The Seafair Pirates invaded the parking lot behind Solid Ground yesterday for its second annual Pirates and Pipsqueaks carnival to benefit homeless kids at Broadview Shelter and Transitional Housing.
Hundreds of people showed up to cavort in the pirate bouncy house, dunk a pirate, do the Trophy Cupcakes cakewalk, watch the Seattle Derby Brats (girls 8-17), and play half a dozen carnival games for prizes.
The turnout was much better than last year, organizer and Broadview shelter case manager Eileen Bidwell was delighted to tell us.
“The Wallingford community has come out in full force — I can’t say enough about the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Council,” Bidwell said. Almost every Wallingford business donated something for the raffle, she said, and local businesses Not a Number, Trophy Cupcakes, and School of Oom Yung Doe were very involved in the event. She even joked that Not a Number’s Kara Ceriello and Jon DeLeeuw should organize the carnival next year.
The big corporate sponsor for the carnival was Starbucks, and one store manager, Curtis Jacobson, built all the sets and signage.
Bidwell wanted to be sure the Seafair Pirates got a special thanks for turning out. Sadly, their boat, Moby Duck, couldn’t sail in for the event — it broke down last week.
