Blue Angels perform at Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend as reported shooting weighs on festivalgoers
The Blue Angels took to the skies above Lake Washington as Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival opened at Genesee Park, with the celebration unfolding under heightened security concerns following a reported deadly shooting at.
The Blue Angels performed above Lake Washington during Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival, which opened July 31 at Genesee Park. The festival featured boating events and an air show, though a reported deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle a week earlier heightened security concerns among attendees.
The Blue Angels took to the skies over Lake Washington as Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival got underway, with the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron performing as part of the city's signature summer celebration. The festival opened July 31 at Genesee Park, combining boating events on the lake with the air show overhead. Seafair is a Seattle institution stretching back more than seven decades. Its first Torchlight Parade was held on August 12, 1950, as the Seafair Grande Parade, and the festival's main events have since grown to include the Seafair Cup hydroplane races and an air show that frequently features the Blue Angels. This year's festivities unfolded under a shadow. According to reports, a deadly shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle roughly a week before Seafair Weekend began, and security concerns were prominent among festivalgoers as crowds gathered along Lake Washington. Details of that shooting, including the number of victims, have not been confirmed.
Blue Angels fly over Lake Washington as Seafair Weekend opens
The Blue Angels took to the skies above Seattle as the 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival got underway on July 31 at Genesee Park. The Navy's flight demonstration squadron performed as part of the festival's air show, which took place above Lake Washington alongside boating events on the water below.
The festival, a fixture of Seattle's summer calendar, drew spectators to the lakefront for its signature combination of hydroplane racing and aerial displays. This year's edition followed the established format, with the air show serving as one of the weekend's main attractions.
Details of the Blue Angels' schedule remain unconfirmed. Organisers have not publicly specified on which day or days the squadron performed during the festival, and the end date of the 2026 Seafair Weekend has not been officially stated. Coverage so far confirms only that the performances took place at some point during the event, which opened on the Friday. Further scheduling information is expected as reporting on the festival continues.
A Seattle tradition dating to 1950
Seafair is an annual summer festival in Seattle, Washington, built around boating events and an air show. Its signature attractions are the Torchlight Parade, the Seafair Cup hydroplane races, and the aerial display over Lake Washington, which often features the Blue Angels, the United States Navy's flight demonstration squadron.
The Torchlight Parade, a Seattle-area parade held under the festival's auspices, has roots stretching back more than seven decades. The first parade was held on August 12, 1950, when it was known as the Seafair Grande Parade. The event has since become a fixture of the city's summer calendar.
For the 2026 edition, the festival opened at Genesee Park on July 31, with boating events and an air show above Lake Washington confirmed as part of the programme. It is not yet confirmed whether the 2026 Torchlight Parade took place or on what date, and the sources consulted do not say whether the Seafair Cup hydroplane races were held as part of this year's festival, only that boating events were included.
The first Torchlight Parade was held as the Seafair Grande Parade. [2]
A deadly shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle roughly a week before Seafair Weekend. [3]
The 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival began at Genesee Park in Seattle. [0]
The festival included boating events and an air show above Lake Washington. [0]
The Blue Angels performed in Seattle during the 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival. [0]
Crowds gathered along Lake Washington to watch hydroplane races and Blue Angels performances. [3]
Security concerns were prominent among Seafair Festival attendees following the Bite of Seattle shooting. [3]
Reported shooting at Bite of Seattle casts shadow over festival
A reported deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle, roughly a week before Seafair Weekend, hung over this year's festival, according to reports. Details of the incident remain scarce. The number of victims, the circumstances of the shooting, and whether any suspect has been identified are not yet known, and even the exact date has not been confirmed beyond its timing about a week before the festival opened on July 31.
Security concerns were prominent among Seafair attendees in the wake of the shooting, according to reports. Festivalgoers arriving at Genesee Park for the weekend's events were said to be weighing the incident as they gathered for one of the city's signature summer traditions. Neither the extent of any additional security measures nor official statements addressing the concerns have been confirmed.
Reports also described crowds gathering along Lake Washington to watch the hydroplane races and the Blue Angels' performances during the weekend, though those accounts, too, remain unconfirmed at this stage. The reports have not indicated whether the shooting had any measurable effect on attendance.
This remains a developing story. The account of the shooting, its impact on festivalgoers, and the reported crowd turnout all rest on limited sourcing, and none of the central details have been independently corroborated. Further information is expected as authorities and organisers respond.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Blue Angels perform at Seafair 2026?
The Blue Angels performed in Seattle during the 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival, which began July 31 at Genesee Park. The festival's air show took place above Lake Washington. The specific date or dates on which the Blue Angels flew during the weekend have not been confirmed in available reporting.
When did Seafair Weekend 2026 start?
The 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival began on July 31 at Genesee Park in Seattle. The festival included boating events and an air show above Lake Washington. The end date of the 2026 festival has not been provided in the available sources.
Where is Seafair Weekend held?
The 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival was held at Genesee Park in Seattle, Washington. The festival's signature events took place on and above Lake Washington, where crowds reportedly gathered to watch hydroplane races and the Blue Angels' air show, according to reports.
What is Seafair in Seattle?
Seafair is an annual summer festival in Seattle, Washington, featuring boating events and an air show. Its main events include the Torchlight Parade, the Seafair Cup hydroplane races, and an air show that often features the Blue Angels. The first Torchlight Parade was held on August 12, 1950, as the Seafair Grande Parade.
Was there a shooting near Seafair 2026?
According to reports, a deadly shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle roughly a week before Seafair Weekend, and security concerns were prominent among festival attendees. Details about the shooting — including the number of victims, the circumstances, and any suspect — have not been confirmed in the available sources.
Compiled from reporting by 3 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
