43rd annual Madrona Mayfair on May 11

It’s time for Madrona youth to start decking out their bikes. The spring Mayfair celebration turns 43 on Saturday, May 11.

The Madrona Community Council organizes the annual event with support from neighborhood businesses, churches and nonprofits.

“It’s pretty amazingly turnkey,” said MCC board member Rob Ward, lead organizer for the event. “I mean, it is but it isn’t.”

Madrona Mayfair kicks off every year with a three-block parade that includes children biking and scooting down 34th Avenue to the Madrona Playground for kids and family activities. A Seattle Fire engine traditionally leads the parade, which will close 34th Avenue from 9:15-9:45 a.m.

Activities at the Madrona Playground include pony rides, balloon sculptures, face painting, a bouncy house and multiple games. There will also be two performances, The Reptile Man and Charles the Clown, at the shelterhouse at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.

“They’re very different and very popular,” Ward said.

Madrona Grace church will again be providing cotton candy, and Epiphany Parish of Seattle is taking over the annual bake sale.

Madrona Mayfair is slated to conclude at 1 p.m.

Major sponsors are real estate agencies and children’s dentists and orthodontists, which provides more reliable support than just depending on donations like in the past.

“We get sponsors, so we get people to essentially pay $500 or $250 depending on what you want your sponsorship to be.”

There are also donation boxes set up around the event site, which also helps offset the cost of Mayfair.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Ward said. “We got a thousand dollars in donations last year, just at the event.”

Ward said the hardest part of putting on Mayfair is finding volunteers for the event itself. Those wanting to lend a hand can contact him at mmayfairvolunteer@gmail.com. The Madrona Community Council is also looking to add new members and meets 7:15 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the shelterhouse.