Seafair officially kicks off with Pirates Landing, Milk Carton Derby

The Seafair Pirates storm Alki beach Saturday amid cannon fire and a swashbuckling display of swordplay, battling King Neptune (Pat Cashman) for the key to the Seafair festival.

Landing will be on pirate time, sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with onshore vendors, entertainment and other festivities starting at 9:30 a.m.

Kids are invited to come dressed for a pirate look-alike contest with prizes. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the first 500 kids get a free toy pirate kit.

Saturday's event is the official kickoff of Seafair's "celebrating 60 years of summer" season of festivals, parades and other community events, many featuring appearances by the pirates, who have been swashbuckling since 1949.

Seafair's other traditional opening event, the Milk Carton Derby, takes to the water on Green Lake Saturday, with nearly 100 watercraft competing for prizes for speed or style. Boats must rely on milk cartons for flotation and be human-powered. Festivities including food vendors, kids activities and entertainment start at 10 a.m., with a parade of boats at 1:30 p.m. and boat racing at 2 p.m.

Rounding out Seafair's kickoff events is the Wallingford Kiddies Parade and street fair. Costumes are encouraged. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. start. The party will last all day, with street vendors, food and children's rides and activities before and after the parade.

Seafair continues with a variety of community events leading up to the Torchlight Parade July 25 and the Hydroplane Races and Air Show July 31-Aug. 2.

Seafair Pirates Landing

Time: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: Free. All-day passes for kids inflatable rides, $6/one kid, $10/two kids.

Location: Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki Ave. S.W., Seattle.

More information: 206-365-1590 or www.seafairpirates.org.

Seafair Milk Carton Derby

Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Location: Southwest corner of Green Lake, Seattle. On-site parking limited; bike corral parking available.

Cost: Free. Boats must be registered by noon today.

More information: 206-728-0123 or www.seafair.com

Wallingford Kiddies Parade and Street Fair

Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, on North 45th Street from Corliss Avenue North to Woodlawn Avenue North, Seattle. Kids register starting at 9:30 a.m. at Corliss Avenue North and North 45th Street.

Street Fair: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Wallingford Avenue North between North 43rd Street and North 45th Street, Seattle.

More information: 206-632-3165 or wallingford.org.

Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com