Seafair royalty crowned, schedule announced for 70th annual Seattle summer festival

Interim President and CEO Eric Corning presents the schedule of the 2019 Seafair under the Space Needle on June 21, 2019.
Courtesy of Seafair

The U-1 Oberto and the U-5 Graham Trucking have a fierce battle for the lead in the championship race during Seafair 2015. Oberto was penalized during the race and the Graham Trucking boat won the race. Seafair, the traditional summer Seattle festival, brings hydroplane boats to Lake Washington and aircraft to the skies above for the weekend's Boeing Air Show. Photographed on Sunday, August 2, 2015.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM

There are new royalty in town, and the court of three were crowned Friday in the midst of a raucous group of pirates, colorful clowns and curious onlookers from the top of the Space Needle.

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Last year's royal court handed off their crowns and tiaras to the new King Neptune, Queen Alcyone and Miss Seafair at the kickoff to Seafair 2019, the celebration's 70th summer in Seattle.

SEATTLE'S SEAFAIR: Racing, flying, royalty and all the history of this beloved summer fest

Taking over as King Neptune was theater actor Rich Gray, local Emmy-winning reporter Kim Holcomb donned the title of Queen Alcyone this year and Seattle Pacific University student Andrea Diaz accepted the tiara as Miss Seafair 2019.

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At the base of the Space Needle Friday, flanked by the heckling pirates and the graceful royal court of Seafair, Eric Corning, the interim president and CEO, announced some of what Seattle could expect from the month-long celebration that will begin July 4:

Seafair Summer Fourth:

Where: Gas Works Park, South Lake Union Park
When: Noon - 11 p.m., July 4
Cost: $40-60
What: A July 4 celebration with games, food and events all day that end with one of the most famous fireworks displays in the Northwest.

Lucerne Seafair Milk Carton Derby:

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Where: Green Lake
When: July 13
Cost: $25-250
What: Teams will build a raft out of 300 milk cartons and race them around Green Lake, a 47-year-old tradition at Seafair.

Torchlight Run:

Where: Seattle Center
When: 6 p.m., July 27
Cost: $25-50
What: A 5K and 8K race will wind through downtown Seattle, starting and ending at the Seattle Center.

Torchlight Parade:

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Where: Westlake Park
When: 7:30 p.m., July 27
Cost: $35-60
What: Following the Torchlight Run, a parade will march, dance and celebrate its way through Seattle, a tradition since 1950.

Seafair Weekend:

Where: Genesee Park
When: Aug. 2 - 4
Cost: $25-150
What: The culmination of the month-long festival, the first weekend in August will include H1 hydroplane racing, an air show featuring the Blue Angels, an inaugural classic car show and other events.