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SEAFAIR

In 1990 Festivals Inc. presented a proposal to Bob Gobrecht, Managing Director of SEAFAIR at the time, to improve all aspects of landside activities for the annual Unlimited Hydroplane Races that take place every summer on Lake Washington.  It was public knowledge that the event was under financial strain and that there was a decreasing number of families attending.  With a creative and solid plan and a dedicated staff, Festivals Inc. was hired by SEAFAIR.  The six year agreement (1989-1994) was a partnership where Festivals Inc. shared revenue and expenses pertaining to land-side only.  Within the first two years of the contract, SEAFAIR was back in the black and families returned to three-mile shoreline that was home to the Hydros and a 50-year Seattle tradition.

Many of the components that Festivals Inc. was responsible for creating at the SEAFAIR Hydroplane Races still exist today.  Major changes implemented include transforming prime real estate on the waterfront into first-class Hospitality Pavilions and Corporate Sky Boxes (previously used for parking), selling the hospitality options within the business community, creating a Sky Box option for consumers called Captains Club (sold out every year), upgraded all beer gardens so they were run in an orderly manner that did not offend families, created the “Hydro-Bite” food court area in Genesee Park elevating the quality of food vendors at the event, erected bleacher seating for the first time in prime viewing locations for the general public, improved and managed grounds maintenance procedures for three miles of Lake Washington Blvd., implemented a shuttle bus option for guests from downtown due to parking challenges in the park and introduced many levels of entertainment along the shoreline including live music on a barge in front of the Captain’s Club Hospitality venue.

One of our biggest challenges we face as a professional event production company when working with non-profit organizations is earning the trust of the hundreds of volunteers and supporters that are essential to their survival.  There was no exception to this at SEAFAIR, however within our first year we were able to convince the 600+ volunteers that we were on the same team and that our mission was to work beside them with the same level of dedication and commitment they brought to the event to ensure success. This was an exciting event and an exciting time for Festivals Inc.