Don’t ask the organizers about the number of attendees. The smaller the crowd, the cheaper it is to get a permit from the City of Seattle, said Dennis Su, chair of the Chinatown Seafair Parade.
If there are fewer than 5,000 people, the permit costs $450, Su said. The cost is $900 for more than 5,000.
The bigger the crowd, the more expensive it will be for police. Every block requires a cop to keep things in order.
This year, Seafair pirates ‘invaded’ Uwajimaya in the afternoon, as usual. Dragon boys scattered around several restaurant fronts. The youth occupied all the bubble tea places. About 50 groups participated in the parade, down 10 percent from last year. ♦