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.
2024 Royalty (L to R) : Miss Seafair - Karina Hlastala, King Neptune - Chris Cashman, Queen Alcyone - Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman
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2024 - Chris Cashman & Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman
2023 - Bender Cunningham & Kristi Brown
2022 - Shellie Heart
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 - Anne Massey
2023 - Savannah Parker
2024 - Karina Hlastala -
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:
2024 - Chris Cashman & Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman
2023 - Bender Cunningham & Kristi Brown
2022 - Rich Gray & Shellie Heart
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
2024 - Seafair Pirates
2023 - Chip Hanauer
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
