Episodes
Frank Sebastian is the Volunteer Air Show Director and head of Seafair’s Emergency Management Group. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to bring a world-class air show to Seattle, from working with the FAA to coordinating with military branches. We also dive into his critical role in keeping all of Seafair’s events safe, spanning land, air, and water.
King Neptune Eric Johnson turns the mic on our very first Seafair Community Hero, Mercy Haub. Mercy was just a teen when Eric first featured her on Eric’s Heroes for her work uplifting unhoused neighbors. Now, four years later, they share the Seafair stage.
What does it take to do loops, rolls, and dives at hundreds of miles per hour, with the world watching? Melissa Burns takes us behind the scenes of her life in the cockpit, her path to becoming a world-ranked aerobatic pilot, and what she is still chasing in the skies.
They arrive with cannon fire and flair, but beneath the beards and bravado, the Seafair Pirates are serious about tradition, service, and shared celebration. Tom Lether, President of the Seafair Pirates, shares the history of the brotherhood, what it means to wear the boots today, and why this rowdy crew remains one of the most recognizable symbols of a Seattle summer.
We’ve heard it before: Seafair is like building a city from scratch. In this episode, we meet one of the people who helps make that city run. Mariana Matthews, Seafair Weekend Festival Volunteer Event Chair, shares what it takes to coordinate hundreds of volunteers across land and water, and why she keeps coming back, year after year.
Eleven-time Gold Cup winner Chip Hanauer reflects on the glory and grit of hydroplane racing. From championship wins to life-changing lessons on and off the water, Chip opens up about what keeps him connected to the sport – and to Seafair – decades later.
From starting as a young boy at the Milk Carton Derby to helping engineer the hydroplane races, Mark Ohlstrom reflects on his 50+ years as a Seafair volunteer and the profound impact the Festival has had on his life and career.
