The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers to be aware of a number of events happening this week that will affect area traffic. The Alaskan Way Viaduct closes for approximately two weeks starting on Friday morning. The March of Dimes March for Babies takes place Saturday morning around Seattle Center. The Mariners have four home games at Safeco Field and the Sounders also play on Saturday at CenturyLink Field. The annual May Day rally and march starts in the Central District and ends in downtown Seattle on Sunday.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28^TH:
NFFTY Opening Night Celebration: The 10^th annual National Film Festival for Talented Youth, showcasing the best directors under age 24, opens with a red carpet gala at the Cinerama Theater at 4^th Avenue and Lenora St at 5 p.m.  About 700 people are expected to attend.  The festival continues through May 1^st.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29^TH:
Alaskan Way Viaduct Closure: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is closing State Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct from the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel to Spokane Street for approximately two weeks while Bertha, the tunneling machine, tunnels beneath the structure. The closure will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 29. Crews will begin closing on-ramps to the viaduct at 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 28.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29^TH:
Cornish College of the Arts BFA Expo: The largest exhibition of the year featuring the work of the 2016 graduating class.  Terry Avenue between Virginia and Lenora Streets will be closed from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. for opening night.  About 450 people are expected to attend.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30^TH:
March of Dimes – March for Babies: A walk to support March of Dimes programs that work to prevent birth defects.  The walk starts at 9 a.m. at Seattle Center, goes east on Mercer, south on 5^th Ave N, west on Cedar, and south on 4^th Ave. The route U-turns at University St, turns west on Denny Way and returns to Seattle Center on 2^nd Ave N.  About 4,000 people are expected to participate.

Cannabis Freedom March: The annual cannabis march and rally to advocate for cannabis laws in Washington takes place at Volunteer Park starting at 11 a.m. with the march to Westlake Park at 1 p.m.  The march heads west on E Prospect St, south on 10^th Ave E to Broadway, and west on Pine St to Westlake Park.  About 530 people are expected.

Green Lake Food Walk: A family friendly street festival to showcase local restaurants in the Green Lake business district.  NE 72^nd Street will be closed between E Green Lake Dr N and Woodlawn Ave N from 9 a.m. through 9:30 p.m.  About 250 people are expected to attend.

SUNDAY, MAY 1^ST:
Taco Libre: The 5^th annual taco truck street festival returns to Fremont with music, vendors and over 25 trucks competing for the best taco in Seattle.  Canal St will be closed from 1^st Ave N to Phinney Ave N from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.  About 10,000 people are expected.

May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights: The rally starts at Judkins Park at 1 p.m. The march leaves the park at 3 p.m., heads north on 20^th Ave S, west on S Jackson St, north on Boren to Broadway, east on E Pike St, north on 12^th Ave and west on E Pine St to 7^th Avenue.  The march ends at 7^th and Virginia at the Federal Courthouse.  Over 1,000 people are expected to participate.

MARINERS SCHEDULE AT SAFECO FIELD:
Seattle Mariners vs Kansas City, Friday, April 29 at 7:10 p.m., about 34,000 people expected to attend.

Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City, Saturday, April 30 at 7:10 p.m., about 40,000 people expected to attend.

Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City, Sunday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m., about 31,000 people expected to attend.

SOUNDERS SCHEDULE AT CENTURYLINK FIELD:
Seattle Sounders vs. Columbus Crew, Saturday, April 30^th at 1:00 p.m., about 40,000 people are expected to attend.