Over the next few days, November 25 through November 28, the holidays get off to a running start with the Seattle Turkey Trot, followed by Macy’s Holiday Parade and Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony, and several marathons. The events could produce traffic congestion. Motorists should plan their travels accordingly to avoid delays.
The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages drivers to help reduce traffic and their carbon footprint by trying alternate modes of travel such as Metro Transit, riding the Sounder commuter train, taking Link light rail, carpooling, bicycling or even walking, if feasible.
Thursday, November 25
Seattle Turkey Trot (benefitting the Ballard Food Bank): 9 a.m.
Run to benefit Ballard Food Bank
2,500 participants
Event staging on Loyal Way NW between 31st and 32nd Avenue NW
Run heads south on 32nd Avenue NW; west on NW 80th Street; south on 33rd Avenue NW; west on NW 77th Street; south on 34th Avenue NW; west on NW 57th Street; northwest on 37th Place NW; north on the Burke-Gilman Trail along the east side of Seaview Avenue NW; finishes at Golden Gardens Park.
Friday, November 26
Macy’s Holiday Parade: starts at 8:45 a.m.
35,000 expected
Starts at Seventh Avenue and Pine Street; heads west on Pine Street to Fifth Avenue; south on Fifth to University Street; west on University to Fourth Avenue; north on Fourth to Macy’s (between Pine and Olive).
Streets closed for parade staging at 7:30 a.m.: Pine Street between Boren Avenue and Seventh Avenue; Ninth Avenue, Eighth Avenue, and Seventh Avenue between Olive Way and Pike Street.
All streets reopen by 11 a.m. (with the exception of Pine Street between Fifth and Fourth avenues, which will remain closed until the end of the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony).
Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony and Macy’s Star Lighting and Fireworks: 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tree lighting on Westlake Center Plaza; weather permitting
Fireworks at Macy’s at Fourth Avenue and Pine Street at 5:27 p.m.
10,000 expected
Beginning at 4 p.m. the following streets close for the event: fourth Avenue between Union Street and Olive Way; Fifth Avenue between Olive Way and Pike Street; Pine Street between Sixth and Third avenues; Pike Street between Third and Fifth avenues.
Streets reopen once pedestrian traffic disperses.
Saturday, November 27
Seattle Marathon 5K Race: 8:30 a.m.
3,000 participants
Staging on Mercer Street at Second Avenue N
Race route: East on Mercer to Fifth Avenue N; south on Fifth to Cedar Street; west on Cedar to Second Avenue; south on Second to Spring Street; u-turn at Spring and then heads north on Second to Thomas Street; finishes on Seattle Center grounds.
Seattle Children’s Kids Marathon: 10 – 11 a.m.
3,000 expected
Staging area on Fifth Avenue N between Mercer and Broad streets
Starts at Fifth Avenue and Harrison Street heading south on Fifth Avenue N to Broad Street; west on Broad to Denny Way; west on Denny to Second Avenue N; north on Second to Republican Street; west on Republican to Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Fourth Avenue N; south on Fourth into Memorial Stadium.
Streets reopen by 11 a.m.
Sunday, November 24
(Amica Insurance) Seattle Marathon (and half Marathon): 7:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Starts and finishes at Seattle Center
14,000 participants
Runners and walkers leave in four separate waves between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m
Marathon assembles at Fifth Avenue and Harrison Street (Seattle Center). The route is south on Fifth Avenue; east on I-90 express lanes; makes a u-turn to west I-90, exits to S Day Street and moves south on 36th to Lakeside and Lake Washington Boulevard to Seward Park; enters Seward Park and goes counter-clockwise through the park loop and then north on to Lake Washington Boulevard, Lakeside and McGilvra; west on E Galer Street; E Madison Street; north on Lake Washington then onto Interlaken; west on Delmar and Roanoke; south on Boylston and Lakeview; west across the overpass to Eastlake and Roy Street; south on Eastlake; west on Republican; north on Dexter; west on Mercer; south on Fourth Avenue N; west on Republican; and finishes at Memorial Stadium.
The half-marathon will follow the same route except for the I-90 leg and the leg south to and around Seward Park. Streets reopen by 2:15 p.m. I-90 express lanes will be closed between Seattle and Mercer Island from 4 to 11:30 a.m.
