seafair royalty

Seafair Royalty has reigned over the festival and represented the city of Seattle since 1950. For the first five decades, Seafair Royalty consisted of King Neptune and his Prime Minister, and the Seafair Queen (renamed Miss Seafair in 1972) whose roles included greeting visiting dignitaries, participating in ceremonial activities throughout the City, and encouraging all to take part in Seafair festivities.

In 2000, the Royalty Program was updated to crown one man as King Neptune and one woman as Queen Alcyone. This outstanding couple is chosen based on their philanthropic contributions to the Puget Sound region and ability to inspire the communities in which they live.

Throughout the summer, Seafair Royalty, including Miss Seafair, participate in festival events and activities to celebrate the tradition of Seafair and the community spirit of greater Seattle. They also perform several knighting ceremonies recognizing outstanding citizens in the Seattle area.

  • 2019 - Rich Gray & Kim Holcomb
    2018 - Sonny Sixkiller & Jody Hall
    2017 - John Roderick & Angela Shen
    2016 - Jordan Babineaux & Shellie Hart
    2015 - Mark Dyce-Ryan & Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann
    2014 - Marcus Trufant & Christine Gregoire
    2013 - Jonathon Poneman & Jennifer Roth
    2012 - Slick Watts and Sue Rahr
    2011 - Tom Skerritt & Joni Earl
    2010 - John Curley & Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
    2009 - Pat Cashman & Darlene Corkrum
    2008 - Skip Rowley & Constance Rice
    2007 - Bob Santos & Mona Locke
    2006 - Dr. Carver Gayton & Karen Moyer
    2005 - Bill Rex & Joan Wallace
    2004 - Roberto Maestas & Jeannie Nordstrom
    2003 - Rev. Samuel B. McKinney & Rita Ryder
    2002 - David Towne & Patrinell Wright
    2001 - Herb Bridge & Phyllis Campbell 2000 - Scott Oki & Dorothy Bullitt

  • 1972 - Kathy Beck
    1973 -
    Jacalyn Dean
    1974 -
    Galen Marie Motin
    1975 -
    Karla Louise Graue
    1976 -
    Susan Ishimitsu
    1977 -
    Cynthia Janet Edwards
    1978 -
    Marisol Borromeo
    1979 -
    Keri Truscan
    1980 -
    Brigitte Grossreider
    1981 -
    Janice Bowman
    1982 -
    Deirdre Yen
    1983 -
    Susan St. John
    1984 -
    Sharon Dean
    1985 -
    Melissa Sue Spencer
    1986 -
    Julie Warrick
    1987 -
    Jennifer Jett
    1988 -
    Amy Smith
    1989 -
    Jill Nishi
    1990 -
    Alexandra Quade
    1991 -
    Sherene Chan
    1992 -
    Alison Grande
    1993 -
    Kamrin Nelson
    1994 -
    Sapna Jain
    1995 -
    Sungeeta Jain
    1996 -
    Anjulie Ganti
    1997 -
    Anne Slaugh
    1998 -
    Taryn Uyeda
    1999 -
    Brieanne Parriot
    2000 -
    Caroline Phan
    2001 -
    April Wilson
    2002 -
    Tina Marie Mares
    2003 -
    Holly DeLisle
    2004 -
    Jackie Mendez
    2005 -
    Melissa Parks
    2006 -
    Erin Waid
    2007 -
    Emily Suen
    2008 -
    Kristen Tateishi
    2009 -
    Jackie Saarenas
    2010 -
    Kisara Nishimoto
    2011 -
    Veronica Quintero
    2012 -
    Veronica Asence
    2013 -
    Emily Rio Barber
    2014 -
    Jasmine Goodwin
    2015 -
    Nella Kwan
    2016 -
    Tessie Lamourea
    2017 -
    Axa Molina
    2018 -
    Zoraida Valdovinos
    2019 -
    Andrea Diaz
    2022 -
    2023 -

  • 1950 - Victor Rabel (I) & Ray Eckmann
    1951 - William McKay (II) & Larry Dugan
    1952 - E.L. Blaine Jr. (III) & Willis Camp
    1953 - Adm. H.H. (Heinie) Good (IV) & Dick Keplinger
    1954 - Irving Smith (V) & John Jewett
    1955 - George Kachlein Jr. (VI) & Hugh Smith
    1956 - William Culliton (VII) & Alan Ferguson
    1957 - T. Dayton Davies (VIII) & Hoge Sullivan
    1958 - Price Sullivan (IX) & James Scott
    1959 - Joseph Gandy (X) & George Carlson
    1960 - Ben Bowling (XI) & Sidney Campbell
    1961 - Walter Clark (XII) & Robert Ladd
    1962 - Cecil McKinstry (XIII) & Don Kraft
    1963 - Adm. Albert Bledsoe (XIV) & M. Lamont Bean
    1964 - Lewis Dowell (XV) & Pat Goodfellow
    1965 - Robert Banks (XVI) & Joseph James
    1966 - John Graham (XVII) & William Lucks
    1967 - Kelly Waller (XVIII) & Jim Owens
    1968 - R.C. (Torchy) Torrance (XIX) & Dr. Jack Nichols
    1969 - Joseph Pendergast (XX) & James Curtis
    1970 - Rear Adm. Frank Helmer (XXI) & & Stan Boreson
    1971 - Waldo Dahl (XXII) & Jack Link
    1972 - No King or Prime Minister
    1973 -
    No King or Prime Minister
    1974 -
    No King or Prime Minister
    1975 -
    James Douglas (XXVI) & No Prime Minister
    1976 -
    Joe James (XXVII) & No Prime Minister
    1977 -
    Stuart Anderson (XXVIII) & No Prime Minister
    1978 -
    Henry Simonson (XXIX) & John Bisset
    1979 -
    L.R. (Russ) Noble (XXX) & Chuck Alm
    1980 -
    Jack Link (XXXI) & Duane Lockname
    1981 -
    Fred Burrow (XXXII) & Bill Stuht
    1982 -
    Hugh McElhenney (XXXIII) & K. Chorlton
    1983 -
    Jack Dierdorff (XXXIV) & Tim Bullard
    1984 -
    Walt Guidinger (XXXV) & Hal Shallow
    1985 -
    Ben Wheat (XXXVI) & Bob Brennon
    1986 -
    Don Bennett (XXXVII) & Nori Suder
    1987 -
    Philip Buck (XXXVIII) & Ron Sims
    1988 -
    Hugh Wayt (XXXIX) & Gary Justice
    1989 -
    Phil Smart Sr. (XL) & Don Mills
    1990 -
    Dan Doyle (XLI) & Bruce McDonald
    1991 -
    Al Yuen (XLII) & Joe Feldman
    1992 -
    Richard White (XLIII) & No Prime Minister
    1993 -
    Stanley Nelson Jr. (XLIV) & Frank Petschl
    1994 -
    Mike Berry (XLV) & Dick St. John
    1995 -
    Mike Berry (XLVI) & Dick St. John
    1996 -
    Don Covey (XLVII) & Geoff Vernon
    1997 -
    Virgil Fassio (XLVIII) & Jim Johnson
    1998 -
    Patrick Patrick (XLIX) Dan Guy
    1999 -
    Don Kraft (L) C. David Hughbanks

  • 1950 - Barbara Curtis
    1951 - Shirley Flowers
    1952 - Iris Adams
    1953 - Shirley Givins
    1954 - Carol Christensen
    1955 - Beverly Kaye Smith
    1956 - Dixie Jo Thompson
    1957 - Sandra Teslow
    1958 - Judy Paulson
    1959 - Diane Gray
    1960 - Mary Jo (Midge) Erickson
    1961 - Linda Jue
    1962 - Gail Read
    1963 - Arlene Hinderlie
    1964 - Geraldine LePenske
    1965 - Pamela Bryant
    1966 - Erika Hokanson
    1967 - Linda Andrews
    1968 - Karen Brown
    1969 - Cynthia Turbak
    1970 - Rebecca (Becky Pozzi)
    1971 - (Callie) Lynn Garcia

history of king neptune and queen alcyone

Recognizing notable individuals as Seafair Royalty has been part of the festival’s history since 1950. King Neptune (King of the Sea), and Queen Alcyone (Queen of Calm Seas) highlights of the last decades include:
2019 - Rich Gray & Kim Holcomb
2018 - Sonny Sixkiller & Jody Hall
2017 - John Roderick & Angela Shen
2016 - Jordan Babineaux & Shellie Hart
2015 - Mark Dyce-Ryan & Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann
2014 - Marcus Trufant & Christine Gregoire
2013 - Jonathon Poneman & Jennifer Roth
2012 - Slick Watts and Sue Rahr
2011 - Tom Skerritt & Joni Earl
2010 - John Curley & Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
2009 - Pat Cashman & Darlene Corkrum
2008 - Skip Rowley & Constance Rice
2007 - Bob Santos & Mona Locke
2006 - Dr. Carver Gayton & Karen Moyer
2005 - Bill Rex & Joan Wallace
2004 - Roberto Maestas & Jeannie Nordstrom
2003 - Rev. Samuel B. McKinney & Rita Ryder
2002 - David Towne & Patrinell Wright
2001 - Herb Bridge & Phyllis Campbell
2000 - Scott Oki & Dorothy Bullitt

TORCHLIGHT PARADE GRAND MARSHALS

The Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade is the largest nighttime parade in the Northwest, drawing over 300,000 on-site spectators and an additional 700,000 television viewers. Precision drill teams, community floats, regional and international bands, equestrian units, giant helium balloons, comical clowns and swashbuckling pirates all come together for one magical night in downtown Seattle to celebrate true family and community entertainment.

For 2019, we are thrilled that Mr. Tod Leiweke, CEO and Team president for Seattle's new NHL hockey team, will be leading our Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade on Saturday, July 27.

Each year Seafair selects a member of the community to be the Parade Grand Marshal. This person is chosen based on their connection to Seattle, community interest and celebrity status. Some of Seafair’s first Grand Marshals included Bob Hope & Bing Crosby (1958), Richard Nixon (1960) and Joan Crawford & Leonard Nimoy (1968).

Grand marshals history

2022 - Mari Horita & Maealie Glanzer
2019 - Tod Leiweke
2018 - Jordan Morris
2017 - Billy Burke & James Wolk
2016 - Anna Faris
2015 - Felix Hernandez & Robinson Cano
2014 - Clint Dempsey & DeAndre Yedlin
2013 - Gary Payton
2012 - Duff McKagan
2011 - Drew Carey
2010 - Apolo Ohno
2009 - Mike Holmgren & Pat O'Day
2008 - Sig Hansen
2007 - Dave Niehaus
2006 - Warren Moon & Dan Wilson
2005 - Darth Vader
2004 - Elvis
2003 - Roy Butch Marlin "The Original Blue Angel"
2002 - Apolo Ohno
2000 - Edgar Martinez
1999 - Barbara Curtis Wall, the first Seafair Queen (1950)
1998 - John Stanford
1997 - Bill Nye “The Science Guy”
1996 - Kate Mulgrew
1995 - Jim Lambright
1994 - Nolan Ryan
1990 - Jane Fonda & Ted Turner

Seafair signature partners

Boeing
Alaska Airlines
Amazon
Apollo Mechanical Contractors