Thursday through Sunday, November 26 – 29, the first wave of annual holiday celebrations and events take place – the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Macy’s Holiday Parade, several marathons and the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars compete for the Apple Cup. The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages motorists heading for the events to try alternate modes of travel such as taking the bus, bicycling, carpooling or walking, if feasible.

Thursday, November 26
Seattle Turkey Trot (Ballard Food Bank) 9 a.m. – Noon
630 expected
Starts at 32nd Avenue NW just south of NW 85th Street and moves south to NW 80th Street where the route heads west, then south on 33rd Avenue NW, west on NW 77th Street, south on 34th Avenue NW, west at NW 57th Street and crosses the tracks to Seaview and then north on Seaview/Burke Gilman Trail to Golden Gardens Park. Monitors will assist with short street closures as the runners move through upper Ballard.

Friday, November 27
Macy’s Holiday Parade 8:45 – 10:30 a.m.
35,600 expected
Parade starts at Seventh Avenue and Pine Street at 8:45 a.m. and heads west on Pine to Fifth Avenue; south on Fifth to University Street; west on University to Fourth Avenue; north on Fourth to Macy’s (between Pine and Olive).
Parade will close the following streets at 7:30 a.m. for staging: Pine Street between Boren Avenue and Seventh Avenue; Ninth Avenue, Eighth Avenue, and Seventh Avenue between Olive Way and Pike Street. All streets will reopen by 11 a.m. (with the exception of Pine Street between Fifth and Fourth avenues, which will remain closed until the end of the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony).

Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony and Fireworks Spectacular 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Westlake Center Plaza
10,000 expected
Tree lighting at 5 p.m.; fireworks (weather permitting) at Macy’s at Fourth and Pine at 5:27 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Streets closed from 4:30 p.m. and reopen once pedestrian traffic disperses: Fourth Avenue from Union Street to Olive Way; Fifth Avenue from Olive Way to Pike Street; and Pine Street between Sixth and Third avenues; Pike Street between Third and Fifth avenues.

Husky Bandy Friday Night Pre-Game Rally (and Procession) 8:55 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Husky band and supporters will follow a procession through Greek Row to rally support for Saturday’s game; approximately 600 participants; Seattle Police will escort.

Saturday, November 28
Seattle Marathon 5 K Race (Road Runner Sports) 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
2,250 participants expected
Assemble on Fifth Avenue N between Mercer and Broad streets (closed at 7 a.m.); heads south on Fifth Avenue to Spring Street; makes a u-turn and goes north on Fifth to Vine Street; west on Vine to Second Avenue; north on Second and finish on the Seattle Center grounds; all streets should be reopened by 9:30 a.m.

Seattle Kids Marathon 2009 (Children’s Hospital) 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
3,600 expected
Assemble on Fifth Avenue N between Mercer and Broad streets (closed at 7 a.m.); route starts at Fifth Avenue and Harrison Street and heads south on Fifth to Broad Street; turns and goes west on Broad to Denny Way; then west on Denny to Second Avenue N; north on Second to Republican Street; west on Republican to Warren Avenue N; north on Warren to Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Fourth Avenue N; south on Fourth into Memorial Stadium; all streets will be reopened by 11 a.m.

Magic in the Market – Holiday Kick-off Noon – 5:30 p.m.
250 expected
Various holiday festivities at Pike Place Market from noon to 5 p.m.; tree lighting at 5 p.m. Pike Street will be closed from First Avenue to Pike Place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Washington Huskies versus Washington State Cougars 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
University of Washington Husky Stadium
65,000 expected
Plan on heavy traffic before and after the game on all major arterials leading to and from Husky Stadium, on SR520 at Montlake, and on I-5 through the University District.

Sunday, November 28
Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon 7.a.m. – 3 p.m.
Starts and finishes at Seattle Center
12,500 participants expected
Runners and walkers leave in four separate waves between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.; I-90 express lanes closed between Seattle and Mercer Island from 4:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Marathon assembles at Fifth Avenue and Harrison Street (Seattle Center). The route is south on Fifth Avenue; east on I-90 express lanes; makes a u-turn to west I-90, exits to S Day Street and moves south on 36th to Lakeside and Lake Washington Boulevard to Seward Park; enters Seward Park and goes counter-clockwise through the park loop and then north on to Lake Washington Boulevard, Lakeside and McGilvra; west on E Galer Street; E Madison Street; north on Lake Washington then onto Interlaken; west on Delmar and Roanoke; south on Boylston and Lakeview; west across the overpass to Eastlake and Roy Street; south on Eastlake; west on Republican; north on Dexter; west on Mercer; south on Fourth Avenue N; west on Republican; and finishes at Memorial Stadium. All streets will be reopened by 2:15 p.m.
The half-marathon will follow the same route except for the I-90 leg and the leg south to and around Seward Park.