(WSB photo from Seattle Summer Streets on Alki two years ago)
3 weeks from today, we can only hope for this same great weather as Alki’s summer kicks off in a big way – Sunday, May 22nd, starts with the West Seattle 5K, and then segues into Seattle Summer Streets (formerly known as “Car-Free Day”), with Alki Avenue SW closed till 5 pm.

For the 5K (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, with co-sponsors including WSB), you have till Thursday to register at the early-bird rate – you can sign up online here; after May 5, the price goes up. For Summer Streets, the Alki Community Council is co-hosting a big slate of entertainment, activities, vendors and community groups (along with SDOT, Children’s Hospital, and Cascade Bicycle Club), primarily between 56th and 63rd SW. We mentioned some of it in our coverage of the ACC’s last meeting, and this weekend, ACC secretary Sandy Payne shared more info:

Plans include live music, a talent show, kids’ games with prizes, face painting, a petting zoo, ultimate frisbee and other demostrations such as magic tricks, dog massage, dance, stand-up paddle board and skating demos, custom T-shirt screening, electric-bike test rides, a surf machine and skate ramp.

There will be opportunities to meet with members of many local community groups such as Seal Sitters, Whale Trail, Sustainable West Seattle, West Seattle Be Prepared, Alki Community Council, Alki Arts Fair, Skate Church, Breathe Deep Seattle …

They’ll have a full list of participants once the registration process is closer to complete – but wanted you to know that the street party will be even more like a party this year than in years past. And of course, all that fun doesn’t happen without a lot of volunteers – if you can pitch in, or participate some other way, here’s an update from the ACC website with information on what they’re still looking for to make the big day happen.