The Seafair Pirates have landed ashore to kick off Seafair festivities, which includes the Torchlight Parade on Saturday, starting at 7:30pm and running down Fourth Avenue. Tip: Don’t forget to cover the kids’ ears when the pirates go by on their ship—their “blanks only” cannon still scares the bejezus out of us, so we can’t imagine what it would do to a five-year-old. July 31

There’s also new loop for the Torchlight Run this year. The race starts Saturday at 6:30 at South Lake Union, follows the parade route, and ends at a beer garden, and it’s all sponsored by Michelob Ultra. Sheer bliss. July 31.

Holding out for the Blue Angels and hydroplane races? That’s next weekend. Through Aug. 8

CLASSICAL AND MORE Seattle Opera launches its 2010 season with Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, a love story whose desperate longing is echoed by one of opera’s most ebullient scores. July 31-Aug 21.

FILM Grab a lawn chair and head to Fremont Outdoor Movies on Saturday, where Fritz Lang’s 1927 sci-fi classic Metropolis screens with live musical accompaniment by the Super 8s. July 31. (For a complete list of outdoor movies this summer, click here.)

CONCERT Seattle roots rocker Kristen Ward joins piano legend Leon Russell the man Elton John calls his idol—at Tractor Tavern for one night only. Seating is limited. July 29.

THEATER At the World’s Quickest Theater Fest, participants write, design, rehearse, and ultimately perform 14 original plays in 48 hours (with the help of rotating naps and a keg of beer). Pressure creates some fine art. July 30 & 31, Aug 6 & 7.

LAST CHANCE Eroyn Franklin’s exhibit Detained, a graphic novel writ long on two 50-foot scrolls, is only on display for a few more days at Gallery4Culture. Through July 30.

Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Summer Festival closes its Benaroya programming with a performance of Antonín Dvorák’s Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in F minor by Stefan Jackiw, Jeremy Turner, and Ran Dank. July 30.