In a fresh digest: tens of thousands of viewers gathered for the second Seafair Torchlight Parade on the new Seattle waterfront; on the west side of the state it’s comfortably cool, while the east battles wildfires; Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said contract talks with cornerback Witherspoon are on track, with both sides maintaining full understanding.
Seafair Torchlight Parade & 5K: Year two on Seattle’s new waterfront draws tens of thousands
Over the past weekend, tens of thousands of residents across western Washington gathered along the Seattle waterfront to enjoy the traditional Seafair Torchlight Parade once again. The event, which last year for the first time moved from 4th Avenue to Alaska Way, proved its success for the second year in a row. About 100,000 people watched the 2025 procession, and this time the crowds were no less impressive: people filled sidewalks and viewing stands along Elliott Bay. The parade, which has always been known for its sense of community atmosphere and family traditions, kept delighting with familiar faces—pirates with a ship, a Blue Angels inflatable aircraft, performances by school bands, and dancing horses—all of it, organizers say, reflects the spirit of Seattle.
Many attendees noted that the new location is much more convenient than the old one. “On 4th Avenue, we always had to take the platforms apart and put them back together, and here there’s much more open space,” Ed Moore, who has been going to the parades for decades, shared. Cecilia Phillips, 21 and attending the parade her whole life, also appreciated the changes: “I love the waterfront—everything’s new and really nicely set up. It feels like the space is truly being used.” The Phillips family has a unique tradition: even when the parade was on 4th Avenue, her father Brian, along with friends, would set up an improvised living room on the sidewalk with rugs, sofas, chairs, tables, a lamp, a grill, and even a ceiling fan. This year they started setting up at 7 a.m. and finished by 3 p.m. “We go with the same families every year, and that’s great,” Cecilia added. Her words confirm that the tradition is alive at the new site too: passersby recognize them and shout, “Hey, neighbor!”—including residents from neighboring apartments.
Another participant, Chris Krewis from Puyallup, decided to continue the family tradition by passing it on to his young children. “My mom used to bring me and my sisters here—we’d watch the pirates and clowns. I hope the kids will like it, and we’ll be able to do it every year,” he said, settled with his wife and children on a blanket by Pier 66. The parade was preceded by the Torch Run 5K, which ran along Alaska Way and Elliott Avenue. Participant Kate Sokol explained her interest: “I love running, and it’s such fun to be at the center of the action when people support you and wave—even those who didn’t know there was a race going on.”
The Seafair Torchlight Parade is more than just a procession—it’s a symbol of summer for the region’s residents. First held in 1950, it traditionally ran along 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, but in 2024 organizers moved it to the waterfront to make use of the renovated district’s upgraded space. The new location turned out to be more spacious and scenic, a point noted by both viewers and participants. The parade is part of the larger Seafair festival, which also includes performances by the Blue Angels precision flying team and hydroplane races. These events will continue: on Thursday, July 30, Blue Angels practice sessions are expected, and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday their air shows and hydro races will take place. A detailed schedule is available on the official Seafair website. As KOMO News writes, the success of year two on the waterfront confirms that the tradition isn’t just being preserved—it’s also finding new life and drawing even more people.
Seattle weather: mild temperatures on the west side of the state as wildfire numbers rise
Comfortable, relatively cool weather has settled over western Washington, including Seattle, sharply contrasting with the situation in the eastern part of the region. While residents of western Washington enjoy morning cloud cover that turns to sunshine in the afternoon, eastern areas are dealing with major wildfires. As reported by FOX 13 Seattle, air quality in the western part of the state remains good for much of the week, dropping only occasionally to moderate levels. However, warnings about air quality continue in central and eastern Washington, as several major fires are spreading quickly, threatening both residents’ health and the local ecosystem.
Monday brought a cloudy morning in the west, followed by sunshine. Tuesday is expected to be partly cloudy, with a small chance of brief showers. Temperatures in Seattle will stay at or below the seasonal norm, a marked contrast to last week, when thermometers climbed to 90°F (about 32°C). By Friday, sunny weather is expected to return, with the air warming to 80°F (about 27°C). The good news is that the risk of fires in western Washington is minimal, and ocean winds help keep smoke from eastern fires from significantly affecting Seattle’s air.
For those unfamiliar with meteorological terms: a “Red Flag Warning” is an alert from the U.S. National Weather Service indicating critically high fire danger. It’s issued when strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation combine to create ideal conditions for rapid fire spread. As of now, those warnings have been lifted, bringing some relief to eastern Washington.
Even though the western part of the state is protected from the most dangerous fires, meteorologists continue to monitor the situation closely. Isolated rain is possible in coastal areas, and higher humidity is expected on the Olympic Peninsula and near the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Overall, Seattle residents don’t have much to worry about, but anyone planning trips to the east side is advised to keep up with updates and take precautions. Wildfires in eastern Washington are still burning, and windy conditions could worsen the situation at any moment.
Mike Macdonald explains the Witherspoon contract situation: “Seattle isn’t in a rush, but is confident about the future”
Ahead of the start of training camp, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald commented on the drawn-out contract extension talks involving cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The team has not yet offered its top defensive back a new deal, even though a major contract with receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba was signed a few months ago. However, as Macdonald notes, there’s no tension in the relationship—both sides remain friendly and cooperative, and Witherspoon continues to train with full commitment.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Macdonald said: “I can tell you one thing: I can’t be more confident in our process and in all the people involved in doing this work. I think that’s probably the best way to describe what’s going on. I’m absolutely calm about where we are—and Spun (Witherspoon’s nickname), and his reps, and how we approach it. I’m just confident.” The coach didn’t spell out details of the negotiations, but made it clear to fans that the contract is expected to be signed at least by the start of the regular season.
The key reason for the delay is likely the situation involving New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently said the club has made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Seattle may be waiting for that deal to be finalized, then to top it with an offer and make Witherspoon the new market leader. While this approach isn’t always ideal for the salary cap, it’s justified by Devon’s value: according to Pro Football Focus, in the 2025 season he was the NFL’s top cornerback with a 89.9 rating, while Gonzalez ranked only 43rd (65.8). Witherspoon unquestionably deserves to become the highest-paid player at his position, and the sides will inevitably come to an agreement.
It’s also emphasized that Mike Macdonald has managed to preserve the same friendly atmosphere that existed under Pete Carroll. Witherspoon, despite contract uncertainty, behaves like usual at practice: he signs autographs for kids and brings plenty of energy. A wry touch: Macdonald’s own son was walking around the stadium wearing Witherspoon’s jersey. Everything suggests the deal is simply a matter of time. For now, fans can only watch how events unfold, which, according to the coach, are going according to plan.
