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Pirates and milk cartons? It must be time for Seafair

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Around here, summer means Seafair traditions, and it all starts this weekend with pirates, kiddies on parade and the Milk Carton Derby.

The Seafair Pirates have been swashbuckling since 1949, and they'll be landing at West Seattle's Alki Beach as the official kickoff for their busy schedule of shenanigans at parades and festivals throughout the Seafair season. Kids are invited to come dressed as pirates for games and events including a Pirate Look-Alike Contest, food, crafts, entertainment and a classic Corvette show, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The pirates land on the beach at noon.

Meanwhile, at Green Lake, locals will float their boats at the Milk Carton Derby, where lots of milk-mustaches and creativity go into designing and building nonmotorized watercraft that float on 50 or more milk cartons. Prizes including cash and airline tickets for the fastest and most creative entries inspire locals to go all-out for this crowd-pleasing Seafair tradition going on from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday's Wallingford Seafair Kiddies Parade is themed "Rain or Shine" in honor of summer downpours, a local tradition even older than Seafair. If it's a sunny day, faux rain will be provided, and hats of all descriptions are encouraged. The parade starts at 5 p.m. on North 45th Street from Sunnyside Avenue North to Woodlawn Avenue North, Seattle.

For more information, call Seafair at 206-728-0123 or check www.seafair.com.

— Madeline McKenzie, Seattle Times staff

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company

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