Greenwood Seafair Parade

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• Rick Astleyditties
• Seafair Pirates

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Well-known fact: The Greenwood Paradeis among this town’s longest-standing, most family-friendly Seafair warm-up acts. Lesser-known fact: Before, during, and after the Greenwood Parade, all bars within a mile radius of the neighborhood’s 85th & Greenwood epicenter are jam-packed with party animals, to the point where even the northerly Rickshawsports a handsome after-hours karaoke residual. But the true soul of the fête occurs at the dazzling Baranof, when the Seafair Pirates invade that den of drunkenness to create a scene of caution-to-the-wind revelry not often seen in uptight Seattle. Greenwood is one of the city’s last working-class neighborhoods, even as gentrification threatens to cross the aforementioned 85th St. border and render single-family homes even more unaffordable than they are already. And frankly, nothing says summer like a mid-week excuse to get hammered with some pirates, bubble with neighborhood pride, and belt out Rick Astleyditties on Holman Road into the wee hours. Ingest this slice of Lesser Seattle culture while it still exists, because it won’t for long. For my money (or lack thereof), I’d take the Greenwood Parade over Seafair itself any day of the week—especially Wednesday. The Log Boom is for amateurs. Greenwood is for pros. The parade begins at North 95th Street and Greenwood Avenue North, 633-0422, www.greenwood-phinney.com/pages/special_events/seafair.asp. Free. Kids’ Parade begins at 5:15 p.m., main parade follows.