement of the race. He was so proud to be a part of the crew that kept the boats running.

There's something special about a shared experience, everyone working toward the same goal, that connects us to the people around us.

So if it's community you're craving, you might consider spending time at Seafair and wherever you spend these great days of summer, I hope you'll fill up on new sights and sounds and return to work restored!