While Seafair was originally intended to celebrate the centennial of Seattle’s 1851 founding, excited planners debuted the first Seafair a year early, in August 1950. Over the years, this summer festival has grown to include parades, boat races, royalty, community festivals, parades and more.

Lake City, in northeast Seattle, celebrates Seafair with its Western Days, featuring a salmon bake and a parade along Bothell Way. In this image, a rose-themed float, with queen and princesses, passes by Shakey’s Pizza and the Bayles building during the 1962 Western Days parade.

Caption information source: “Old Sol adds to color at Lake City parade”, by Larry Brown, Seattle Daily Times, July 29, 1962.