Torchlight Parade, Meet Tristan Opening Night Traffic

If you're attending Tristan and Isolde's opening night at Seattle Opera this Saturday, the word from SDOT is to arrive early. Like, 5 p.m. may be good.

Both the Torchlight Parade (7:30 p.m.) and Torchlight Run (6:30 p.m.) conflict with the opera's 6:30 p.m. curtain time. The south side of Seattle Center is a no-go zone; the run crosses Denny twice, closing the street to traffic, so there will be significant congestion.

SDOT suggests--besides arriving very early--that you approach the Seattle Center via Aurora or I-5. Here's what you need to know besides Denny equals "here there be monsters." The parade will be staging on Mercer Street, with one or two lanes open, and will head south down 5th Avenue, then to 4th Avenue.

If you take Aurora, remember the Broad Street exit is closed, so you need to exit on a side street. From I-5, you'll take Broad Street to Harrison to 5th. You'll be able to take 5th Avenue northbound to Roy, if you're heading to the parking garage. Just don't count on traffic moving quickly as the parade time nears.