Thanks for an amazing event. See You next Year!

APOLLO MECHANICAL CUP

Hydroplane Races

FRI-SUN, JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2026 FROM 8:30AM TO 6PM

Friday General Admission is FREE courtesy of

Join over 65,000 Seafair fans and get first access to event schedules, ticket sales, travel information, and important reminders!

Get Tickets Now

About The Event
Event Schedule
Hydroplane Performers
Festival Info
FAQs

Ticket Info

About The Event

Winning the Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Race is the goal of every team competing in the world’s fastest racing boats, and there is no better place or time to host that competition than the iconic Seafair Festival Weekend.

Whether you are spectating near the shores of Lake Washington or from the Seafair Log Boom, you are in for a special treat.

The excitement of hydroplanes racing at nearly 220 MPH is unbelievable. Not to mention you might get a little wet if you get too close!

General Admission on Friday, July 31 is FREE courtesy of Windermere.

How To Watch Seafair Weekend Festival on TV

Broadcast live on Sunday, August 2 on FOX 13 Seattle.

One Epic Weekend.
5 Unique Premium Experiences!

Pit Passes

The Deck

Grandstands

Captain’s Club

Log Boom

Get Up Close With The Blue Angels

Located off-site at the King County International Airport

Blue Angels Walk Down

Brunch & The Blues

Event Schedule

8:30AM – Testing & Qualifying
12:00PM – Vintage Ride-a-Long
12:10PM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 1A
12:25PM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 2A
2:35PM – Vintage Hydros
2:50PM – H1 Qualification

8:45AM – Testing & Qualifying
10:30AM – Vintage Ride-a-Long
10:40AM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 2A
10:55AM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 2B
11:10AM – Junior Hydros 1
11:25AM – H1 Hydros Heat 1A
11:40AM – H1 Hydros Heat 1B
12:00AM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 3A
12:15PM – Grand Prix Hydros Heat 3B
2:40PM – H1 Hydros Heat 2A
2:55PM – H1 Hydros Heat 2B
3:10PM – Vintage Hydros

8:45AM – Testing & Qualifying
10:30AM – Vintage Ride-a-Long

10:40AM – Opening Ceremonies
11:00AM – Junior Hydros 2
11:15AM – H1 Hydros Heat 3A
11:30AM – H1 Hydros Heat 3B
11:45AM – Vintage Hydros
2:30PM – Junior Hydros Final
2:45PM – Grand Prix Hydros Final
3:00PM – H1 Hydros Final
~5:00PM – Award Ceremony & Contingency Heats

The Blue Angels will perform two practice runs on Thursday, July 30th from approximately 11:00AM-1:00PM and 3:30PM-4:40PM.

Practice runs are not guaranteed and times are subject to change.

12:40PM – U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
12:50PM – PBY-5A Catalina w/ Water Takeoff
1:00PM – Torrey Ward’s Microjet Demo
1:15PM – U.S. Marine Corps F35B

1:40PM – U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
1:50PM – WAARNG CH47 – UH60 Flyover
1:55PM – U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Helicopter Demo
2:05PM – Yellow Thunder Aerial Demonstration
2:20PM – Melissa Burns Aerial Acrobatics + Hydro
3:30PM – U.S. Navy Blue Angels

12:40PM – U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
12:50PM – PBY-5A Catalina w/ Water Takeoff
1:00PM – Torrey Ward’s Microjet Demo
1:15PM – U.S. Marine Corps F35B

1:40PM – U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
1:45PM – WAARNG CH47 – UH60 Flyover
1:50PM – U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Helicopter Demo
2:00PM – U.S. Army UH-60 + Helocast
2:10PM – Yellow Thunder Aerial Demonstration
2:25PM – Melissa Burns Aerial Acrobatics + Hydro
3:30PM – U.S. Navy Blue Angels

10:30AM – Opening Ceremonies w/King County Helicopter Flag Presentation
10:45AM – Melissa Burns, Torrey Ward Microjet, Yellow Thunder Aerial Preview
12:10AM – U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo
12:20PM – PBY-5A Catalina w/ Water Takeoff
12:40PM – WAARNG CH47 – UH60 Flyover
12:45PM – Torrey Ward’s Microjet Demo
1:05PM – U.S. Marine Corps F35B

1:30PM – U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
1:40PM – U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Helicopter Demo
1:50PM – U.S. Army UH-60 + Helocast
2:00PM – Yellow Thunder Aerial Demonstration
2:15PM – Melissa Burns Aerial Acrobatics + Hydro
3:20PM – Boeing 737 Freedom Plane Fly-By
3:30PM – U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Friday

10:00am – 2:00pm – DJ Chris Charma
2:45pm – 3:45pm – Navy Band Northwest
4:30pm – 5:30pm – The Superchargers

Saturday

12:00pm – 1:00pm – The Local Strangers
2:00pm – 3:00pm – Brittany Danielle
4:30pm – 5:30pm – The Pioneer Squares

Sunday

12:00pm – 1:00pm – Stephanie Anne Johnson
2:00pm – 3:00pm – Balik2Bayan
4:30pm – 5:30pm – Between 2 Gregs

Please note: Times and performances are subject to change.

Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Performers

Grand Prix America

Grand Prix America Hydroplanes is a leading hydroplane racing series in North America, featuring some of the fastest boats on water. With a focus on competition, innovation, and community engagement, GPA continues to bring the best of hydroplane racing to fans across the continent.

Learn More

H1 Unlimited

The Unlimiteds are powered by turbine-engines that produce around 3,000 horsepower – allowing drivers to reach speeds of nearly 200 mph and producing a massive 60-foot tall, 300-foot long wall of water called a “roostertail” behind them. With very few restrictions, these majestic hydroplanes race in front of shorelines packed with fans on bodies of water throughout the United States.

Learn More

Vintage Hydroplanes

Some of Seafair’s favorite vintage boats will thunder on the waters of Lake Washington again. Stay tuned for what boats will be making their Seafair return!

Watch Video

Junior Hydros – J Hydros

J stands for “Junior” and is the entry-level class of American Power Boat Association racing. J-Hydros are a little over nine feet long, weigh 300 pounds, and have a top speed of 40 miles per hour. They use a stock 13.2 cubic inch OMC or Mercury outboard engine. To participate in J-Hydro, a driver must be between 9 and 16 years old.

Learn More

Festival Info

Event Map

Parking & Transportation

The ADA parking lot is located on 43rd and Genesee. This is first-come-first-serve. The lot fills up quickly, please come early for a spot.

Fans are invited to get to the park using public transportation, including Metro and Link Light Rail, as well as ride-share and bicycle options.

Here are some tips and tricks for a stress-free Seafair:

Use Link light rail to get close to your destination and use Seafair’s free shuttle or local transit connections to reach the park:
- Exit at Columbia City Station for:
  - Seafair’s free round-trip shuttle service from the station to the park Friday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
  - King County Metro Route 50 with direct service to Genessee Park o
- Exit at Othello Station for:
  - King County Metro Route 50 with direct service to Genessee Park
King County Metro’s Route 7 also offers frequent service along Rainier Ave S, connecting Downtown Seattle to Rainier Beach along Rainier Ave S.
- Route 7 stops 0.5 miles (less than a 15-minute walk) from the south end of Genesse Park.
Traveling with kids? Remember: all youth 18 and younger ride FREE on public transit in Washington!
Planning to use public transit both ways? Buy a day pass on your ORCA card for $6.00 for unlimited rides on buses, Link light rail, and Seattle Streetcar until the end of day. That’s the same cost as 2 rides!
- Don’t have an ORCA card? You can buy one online, at any Link light rail station or download the myORCA app on your Apple or Android smartphone.
Plan your trip: use Transit App, King County Metro’s trip planner or other trip planning tools to plan your transit trip and connections on your smartphone or computer.
Visit FlipYourTrip.org for more travel options and tips on ways to get around Seattle

Multiple Link 1 Line light rail stations with direct service to Columbia City and Othello Stations offer free parking for your day trip to Seafair.

North of Seafair:

Lynnwood City Center Station – 1,896 parking spaces
Mountlake Terrace Station – 668 parking spaces
Shoreline North/185th Station – 494 parking spaces
Shoreline South/148th Station – 500 parking spaces
Northgate Station – 443 parking spaces
Roosevelt Station – 411 parking spaces (at nearby Green Lake Park-and-Ride)

South of Seafair:

Tukwila International Boulevard Station – 600 parking spaces
Angle Lake Station – 1,160 parking spaces
Kent Des Moines Station – 500 parking spaces
Star Lake Station – 1,100 parking spaces
Federal Way Downtown Station – 1,592 parking spaces

Coming from the Eastside?

Multiple Link stations offer parking off the Link 2 Line.

Transfer at International District/Chinatown Station to the 1 Line to continue south to Seafair.

Accessibility & ADA

Our complimentary shuttle stops at the ADA parking lot on 43rd and Genesee, Main Gate, 43rd & Lake Washington Boulevard, and then Captains Club.

Seating Options for the Hydroplane Races & Boeing Airshow:

Captains Club is a great seating option for all-day access that includes food and drink and a shaded area.
Grandstand Reserved Seats provide a spectacular lake front view of all the action. Get off the Seafair Shuttle at the Lake Washington Blvd. and make your way toward the pit entrance.
Open Seating is Available Near South Turn Beach, first come – first serve.

Ticket Info

General Admission

General admission is FREE on Friday, August 1 courtesy of Windermere!

Purchase a ticket to attend on Saturday, August 1 and/or Sunday, August 2.

Buy Tickets Now

Parking Passes

Purchase parking for Seafair Weekend Festival in nearby lots. ADA parking is available as well.

Buy Parking Pass

Upgrade Your Experience

Pit Passes

Grandstands

The Deck

Captain’s Club

Listed prices are inclusive of all required taxes, including local and state admissions or parking taxes, where applicable.

Event FAQs

A hydroplane (or hydro, or thunderboat) is a very specific type of motorboat used exclusively for racing. One of the unique characteristics about hydroplanes is that they only use the water they’re on for propulsion and steering (not for flotation) – when going at full speed they are primarily held aloft by a principle of fluid dynamics known as “planing,” with only a tiny fraction of their hull actually touching the water.

No. General Admission at the gate is free, but Premium Experience access (Grandstands, The Deck, Hydroplane Pits, Captain’s Club) and parking are charged at the regular rate.

There are 3 ways to enter Seafair Weekend Festival at Genesee Park:

The main entrance is located at Genesee Park & Playfield at the corner of 43rd Ave S & S Genesee St.

The North Entrance is located at Lake Washington Blvd S and Lake Park Dr S.

The South Entrance is located at 49th Ave S and Lake Washington Blvd S.

Military Discounts are offered on General Gate Admission Charges by presenting a valid Military ID on the day of event.

General Gate Admission is waived for active Military and discounted 50% for spouse / family / retired with proper ID presented at the gate for admission.

*Please note, due to the limited number of seats, Military discounts are not available for our premium experiences (Captain’s Club, Grandstand Seating, The Deck, etc.).

Visit our Volunteer Page where you can learn more about volunteering and how to sign-up.

• All Weapons (including guns, knives, brass knuckles, loose batteries, wires, box cutters)
• Drugs, drug paraphernalia, or any other illegal substances
• Drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• Sparklers, fireworks or incendiary materials of any kind
• All Noisemakers (including megaphones, air horns, sirens, whistles)
• Laser Lights and Pointers
• Mace/Pepper spray
• Animals and pets (excluding service animals)
• Footballs, Frisbees, Baseballs and other projectiles
• Helium balloons
• Enclosed or Walled Tents
• Gas or charcoal BBQs
• Smoking or vaping
• Glass Containers
• Alcohol

*Seafair retains the right to prohibit additional items deemed to be dangerous or inappropriate.

Yes, all bags will be searched upon entry. Prohibited items found within the park will be disposed of without return.

Strollers and small wagons
Bicycles, skateboards, and other personal transportation items (must be stored at the Event’s Bike Compound)
Personal umbrellas (cannot be inserted into the ground)
Lawn chairs
Sunscreens and canopies (must be removed by 6pm)
Blankets
Coolers
Non-alcoholic beverages (must have the original seal, no glass bottles)
Cameras
Tablets and laptops
Stainless steel or plastic water bottles

*Review the FAQ for each individual event as items may change.

Use of drones is strictly prohibited by law and will be prosecuted. See drone policy.

Thank You To Our Signature Sponsor

For 45 years, Apollo Mechanical Contractors has been built on the spirit of American innovation and guided by our values: safety, integrity, pride, quality, family, and faith. Today, we are top 5 in the nation, we continue to grow nationwide while staying grounded in the relationships and commitment to excellence that define who we are.