(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB, added late Saturday night)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:50 PM: The holiday songs are pouring from the speaker, the crowd is starting to gather, and the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Christmas Tree Lighting is coming up at the top of the hour. If you’re not already here, get down to Junction Plaza Park at 42nd and Alaska – the actual lighting is expected around 5:40 or so, but it can always run ahead of schedule, so the sooner you’re here, the better. Here’s the lineup as announced earlier in the week by the Junction Association.

5:49 PM: The tree is lit! as of a few minutes ago. (Added video – two kids from the crowd joined the Hi-Yu Junior Court to officially push the button.) The Junction Association estimated the crowd at about 500 – and the rain held off!

LATE SATURDAY NIGHT: Adding photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams and video by WSB editor Tracy Record. The Junction Association’s welcome was delivered by Doug Baldwin:

Here’s video, as Doug introduced longtime emcee Marty Riemer:

From ArtsWest in The Junction, stars of the holiday-season production “The Winter Wonderettes” wowed the crowd with brassy renditions of Christmas classics:

Video, including their introduction by AW leader Line Sandsmark:

More entertaining holiday songs were presented by West Seattle’s own Endolyne Children’s Choir:

Here’s video of their performance, including a few words by director Amy Stagno Bokanev:

Check out their concert schedule online. In addition to holiday music, the spirit of the season was discussed briefly by West Seattle Christian Church Pastor Dan Jacobs and by WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland, who were followed in this clip by a few more words from emcee Marty:

Meantime, the crowd enjoyed refreshments:

Hi-Yu Junior Court royalty including Queen Madison Stanley-Jones assisted with program distribution as well as (as seen in our video above) the lighting:

But the star remained .. the tree.

See you at the first Hometown Holidays Sunday tomorrow … with DIY Santa photos at City Mouse (4218 SW Alaska) and mule-drawn-carriage rides, both 11 am-3 pm.