(Minghui.org) The Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade was held at the newly completed Seattle Waterfront in the city center on the evening of July 25, 2026. Once again, the beautiful ship float, handcrafted by Falun Dafa practitioners in the style of the Ming Dynasty, was a welcome fixture in the parade. Since its debut in 2005, the float has taken part in parades for more than 20 years, and has won more than a dozen awards in major parades throughout the US and Canada. This year, the giant ship was featured in the Seafair’s official promotional video.

Originating in 1950, the Seafair celebrates the lifestyle of the people of the Pacific Northwest. As the largest nighttime parade in the region, this year, the event drew over 100,000 spectators and was broadcast live on Fox13 and simultaneously streamed online. The parade began in the golden glow of the setting sun, with nearly 100 groups marching in the summer night, the streets ablaze with lights and shimmering with brilliance.

Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade on July 25, 2026. This year, their float was selected for the event’s official promotional video. (Minghui.org)

Falun Dafa practitioners from Seattle and Toronto carried banners with messages including: “Falun Dafa,” and, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” The giant ship float was followed by members of the waist drum team wearing golden costumes. Practitioners were greeted with applause and cheers all along the parade route.

Seattle Mayor Thanks Practitioners for Their Participation

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson (at right, wearing white cap) takes a group photo with members of the waist drum team. (Minghui.org)

Before the start of the parade, a practitioner in the waist drum team saw Mayor Katie Wilson at the assembly area. The practitioner shook hands with her and introduced herself as a member of the Falun Dafa community. She thanked the mayor for her involvement and long term support of community events. The mayor in turn thanked practitioners for their participation and had her photo taken with the waist drum team.

Terry, a parade marshal who’s been involved in the parade for the past 15 years, said the practitioners’ float was beautiful. He kept thanking practitioners and expressed his admiration for them after they told him about the persecution.

At the end of the parade, Robert, the parade’s grand marshal, told practitioners: “Another year for the history books!”

The Falun Dafa Float: 20 Years of Meticulous Craftsmanship

The practitioners’ float made its debut in the Seafair Torchlight Parade on July 30, 2005. The event drew 250,000 tourists and was seen by 700,000 people through the exclusive live broadcast on TV Station KIRO-7.

Over the years, many people have said that the practitioners’ float is the most eye-catching sight of the Seafair parade. The ship is handcrafted in the style of ancient Ming Dynasty ships and is about 16m (52.5 ft.) long and 4m (13 ft.) wide. A nearly 7m (22-ft.) high sail, slowly rises from time to time. The ship is entirely handmade by practitioners, and a great deal of effort was put into it. “Our ship is especially eye-catching because it is not made in a factory but handcrafted by Dafa practitioners who put their hearts into making it,” a practitioner said.

Delicate and luminous udumbara flowers (a flower associated with the Buddha) adorn the ship, interspersed with other flowers of a variety of colors. As practitioners marched past the main stage, the TV anchor introduced the group in the live broadcast: “This is the ‘Heavenly Fa Ship’ by the Washington State Falun Dafa Association. Falun Dafa is a mind and body practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The decorations on the ship are udumbara flowers; legend has it that it only blooms once every 3,000 years. It is the day when people should remember the origin of their lives. The flowers blooming are meant to awaken humanity to the path of return to one’s true home.

“Wow, the magnificent float is slowly making its way to us! It’s truly breathtaking. Spectacular! After the float is the traditional waist drum team. Since ancient times, the waist drum has been used to drive away evil spirits, welcome auspiciousness, and announce the beginning of a grand ceremony. It is like a team that purifies the environment for heaven and earth,” the anchor concluded.

In the evening light, the illuminated float was a highlight of the parade. Practitioners on the float demonstrated the exercises, while some spectators followed along with the movements.

Many people danced along to the music of the waist drummers, and some shouted: “You’re beautiful! Thank you!” Rounds of applause followed each song. A group of young women danced to the rhythm of “Falun Dafa Is Great,” while another group of spectators shouted, “Falun Dafa! Falun Dafa!” in time to the music. A mother and her young child repeated, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

People Resonate With Falun Dafa

The crowd this year was exceptionally enthusiastic, and many people asked practitioners for information about Falun Dafa. When they heard that it is easy to learn, there is no cost involved, and it improves health, many kept thanking practitioners and expressing their admiration for their efforts to tell people about the spiritual practice. Chinese people also responded enthusiastically and many took photos and applauded. Several Chinese groups in the parade shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good!” to show their support.

Laetitia Kaiser (Minghui.org)

Laetitia Kaiser stopped to watch the waist drum performance and take photos. She was stunned when she learned that many members of the waist drum team came to the US to escape persecution in China. She said the float was “extremely beautiful, and makes people feel peaceful.”

Christine Sharbaugh supports legislation against forced organ harvesting. (Minghui.org)

Christine Sharbaugh from Philadelphia was interested in Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) for its extraordinary health benefits and said she wants to find a local practice site. She was surprised to hear of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience. She stressed that the bill against forced organ harvesting (Senate Bill S.4009, the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Harvesting Protection Act) is “very important; more people should know about it.”

After the parade, Thad Caperton and his friend from Taiwan asked about Falun Dafa and learned about the bill against forced organ harvesting. They agreed that the message of the bill is very important and that it’s important to be informed of the human rights abuses taking place in China.

Erick Gee also supports legislation against forced organ harvesting in China. (Minghui.org)

Erick Gee asked practitioners about the cultural meaning of the udumbara flowers featured in the parade. When he learned of the brutal persecution by the CCP, he praised the bill to stop the CCP from taking organs from Falun Gong practitioners and said it’s “a great first step.” He added that the teachings of Falun Gong are very meaningful.