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Another weekend, another whole list of things that could disrupt getting around. Some of these events might be things you’re doing, too: It’s Seafair, so regardless how anyone feels about the Blue Angels, a chunk of Interstate 90 is closing their annual air show. Plus, Seattle Art Festival and Umoja Fest Africatown Heritage Festival are both going on this weekend.
We’ve combed through the alerts and advisories from both the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to deliver transit-friendly solutions for your weekend outings.
Some of this weekend’s advisories—and transit-oriented alternate routes to events—are listed below.
Seafair, Seattle Art Fair, Umoja Fest, and more
Seattle Opera’s Madame Butterfly is expected to draw a crowd on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The 2, 3, 4, 13, and 19 will all get you close to McCaw Hall.
In Belltown, an event mourning the loss of the Forge (Update: it’s this year’s Dead Baby Downhill!) will close Bell Street between Second and Third Avenue. A ton of buses go there (there’s a major bus stop right on Third and Bell).
Seafair: Blue Angels, hydros, and more
The Seafair Weekend Festival is a doozy: A huge festival with hydro races, BMX tricks, water polo, music, food, and more is going on at Genesee Park. Meanwhile, the Interstate 90 floating bridge is shutting down so the Blue Angels air show can commence above.
Here’s the I-90 floating bridge closure schedule: Every day from Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6 from 12:55 to 2:40 p.m. (The bridge also closed earlier today for practicing.)
For people that need to take buses across I-90: During the closures, Sound Transit Express routes 550 and 554 will be rerouted to SR 520 and won’t stop on I-90 at Rainier Avenue South and Mercer Island. Metro is running shuttle bus service between the Eastgate and Mercer Island park-and-rides.
Relevant Interstate 5 and 90 onramps and offramps will close up to an hour beforehand. WSDOT made a handy video to explain what’s happening there.
Pedestrians and cyclists can wander out onto the I-90 bridge highrises while it’s closed to catch the show. The 27 will get you closest to where I-90 starts crossing Lake Washington; the 14 also gets close.
As for the Genesee Park festival: Catch Metro Route 50 to get there, which runs from both the Othello and Columbia City Link Light Rail stations. Metro added extra trips between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, Fleet Week is going on now and will continue throughout the weekend. Boat tours along the waterfront on piers 66, 69, and 90 are likely going to be popular.
For piers 66 and 69, the closest bus routes are downtown—unless the ferries count. The D Line and 32 will get you closest to 90.
It’s the Seattle Art Fair Thursday through Sunday
The fair’s main location is at CenturyLink Field, but is extending out through Pioneer Square, with installations at King Street Station and Occidental Park. (Plus, expect extra-cool satellite art programming this weekend.)
Link Light Rail goes to both the stadium and Pioneer Square, as does the Seattle Streetcar and a ton of bus routes from Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit.
Neighborhood festivals and parades abound
Umoja Fest, which celebrates “the best of the African-American community and the African diaspora” with music stages, food, and cultural events, is going on Friday through Sunday at Judkins Park and Sam Smith Park. A parade at 1 p.m. on Saturday runs from 23rd and Union to Judkins Park.
Get to Judkins Park on King County Metro route 4 or 48, or get a couple of blocks away on the 8. The 4 and the 8 will also take you directly to Sam Smith Park, which is just a few blocks from Judkins. To get to the parade starting line at 23rd and Union, take route 2 or 48.
Saturday and Sunday, SalmonFest in Lake City closes 28th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 125th Street and Northeast 127th Street from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday at 1 p.m. Lake City Seafair Parade runs south on Lake City Way Northeast from Northeast 135th Street St to Northeast 123rd Street. Get to either Lake City event on the 522 or the 41.
Friday through Sunday, Magnolia Summerfest is going on at Magnolia Playfield. Take the 19, 24, or 31 to get there.
Road work
In Belltown on Friday, northbound Third Avenue will be down to one lane between Cedar and Broad Streets—and rerouted to Second Avenue southbound. Vine Street and Clay Street will stay closed through mid-August.
In the northend, expect periodic lane closures around Aurora Avenue North and North 92nd Street for a pedestrian signal installation.
Sports and the stadium district
The Mariners, the Sounders, and the Storm are all out of town this weekend, which is probably for the best.