Seafair’s 77th festival kicks off with heightened security measures, unknown intruders broke locks at three local venues in Admiral, and Brendan Donovan is set to return to the field after the birth of a child.
Seattle Welcomes Seafair: The 77th Celebration of Speed, Sky, and Remembrance
Seafair weekend is underway in Seattle—one of the city’s most iconic summer events, marking its 77th season this year. Organizers expect that over three days, about 180,000 people will attend the festivities on Lake Washington, in Genesee Park, and in the surrounding waterfront areas. This isn’t just an air show and hydroplane racing—it’s a true city tradition that brings together families, speed fans, and those for whom Seafair has become a personal ritual of remembrance. But this year, the event is running under enhanced security—after a recent mass shooting in Seattle, city officials and organizers are doing everything possible to ensure the celebration remains safe for everyone.
As reported by KOMO News, special attention is being paid to entry screening. According to Seafair President and CEO Emily Cantrell, the event is fully fenced in and is “100% ticketed”—every visitor, regardless of how they enter, goes through a weapons detection system, and if necessary, bags are subject to additional searches. It’s a deliberate response to recent events: Seattle’s acting police chief, Ande Szyles, has confirmed that police patrols have been stepped up. In total, about 300 security personnel are working at the site, including the Seattle Police Department and two private security companies.
The atmosphere is a blend of nostalgia and fresh excitement. The Meisters, a family from Bethesda, Maryland, came to visit their children and are participating in Seafair for the first time. “We want to see the Blue Angels, but I’ve never seen hydroplane races,” Mark Meister told reporters. Meanwhile, “Cyrus” Caesar from Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been coming to the event for seventeen years straight—and for him, it isn’t just entertainment, but a way to honor the memory of his brother. “My younger brother always came to Seafair. Now we come back every year in his memory,” he said.
At the heart of the competition is the pits area, where devoted hydroplane fans and the racers themselves gather. Among them is J. Michael Kelly, a native of Bonnie Lake, who drives the red U-00 Maverick boat. These vessels are among the fastest in their class: they can reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour—nearly 200 miles per hour. For Kelly, Seafair holds special meaning. “I grew up coming to races, and now I have the chance to participate. Over the years I’ve had plenty of wins here, so it’s really special for me.”
At the same time, the festival is not without controversy. Ahead of the event, activists urged Seafair to drop the Blue Angels air show—the U.S. Air Force’s training flight demonstration team. Organizers, however, are continuing the program, banking on a balance between tradition, spectacle, and safety. For newcomers, it’s worth clarifying: the Blue Angels are an elite aerobatic team whose performances always draw huge crowds, but they’re also criticized due to the noise and the militaristic undertones. Hydroplanes, meanwhile, are raceboats with hydrofoils that literally lift out of the water at high speed, creating one of the most thrilling spectacles in the world of water racing.
In the end, Seafair remains a symbol of Seattle—a celebration that unites generations, reminds people of family ties, and at the same time tests the city’s resolve when it comes to public safety. Organizers hope that the 77th festival will be remembered not only for speed and the sky, but also for the fact that thousands of people were able to enjoy summer without incidents. Visitors have three packed days ahead—races, air shows, and an atmosphere that draws people to Seattle from across the country.
A Night of Break-Ins in Admiral: Criminals Targeted Local Businesses’ Locks
A string of attempted crimes against local businesses took place last night in Seattle’s Admiral neighborhood. As reported by West Seattle Blog, the suspects attacked at least three establishments, and the method used in each case was similar—in every instance, they tried to break the entry locks. The restaurant Mioposto, located at 2139 California SW, has already confirmed that it was broken into: according to a spokesperson for the restaurant, the criminals “broke” the front door lock to get inside. The restaurant is still operating, and a note has been posted at the entrance informing visitors that the incident occurred.
According to police radio transcripts kept in archives, similar break-in attempts occurred at two other venues—Admiral Pub and Taste of Mumbai—both located in the 2300 block on California SW. Fortunately, based on the information available, in these cases the criminals either failed to carry out their plan, or the damage was minimal. No other details are yet available, and police are likely still working to determine the circumstances.
On its own, the story fits into a wider context of growing concern for small businesses in Seattle. Overnight break-ins are a long-standing headache for owners of cafés, bars, and stores—especially in areas with many storefront windows and glass doors. Notably, this time the criminals didn’t act through the display windows, but specifically by targeting the locks on front doors. That suggests either they had tools for forced entry or they believed the doors’ physical security was weak. For businesses like Mioposto, where the lock was “smashed” outright, it can mean not only repairs and replacing the locking mechanism, but also a potential loss of time and money until an insurance assessment is completed.
What are “archived police radio transcripts”? They are records of dispatch communications from the 911 service and patrol cars. In the U.S., such transcripts are often automatically recorded, and journalists—or the public—may gain access through requests or specialized services. Mentioning them matters because it allows the claims of business owners to be independently verified, even when the official police report hasn’t been published yet.
For Admiral residents and visitors to local venues, the main takeaway is a reminder to stay alert and not leave valuables in plain sight during nighttime hours. In this case, however, it’s not so much a robbery as a break-in—an incident that typically involves stealing money from cash registers or equipment. It’s also telling that all three venues are within walking distance of each other along California SW. That points to the likelihood that one group was operating, moving along the strip of commercial locations. Local business owners should double-check their doors—possibly strengthen locks and consider additional cameras—before the next night brings a new surprise.
Brendan Donovan Returns: The Mariners Set a Date, but the Birth of a Child Is in the Spotlight
The Seattle Mariners are finally ready to bring back utility player Brendan Donovan, but fans will have to wait a few more days. According to Seattle Sports, Donovan has fully completed his rehab assignment and feels ready to play. However, due to family circumstances, he won’t join the team until Tuesday, when the Mariners begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Donovan and his wife are reportedly expecting the birth of their child any day now, which is why the club is intentionally giving him extra time and isn’t rushing his return.
Seattle’s general manager Justin Hollander confirmed that Donovan has gone through the entire rehab program and has no health issues. In his view, the player feels good and is ready to get back on the field as soon as the family situation is resolved. That’s expected to happen on Tuesday—the day after the MLB trade deadline. As a result, Donovan will miss the series against the Minnesota Twins, which begins Friday, and will return in Detroit.
Donovan has been out since May 16 with a left groin strain. It was the second injury of that location this season, and last October he underwent surgery for a sports hernia. Before he returned to the injured list, the 29-year-old looked very convincing: in 25 games he hit .274, posted an OPS of .838, with three home runs, four doubles, and one triple. For a player capable of filling multiple positions in the field, that was an important part of the Mariners’ offensive production.
Interestingly, Donovan’s rehab stint itself—played across three levels in the minor leagues—wasn’t especially impressive. In ten games, he hit just .122: 5 hits in 41 at-bats, one home run, and 11 strikeouts. But as Hollander noted, much of the work during recovery focused on running and other conditioning, and toward the end of the assignment Donovan started to regain form at the plate. All five of his hits came in the last four games, and the general manager emphasized that, in the final days of rehab, the player was starting to look more like himself again: lots of line drives and solid contact at 90–100 miles per hour. According to Hollander, that’s encouraging for both Donovan and the club.
The key question is how fully the groin issue has been overcome. Hollander admitted he can’t say with 100% certainty that there won’t be a recurrence, but the club
