Throngs turn out for annual Torchlight Parade

People swayed to music from marching bands, a group of young men ran with a giant Chinese dragon overhead, curving it along, and floats joined giant balloons, including a pirate, goldfish and orca, as they all made their down Fourth Avenue for the 59th annual Torchlight Parade.

See more photos from the 2008 Torchlight Parade and Run

Saturday's even attracted an estimated 300,000 people, including participants, along the parade's 2.5-mile route stretching from the Seattle Center to Qwest Field.

More than 100 floats and groups joined in this year's event, which takes its name from an era when it started at night and the floats had battery-operated torches, Seafair spokesman Dan Wartelle said.

"This is the kickoff for the final 10 days of Seafair," he said.

The highlight of Seafair will occur Aug. 1-3 when hydroplanes fly on Lake Washington and the Navy's Blue Angels soar in the sky.

Seattle resident Erin Tuott, 29, showed up Saturday night for two reasons.

"Parades are fun to watch. They bring people together," she said.

But she also wanted to catch a glimpse of Sig Hansen, parade grand marshal and captain of the FV Northwestern, featured in the cable television show, "Deadliest Catch."

"He's a local celebrity," she said. "He does crab fishing. It's a dangerous career."

When the captain rolled by in his convertible car and waved to the crowd, she and other people snapped photos.

Flashing lights and wailing sirens from the Seattle Police Department's motorcycle drill team launched the parade. Youth drill teams twirling flags marched in unison or blew whistles, to the applause of onlookers.

But an Army marching band playing "God Bless America" brought people to their feet.

And just like last year, the Sonics were a topic some people had to raise.

In 2007, some spectators yelled "Save the Sonics!" when elected officials appeared in the parade.

This year, when Tacoma resident Steve Nagel, 42, spotted Gov. Christine Gregoire in her convertible, he shouted, "Go Sonics! Oh, wait! We don't have them anymore!"

City Light crews walked down the parade route with a giant, corkscrew-like energy-efficient light bulb balloon.

Onlookers marveled at a hydroplane that was tilted on a trailer and pulled by a truck.

Police officers walked along the sidewalks of the parade route and chatted with spectators.

For the entire event, there were no major disruptions or incidents, police spokesman Jeff Kappel said.

But from Saturday evening through early Sunday morning, officers had arrested 40 people for various offenses, he said. Of that number, five people are juveniles and 25 had state Department of Corrections violations.

For some businesses and entrepreneurs on Saturday, the parade was chance to make some money.

Parade spectators filled restaurants with clear views of the route. A team of Zeeks Pizza employees passed out menus to people sitting on the street, then raced around delivering pies to the hungry.

One group of kids carried a hand-written sign on Fourth Avenue advertising lemonade for 50 cents.

And leave it to Seattle creative types to watch the parade in style and become part of the spectacle.

While there were enough folding chairs to make a camping storeowner proud, Seattle resident Brian Phillips, 39, and a friend set up an actual living room – on Fourth Avenue near Bell Street.

Covering more than 400 square feet, the two said they expected about 100 friends to join them in the living room, complete with couches, yellow shag carpet, refrigerator, microwave counter, coffee tables, window frames suspended by rope and a bunk bed for kids.

"Everybody loves it," Phillips said. "People on tour buses take pictures of us."

It even had a kitchen sink, with running water thanks to a hose from a bucket high in a tree. Nearby was an overhead ceiling fan, secured with a rope and circulating the air.

The idea, he said, started in 1985 when he and his friend put their chairs on some carpet they found instead of the sidewalk during the parade.

"We just added more and more," Phillips said.

PARADE AWARD WINNERS

Fifteen awards were given out for creativity and design for Saturday's Torchlight Parade. The theme was "Northwest Adventure." The winners and award sponsors are:

Best use of parade theme: SIKHS of Washington (Southwest Airlines).

Best specialty group: Seafair Pirates (Southwest Airlines).

Best equestrian unit: King County Sheriff Posse (KIRO TV).

Smile award: West Seattle Hi-Yu Float (McDonald's).

Exceptional merit award for float: Tulalip Casino Float (Road One/Lincoln Towing).

Best floral design: COFAO Bayhanian Float (Avant Garden Florist).

Most elegant display of royalty: The Sunnyside Community Float (Princess Cruises).

Best non-commercial float: COFAO Bayhanian float (Seattle Center).

Most outstanding civic pride and involvement: Vietnamese Community Float (Moss Adams).

Award for best in show: Marysville Strawberry Festival Float (Boeing).

Best workmanship and use of materials: Sequim Irrigation Festival Float (Davis Sign Co.).

Best use of music presentation: Miss Washington Coed Pageant Float (CBS Radio).

Most zany and funky design: Starlight Foundation Float (Hilton's Basil's Kitchen).

Best use of animation: Fathoms of Fun Float (Sicklesteel Crane).

Most innovative design: Hyack Festival Float (Seattle's Child).