The month of July is filled with summertime fun, and King County Metro Transit will be there to take passengers along for the ride.

Metro’s regular routes are a convenient way to beat the crowds to big events, but sometime special occasions do require special service. Here’s a look at what’s "special" about July:

Independence Day – Friday, July 4
On Friday, July 4, Metro and Sound Transit service will operate on a Sunday schedule, but there will be extra trips on the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar to accommodate the crowds attending the holiday festivities on the Seattle waterfront. The Benson Streetcar is free all day on the Fourth.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi between Seattle and West Seattle will operate on a Saturday schedule for the holiday. Extra sailings will be available as necessary after 11 p.m. to accommodate attendees of the fireworks show. The Water Taxi will be free after 7 p.m. on July 4.

Metro is operating free shuttles from two locations to the Woodinville Fireworks Display [external link]. The fireworks display starts at approximately 10:30 p.m. and lasts about 20 minutes. Shuttles will begin leaving the Woodinville and Brickyard park-and-ride lots at 6 p.m.

For all the details about holiday service and what’s open at Metro on Friday, visit Metro Online.

King County Fair – Wednesday, July 16 – Sunday, July 20
Ride the King County Fair Special Shuttle from the Auburn Park and Ride Lot, or downtown Auburn, to the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw. Several Metro and Sound Transit Regional Express [external link] routes connect to the Fair Special at the Auburn P&R Lot or in downtown Auburn. There is no direct special service from downtown Seattle to the King County Fair; however, Metro Route 150 serves downtown Seattle and the Auburn P&R Lot each day.

The shuttles will be operating from 9:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the fair schedule. Regular fares apply on the shuttles, and all valid passes and transfers will be accepted.

Bite of Seattle – Saturday, July 19 & Sunday, July 20
Special shuttles will operate every 30 minutes between the Seattle Center and the Northgate Park and Ride and Northgate Transit Center during the weekend of the Bite [external link]. Regular fares apply on the shuttles, and all valid passes and transfers will be accepted.

United Indians Pow Wow – Saturday, July 19 & Sunday, July 20
Metro will be operating free shuttles between the main parking lot at Discovery Park and the Daybreak Star Center for the annual pow wow [external link] from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair – Friday, July 25 – Sunday, July 27
Metro will be providing free shuttles between the downtown Bellevue festival [external link] and three park-and-ride lots: Houghton; South Kirkland; and South Bellevue.

Seafair Torchlight Parade – Saturday, July 26
There will be extra trips on select Metro regular routes serving the downtown area both before and after the parade. Also, the downtown Seattle transit tunnel will be open until 11:45 p.m.

August and beyond
Then, coming in August are the Seafair hydro races (Aug. 2& 3), Seahawks football (Aug. 9) [external link], and the big Bumbershoot Festival (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) [external link]. Plus, don’t forget Metro’s special service to the Mariners home games and the weekend "Pony Express" to the Emerald Downs racetrack throughout the summer.