West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
By this time tomorrow, this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival will be well under way in and around Morgan Junction Park (where we photographed the banner you see above) – ~10:15 am-7 pm. We have one more preview today – first, to recap, what we’ve already published:
*Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests
*Music/live entertainment (including Bubbleman)
*Food (including Bite of Morgan samples and on-site food trucks)
*Nonprofits who will be there at booths/tables to meet you
Today – the rest of the three-dozen-plus organizations and businesses (including us!) you’ll see at the festival. First, the nonprofits/schools you’ll see there – a great chance to find out more about what they do beyond the events and meetings we feature here (we’ve linked their websites to their names below, if you want to check them out ahead of time)
*Madrid Frame
*City Dog Magazine
*Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor)
*Pink Gorilla Games
*USTA Family Friendly Tennis (WSB sponsor)
*Eco Beauty Salon Spa
*Queen Beads
*Full Tilt Ice Cream (celebrating its 6th anniversary today!)
*West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor)
*Luna Azul Tie Dyes
*Penguina Designs
*Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor)
*Second Gear Sports
*Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic
*Nepenthe Massage
*Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor)
*Pathway Design and Construction
*Rain Fantasies
*Buttons & Beads
*Super Supplements
*Hands to Paws
*Senorita Wears
*Gretchen at HandiStor
*Ginger Jewelry Designs
*West Seattle Natural Energy
*Melissa Zander
The festival venues are at three of the four corners of California/Fauntleroy (all but the southwest corner) plus Morgan Junction Park on the west side of California just a bit north. As a festival co-sponsor, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!
We’re continuing the countdown to Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, in and around Morgan Junction Park. We’ve already published info about:
*Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests
*Music/live entertainment (including Bubbleman)
*Food (including Bite of Morgan samples and on-site food trucks)
Today – we start a two-day look at the three-dozen-plus organizations and businesses (including us!) you’ll see tabling/boothing at the Morgan festival. First, the nonprofits/schools you’ll see there – a great chance to find out more about what they do beyond the events and meetings we feature here (we’ve linked their websites to their names below, if you want to check them out ahead of time)
*34th District Democrats
*Emergency Preparedness: Community Hubs
*Feet First
*Friends of Morgan Junction Parks
*Furry Faces Foundation
*Morgan Community Association (festival organizers/presenters!)
*Seal Sitters
*South Seattle College
*Southwest Seattle Historical Society
*The Kenney
*Timebanks
*West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network
*West Seattle Food Bank
*West Seattle Garden Tour
Tomorrow – the rest of the “vendors” list, mostly local businesses. So go for the community information, go for the food, go for the fun, just get to California/Fauntleroy (the festival venues are in the parking lot of Zeeks Pizza/Feedback Lounge right at the corner, Morgan Junction Park to the north on California, and Washington Federal on the east side of California, plus the benefit barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway) – 10:30 am-7 pm (if you want to check out vendors, don’t wait till the last minute, as some start clearing out after 5).
In our tradition of disclosure: WSB sponsors mentioned in this story are South Seattle College, The Kenney, West Seattle Thriftway, Feedback Lounge, Zeeks Pizza.
Forecast looks good for Saturday, when you’ll find the ninth annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around California/Fauntleroy/Morgan, 10 am-7 pm. We’ve already highlighted the Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests, starting at 2 pm, and the food, including local restaurants’ Bite of Morgan samples and visiting food trucks. Today, the entertainment schedule for the heart of the festival at Morgan Junction Park:
The festival is presented by the all-volunteer Morgan Community Association, and we’re proud to be among the co-sponsors (all shown here) again this year.
(WSB file photo)
Next major summer festival in West Seattle is just six days away – the 9th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival, with activities, performances, booths, and mobile vendors spread around the California/Fauntleroy intersection. It’s organized and presented by the Morgan Community Association, an all-volunteer community council, with sponsors including WSB. We’ve already shared previews including the schedule for the Bark of Morgan dog parade and contests; now, MoCA’s Cindi Barker has shared the lineup for festival food, including the Bite of Morgan:
Bite of Morgan Participants – free small samples provided by our fabulous
Morgan Junction restaurants (11:30 am until supplies run out):* Caffé Ladro (mini scones)
* Domino’s Pizza (8 piece Parmesan bread bits)
* The Bridge (chocolate-covered strawberries)
* Harry’s Chicken Joint (chicken skewer)
* Little Prague (Hungarian goulash)
* Abbondanza (gnocchi)
* Feedback Lounge (flatbread Bahn Mi sandwich)
* Zeeks Pizza (pizza slice)
* Pet Elements (pet treat)West Seattle Thriftway special promotion for the festival
Thriftway will be holding a fundraiser BBQ for the festival! This is much appreciated and is essential to our fundraising. This year they will be cooking “Aloha Burgers” and the suggested donation of $7 will also get you a bag of chips and a drink. Best deal around!
Food Trucks
That’s a quick spin around the heart of the Westwood Village Street Fair (WSB sponsor), which continues until 6 pm – still time if you haven’t stopped by yet!
Along with rides and entertainment, you’ll find Westwood businesses – including Massage Envy-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
The Radio Shack folks told us they’re offering raffle tickets until 4:30 and then big prize drawings at 5. Across the center’s central drive, Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) has a table in front of its store:
Proprietors Joni and Kirk Keppler are there – and were handing out (what else would you expect from jewelers?) Ring Pop candy when we stopped by. Free jewelry cleaning, too. Here’s the band/stage schedule; more photos in a moment.
(WSB file photo of mini-train at Westwood Village)
Clouds or sun, the Westwood Village Street Fair is on for tomorrow, and sponsoring WSB this week to get the word out. The fair runs 10 am-6 pm on Saturday; organizers promise “amusement rides for the kids as well as the little train that goes around the center … (also) a couple food trucks and plenty of vendor booths to check out.” Here’s the on-stage event schedule, including bands playing from 1-6 pm:
10:00 AM 24 Hour Fitness – Group -X Class
11:00 AM West Seattle Wellness – Nutritionist
11:30 AM Chico’s – Fashion Show
12:00 Noon West Seattle Wellness – Yoga Instruction
1:00 PM Band #1 Gunn
2:15 PM Band #2 Neal Storme and his Band of Amazing Friends
3:30 PM West Seattle Wellness – Hip Hop Instruction
4:00 PM Band #3 Red Sun Revue
5:00 PM Band #4 F-Holes
Just announced, with one month (plus two days) to go – the West Seattle Summer Fest 2014 music lineup! Here’s the full news release:
Mid-July in The Junction can only mean one thing — it’s time to close the streets for a weekend-long celebration that puts all other Seattle neighborhood parties to shame. West Seattle Summer Fest is pleased to announce The Helio Sequence and The Moondoggies as the headlining musical performances for this year’s festival, taking place Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13 at the junction of California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street.
Now in its 32nd year, the sidewalk-sale-turned-family-friendly-fest features a diverse musical lineup booked by Cellar Door Management (Shadowland’s Ben Jenkins and Troy Nelson from The Young Evils/KEXP).
In addition to The Helio Sequence and The Moondoggies, this year’s performers include local veterans Carrie Akre and Stag, hearth music combo Squirrel Butter, the mid-century instrumental pop of Rat City Brass, and hard-hitting rock and rollers Hobosexual, Dude York and the Spinning Whips, and the other-worldly synth sounds of Vox Mod.
FRIDAY
1:00 PM – Squirrel Butter
2:00 PM – Rat City Brass
3:00 PM – Sweet Jesus
4:00 PM – Killer Ghost
5:00 PM – Magic Mirrors
6:00 PM – Country Lips
7:00 PM – Hobosexual
8:00 PM – Yada Yada Blues Band
SATURDAY
12:00 PM – Two Story Zori
1:00 PM – Sundae + Mr. Goessel
2:00 PM – Fysah and the Soul Acoustic
3:00 PM – Vaudeville Etiquette
4:00 PM – Charms
5:00 PM – The Fabulous Downey Brothers
6:00 PM – Spinning Whips
7:00 PM – Dude York
7:40 PM – Vox Mod
8:00 PM – The Moondoggies
9:00 PM – Vox Mod
9:30 PM – The Helio Sequence
SUNDAY
2:00 PM – Carrie Akre
3:00 PM – Stag
4:00 PM – The Darci Carlson Band
5:00 PM – The Foghorns
6:00 PM – Billy Dwayne and the Creepers
Summer Fest is presented by the West Seattle Junction Association. WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors again this year.
Want the West Seattle world to see your dynamic dog, majestic mutt, precious pooch, clever canine (we could go one) … ? The Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) on June 21st is the place – because the “Bark of Morgan” dog show and parade is back:
The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) is pleased to announce the return of the “Bark of Morgan” Dog Show at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, set for June 21, 2014.
Leashed dogs and their humans are invited to join in the Pooch Parade and enter up to two of the Dog Contests.
Pooch Parade: To participate in the Pooch Parade, dogs with their humans must line up in the Morgan Junction Park (located at the corner of California Ave SW and SW Eddy Street) by 2:00 pm. We’ll parade through the Morgan Junction Community Festival grounds to the Beveridge Place Pub Main Stage. Costumes are optional.
Dog Contests: At the end of the parade, dog contests will begin at the Beveridge Place Pub Main Stage. Starting at 2:30 pm, the “Bark of Morgan” Master of Ceremonies will announce each contest, and will select the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners based on audience applause. The contests are:
1) Best Voice – Does your dog have that special howl, bark or musical number? Then we want to hear it.
2) Best Dog/Human Look-Alike – Do you and your pooch look similar? Do you dress alike? Well??
3) Smallest Dog – Can your dog fit inside a purse? You may have this contest in the bag!
4) Best Dog Trick – Before you and your dog head off to ‘ America ’s Got Talent,’ here’s the chance to show off your tricks….
The festival is happening in and around Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 21st – see the schedule here, and if you can spare some volunteer time, that info is here.
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)
At least the rain stayed away from Seattle Summer Streets on Alki until after the Alki Beach Creeps‘ second annual Bicycle/Costume Parade. If you weren’t there, here are some of the sights!
Dogs aren’t so rare at the beach – but this might be the first cat we’ve seen join the parade:
Seattle Police led the parade – here’s a quick video clip from the start:
ADDED 4:44 PM: Thanks to Tim for a photo of the parade group at the turnaround point at Don Armeni – and the scenic skyline while the sun was still out:
Were you in the parade (or any other Summer Streets events)? Photo to share? editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks!
You’ll have a whale of a time at Seattle Summer Streets this afternoon on Alki Avenue SW – check out the street art by Seal Sitters‘ booth, with a gray whale (and, out of the frame, seal mom and pup) already chalked within moments of the festival’s start, and more to come, including an orca. If you have kids, stop by the booth for a coloring sheet to take home. You can have fun just walking, or bring your bike:
That’s Stu Hennessey, who you’ll find with DIY Bikes. The police are on two wheels, too:
Be at 63rd and Alki at 1 pm for the bike parade – and enjoy activities along the rest of the stretch – updates to come!
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Thanks to those who shared photos with us – first, from Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections, the bicycle rodeo:
See more photos in the report on WSBC’s website. And thanks to Paul Twibell for the photo of Bubbleman:
You’ll also see him at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, coming up in about a month (Saturday, June 21st). P.S. Paul shot many more photos at Summer Streets; his Flickr gallery is here.
Summer festival season is weeks away, and planning is well underway for the biggest event of the year, West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB). If you’re with a community group/nonprofit organization interested in a free chance to meet more neighbors (and prospective members/supporters), the WS Junction Association has a deal for you:
The West Seattle Junction Association is again offering the FREE Community Tent at West Seattle Summer Fest – July 11, 12, and 13. The purpose of this area at Summer Fest is to allow our small neighborhood non-profits and community groups easy access to the event and their community – free of charge!
Furry Faces Foundation has volunteered to coordinate the community tent and is now accepting requests for space from West Seattle non-profits and community groups. Furry Faces Foundation will select groups who strive to benefit, strengthen, and educate our community.
Here are the Community Tent details:
The Community Tent will be located on Alaska St . Tent, tables, and chairs will be provided. Participants are encouraged to set up their area with displays which reflect their mission and contributions to the West Seattle Community. Please feel free to bring props, brochures and such, which will entice folks to stop and chat with you about your organization. No sales please.
Shift changes will be a little cozy, so we’ll all have a chance to get friendly and help each other out, if needed.
Hours
Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 5 pmCommunity Tent Shifts
Friday/Saturday: 4-hour slots
10 am – 2 pm
2 pm – 6 pmSunday: 3-hour slots
11 am – 2 pm
2 pm – 5 pmIf your neighborhood non-profit or community group is interested in being a part of the Summer Fest Community Tent, please e-mail by June 27th, furryfaces@hotmail.com
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks to Lynn Hall for sharing the view from Alki as dusk approached tonight. Looking a week into the future – next Sunday (May 18th) brings a doubleheader to the beach: West Seattle 5K (co=sponsored by WSB) starts the day, followed by the SDOT-organized Summer Streets festival (still known informally as “car-free day” though its scope scaled way down years ago). As has been the case since 2011, Alki Avenue is only closed in the heart of the beach zone – 56th to 63rd – once the race wraps up around 11 am. Here’s this year’s map:
No full list of activities/festival participants yet – we hope to see that by midweek – but as noted here last month, the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club is leading a costume/bicycle parade for the second year, 1 pm from 63rd/Alki, so get ready for that! (And sign up for the WS5K if you haven’t already.) See you at the beach …
(WSB staff photos unless otherwise credited)
Hey, without spring showers, you don’t have bee-friendly flowers. So the showery weather is actually auspicious for the second annual West Seattle Bee Festival, underway at High Point Commons Park until 3 pm. It started right after the parade, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, ended at the park:
Added: Parade marchers:
(Photo courtesy Kerry L.)
(Parade video later.) Added: The WSHS band, with music director Ethan Thomas:
(Photo courtesy Anne Weglin)
As for the bees, you can peek into their enclosure in hopes of a glimpse:
You can also talk to bee experts like the folks from the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association, who are in the street-festival zone along the east side of the park:
Fun kid activities can be found throughout the festival zone:
And good neighbors too, like Deborah Vandermar from the High Point Neighborhood Association on behalf of the Keep High Point Green project:
Cindi Barker from West Seattle Be Prepared and Karen Berge from the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network are on hand too:
But it’s not a festival without you – so buzz on over before 3.
(WSB photo from last September’s West Seattle Car Show)
Though it was not by any means his only community project, the annual West Seattle Car Show was the creation, pride and joy of the late neighborhood advocate and entrepreneur Michael Hoffman, who died suddenly last month at age 47. Two West Seattle businesses are looking at whether to take it on – but first, they want to know your thoughts. If you can please take a moment to comment:
Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks would like to know from the community of West Seattle your thoughts on the annual West Seattle Car Show. Should the car show continue? Do you think that it brings and enhances a sense of community, and does it benefit our local businesses? Would it be missed if it did not continue? Your thoughts and feedback are very important to us – thanks!
The car show’s been held in The Junction in late summer each of the past six years; we’ve been a co-sponsor each year (and should note that both businesses mentioned above are WSB sponsors). Here’s our coverage from last year.
The first festival of the year is a week and a half away – and tonight, Lauren Englund from the West Seattle Bee Garden shares details about the second annual WS Bee Festival on Sunday, May 4th:
Festivities will begin with a parade at 11 am, and the West Seattle High School Marching Band will lead the way!
The parade will begin at West Seattle Elementary parking lot (6760 34th Ave SW), and head down 31st Ave and Lanham Pl. to the WS Bee Garden in Commons Park.
The parking lot will open at 10 am for pre-parade face painting and craft making. Everyone is welcome to join!
The picnic will take place in High Point’s Commons Park at 31st Ave SW and SW Graham St. Activities will include a craft tent, face painting, vendors, food, music and more!
Husky Deli is making a special honey-flavored ice cream for the event – with local honey donated by West Seattle’s own Seattle Bee Works. All proceeds will go back to the bees!
Members of the Keep High Point Green project will be around to share their story of successfully preventing the use of herbicides in High Point, way to go team!
The bees are happily nestled in their hives, and can be seen through the plexiglass enclosure surrounding them.
There is plenty to celebrate. The garden is celebrating its first anniversary, and has hosted 15 field trips since its inauguration last May. Schools from as far away as SeaTac have scheduled visits this year – and some are pairing visits with pollinator curriculums that are now available on the bee garden website here, making visits even more meaningful. Students at the University of Washington are presenting a proposal to create a replica of the bee enclosure on UW’s campus, spreading pollinator education even further, and geared toward a new demographic of students. The bee garden has served as an example to other cities, and has been included in presentations as an example of a successful urban bee project in cities as far away as Lafayette Ohio, who hope to build similar spaces.
The garden has been named a beneficiary of the West Seattle Garden Tour this year (thank you very much to the tour!) and is being considered for Seattle Tilth’s Urban Farm Tour in July.
Way to go West Seattle! We did it, and are still going strong! The bees and plants thank you, and we all hope you can come celebrate with us May 4th!
(WSB photo from 2013 Morgan Junction Community Festival)
We’re at the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, and have just heard updates on the MoCA-sponsored Morgan Junction Community Festival, which will be happening before MoCA’s NEXT quarterly meeting. This year’s festival date is Saturday, June 21st, and it will include music (likely two stages, including a “cantina”), about 30 booths (a bit less space than last year, and they’re hoping for more nonprofits as well as vendors), ever-popular Bubbleman (one show this time), the Bark of Morgan pet event, the Bite of Morgan food tastes, food trucks (possibly up to three), hands-on kid stuff with the help of local kid-oriented businesses, and more. One thing REALLY needed now – volunteers to step up; this festival doesn’t run without them – “We need volunteers and we need them badly,” said MoCA’s Tod Rodman. And they’re signing up sponsorships, too, with new levels – you’ll find information on the MoCA website at morganjunction.org.
P.S. Lots more has been and is being discussed as tonight’s MoCA meeting continues – more coverage to come.
(WSB photo from Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets in May 2013)
We’re a month away from a big day on Alki – Sunday, May 18th, starting with the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk at 9 am, followed by Seattle Summer Streets (aka “Car-Free Day”) 11 am-5 pm. And today, Alki’s Guy Olson shares the news that he and the rest of the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club are organizing a costume/bicycle parade again this year. Wear a costume and meet up at 1 pm that day, 63rd/Alki. (See video of last year’s edition in our 2013 Summer Streets coverage.) Skidding competition too, and prizes are promised – full details on the Facebook event page.
(WSB photo from 2012 West Seattle Summer Fest)
April 15th – next Tuesday – is not just the tax deadline. It’s also the deadline for vendors and musicians to get applications in for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, we are reminded by the WS Junction Association. It’s closer than you think; July 11-13, exactly three months away. Interested in being part of Summer Fest but haven’t applied yet? Find the vendor application and info linked from this page on the Summer Fest site; the application for musicians is here.
This year’s West Seattle Summer Fest is set for July 11-13. We’ve already published the call for vendor/music applications – and now, it’s application time for the GreenLife area!
Sustainable West Seattle and the West Seattle Junction Association are pleased to announce that the application for the 2014 GreenLife section of West Seattle Summer Fest is now available online:
The mission of GreenLife is to to raise awareness and equip our community with tools, knowledge and capabilities to create a more sustainable West Seattle. We are looking for local businesses to showcase merchandise, products and services related to these goals.
Organizations, including many local non-profits, contributing to this Expo will provide information, demonstrations and products in these areas:
*Home gardens – grow your own food, capture your rain water
*Composting – how to do it in your kitchen or yard
*Permaculture – what is it and how your garden can be sustainable
*Bee keeping and honey – how to raise a hive and harvest the honey
*Backyard chickens – learn how to raise and keep them
*Community fruit harvesting – learn how you can help the Food Banks
*Puget Sound and local streams – learn how you can help clean them upThe application requires a $20 application fee. The tabling cost is $250
for commercial vendors and $75 for non-profit vendors. The application
deadline is April 15th, but we usually fill up prior to this date so get
your application in early.Please contact Christina Hahs at christina.hahs@gmail.com or 360-269-0332
with questions.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Bee Festival)
Were you part of history at the first-ever West Seattle Bee Festival last year? Whatever your answer, you are invited to be part of the SECOND-ever WS Bee Festival – now that the date is set for May 4th! Lauren Englund shares the news:
The West Seattle Bee Garden and High Point Neighborhood Association are hosting the Second Annual West Seattle Bee Festival, complete with a Picnic and Parade!
Date: Sunday May 4th, 2014
Time: 11 am-3 pm
Location: High Point Commons ParkPlease share with your school and groups – everyone is invited to join!
Also, great news! We were awarded a Department of Neighborhoods grant this year to fund the event! Want to put something fun together for the parade (bike decoration party, costumes etc)? Or host a game at the festival? Let us know, because we can fund it! Please get back to us by April 4th if you are interested in hosting a craft/game.
More Details:
Parade Start Location: West Seattle Elementary parking lot (6760 34th Ave SW)
Parade Start Time: 11 am (location opens at 10 am to gather; we recommend coming early for face painting and to make a craft!)
Festival Location and Parade End: Commons Park (31st Ave SW and SW Graham St)Want to bring a big group? Awesome, please let us know in advance so that we can be prepared: e-mail Lauren at lcenglund@yahoo.com
Small groups, want to just show up? That is fine, look for people with a ballon to help answer your questions.
Want to craft something in advance, or organize a parade prep party? Fantastic! Please email Lauren at lcenglund@yahoo.com or call 616-502-3182 to get in touch. We will happily help coordinate and can pay for the materials.
Website where updates will be posted: www.westseattlebeegarden.com
Festival will include:
Music
Crafts
Food
Face Painting
VendorsProudly working with Keep High Point Green, and the bees love it! Come see what’s new at the bee garden this year!
WHY?
Because it’s fun and builds community – with the added benefit of supporting bees, pollinators and our environment (and why not come craft something to give Mom for Mother’s Day – wink!).We hope to see you there!
-The West Seattle Bee Garden Team and High Point Neighborhood Association
(WSB file photo)
Just in from the West Seattle Junction Association – official word of West Seattle Summer Fest dates for this year, July 11-13, 2014. And if you want to be part of it, it’s time to start applying:
Local businesses, artists, restaurants, and non-profits are invited to participate. Our neighborhood consistently expresses interest in seeing local vendors and businesses at Summer Fest, and applying to have a booth at the festival is the first step. Please visit www.westseattlefestival.com for the application – and tell a friend!
For information on becoming a West Seattle Summer Fest sponsor, please contact WSJA Director Susan Melrose at susan@wsjunction.org.
(Updated: Afternoon screengrab from “live” SDOT camera at California/Alaska)
10:13 AM: From kids in costume to Farmers’ Market shoppers, West Seattleites aren’t letting the showers keep them away from the second annual Harvest Festival, happening now in the streets-closed heart of The Junction until 2 pm. We’re on the east side of the California/Alaska intersection, part of the “WSB x 3” pumpkin-bowling booth with WestSide Baby volunteers and West Seattle Bowl equipment.
More updates as the festival unfolds; full schedule here; bus reroutes here.
10:35 AM UPDATE: Hard to tell if we’re going to get another sunbreak, so you might as well grab the umbrella and come on down. We’re seeing more than a few costumed children here at the bowling booth – and nearby:
(Some costumed grownups have passed by, too!) Up and down California, the Farmers’ Market booths and activity tents are particularly festive, with pumpkins, colorful leaves, and other fall/harvest decorations. Less than an hour until the costume parade; meet at 11:30 at Junction Plaza Park, northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska, and less than half an hour until you can be a chili judge, right across the intersection in front of KeyBank. Live music nearby, courtesy of Nick Moyer:
11:07 AM UPDATE: The harvest theme doesn’t just involve plants – you can check out a few baby farm animals:
Right across the intersection, the chili competition is on! Donations for your “judging” samples (hurry, once they’re out, they’re out) go to the West Seattle Food Bank. The cooks are from eight great West Seattle venues (listed here):
More updates to come – including the costume parade!
11:48 AM UPDATE: There’s a snippet of Instagram video as the West Seattle High School Marching Band led the costume parade, which is just wrapping up after traveling all around the festival. We have the full parade on video and will add it once we’re able to get it uploaded. (Added – here it is! That’s Jim Edwards, West Seattle Grand Parade co-coordinator, on the motorcycle.)
REALLY good crowd here now – the rain has stopped, and we can see some blue sky in the distance!
12:06 PM UPDATE: The sun is back! Unscientific costume-tallying observation, meantime, indicates that “Star Wars” and superheroes are the most popular themes. Construction workers too – particularly topical given this year’s backdrop:
We also found a “minion”:
We’ve also seen a washing machine [photo added below], an airplane, lots of other costumes from simple to ornate … so glad to see everybody out having fun.
12:35 PM UPDATE: By the way, it’s officially trick-or-treat time now that it’s past noon. And if you don’t happen to have your own timekeeping device – don’t let the Jefferson Square clock on the southeast corner of 42nd/Alaska confuse you – it’s an hour fast (and if it’s not fixed by this time next week, it’ll be TWO hours fast, since we “fall back” next Sunday morning at 2 am). Here’s someone who knows something about time:
The festival and Farmers’ Market are on until 2 pm; still time to come down to The Junction.
12:51 PM UPDATE: Just got word that Husky Deli won the chili competition – as voted on by everybody who bought a “flight” of samples from the eight competitors, with proceeds benefiting the WS Food Bank.
Congratulations to Jack Miller and team. Judi Yazzolino from WS Food Bank (at right in the photo with Jack and, at left, Susan Melrose from the festival-presenting WS Junction Association) tells us 150 people donated $10 each to be taster/judges, and more than $200 extra was donated, so the food bank has $1,700 more with which to fight hunger, thanks to Harvest Festival-goers!
1:28 PM UPDATE: Half an hour left – crowd’s still going strong, and we have a line outside the “pumpkin bowling” booth. Lots of other activities here, thanks to great community businesses and organizations:
Among those organizations, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which is also handing out flyers for its next big event – the 67th community Pancake Breakfast, coming up December 7th.
2 PM: Festival’s over already! We’ll be adding more photos later – have to roll up the pumpkin-bowling booth first.
9:04 PM: Adding more photos, including some sent by WSB readers. Check back in the morning, as we’ll be adding off and on for the next few hours. First:
Terri Sharp shared the next two photos, and says she’s continuing to add more to her Flickr feed:
Nothing like checking the trick-or-treat bag!
The next two photos are courtesy of Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction – first, more candy inspection:
Next, the WSHS Band warming up in the park before the costume parade:
Still adding more!
(WSB photo: The trophy awaiting the winner)
The lineup is finalized for this Sunday’s chili competition in the West Seattle Junction, a new addition to the Harvest Festival, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.
The eight competitors are:
The Bridge
Beer Junction
Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery
Feedback Lounge
Husky Deli
Terra Cole Butchery
West 5
There will be about 100 “flights” available for a donation ($ amount not finalized) outside KeyBank in The Junction at 11 am straight up Sunday – get there early and vote for your favorite – winner gets the trophy, WS Food Bank gets the proceeds.
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