Let the hectic weekends begin! Saturday morning, 4,000 supporters will march for the March of Dimes for Babies from the Seattle Center to downtown and back. Later, at noon on Saturday, 10,000 people are expected to line the Mountlake Cut to watch the start of boating season with the traditional Opening Day Boat Parade. Sunday will be the first of twelve Bicycle Sundays for which Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed for an expected turn-out of 10,000 cyclists of all ages and skill levels.
Of course, to make this a true springtime weekend, there will be three (!!) Mariners baseball games and a Sounders Soccer match and many other events including Cinco de Mayo celebrations, the Fiesta 5K Ole and the traditional Celebration Birth of Buddha Parade.
To ease traffic congestion, the Seattle Department of Transportation encourages drivers to consider getting to their chosen events by alternate modes of transportation – Metro Transit, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible.
For more details about the weekend events, please see the following schedule:
Friday, May 4
Seattle Mariners vs Minnesota Twins: 7:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
26,000 attending
Anticipate traffic congestion on surrounding streets before and after the game.
Saturday, May 5
March of Dimes March for Babies: 9 a.m.
Seattle Center grounds
4,000 participants
March route: starts at Seattle Center grounds; exits Center at Second Avenue N and Mercer Street; heads east on Mercer to Fifth Avenue N; then south on Fifth to Cedar Street; west on Cedar to Second Avenue; south on Second to Spring Street; makes a u-turn at Spring and then moves north on Second back to the Seattle Center; expect congestion along the route.
Opening Day Boat Parade and Windermere Cup: Race – 10:20 a.m.; Boat Parade –12 noon
Montlake Cut, Portage Bay, and Union Bay
10,000 attending
The Montlake Bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. The Fremont may open more frequently than usual due to heavy boat traffic. Expect congestion in the vicinity around the University of Washington.
Celebration Birth of Buddha Parade: 10 a.m.
Hing Hay Park
900 participants
Parade route: starts at Hing Hay Park at Maynard Avenue S and S King Street; moves north on Maynard to S Jackson Street; east on S Jackson Street to the Red Apple Supermarket parking lot at 23rd Avenue S. Seattle Police will escort.
Cinco de Mayo: 7a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Tacos Guaymas at Green Lake
850 expected
Street closed: Second Avenue NE between Woodlawn Avenue NE and E Green Lake Way N for beer garden; expect congestion in the area.
Fiesta 5K Ole: 9:30 a.m.
Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill (race starts and ends)
1,700 participants
Race begins leaves Volunteer Park at 14th Avenue E and E Prospect Street; goes east on Prospect to 15th Avenue E; north on 15th to E Howe Street; west on Howe to Federal Avenue E; south on Federal to Prospect Street; east on Prospect to 12th Avenue E; south on 12th to E John Street; makes a u-turn, then north on 12th back into Volunteer Park. Expect congestion in the area.
Seattle Sounders vs Philadelphia Union: 1:30 p.m.
CenturyLink Field
34,000 attending
Plan on congestion in the area surrounding the stadium before and after the match.
Seattle Mariners vs Minnesota Twins: 6:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
22,000 expected
Expect congestion before and after the game in the surrounding area.
Sunday, May 6
Bicycle Sunday (First of 12): 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
8 – 10,000 bicyclists expected
2.5-mile section Lake Washington Boulevard is closed to cars from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Mount Baker Beach, about a half-mile south of the I- 90 Floating Bridge and Seward Park. There will be no parking allowed during the closure; homeowners will have in and out access.
Mobile Food Rodeo: 12 noon – 7 p.m.
Fremont
2,500 expected
Streets closed from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.: N 35th Street between Phinney Avenue N and First Avenue NW. Expect congestion in the area.
Seattle Mariners vs Minnesota Twins: 1:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
25,000 attending
Plan on congestion in the surrounding area before and after the game.