West Seattle Saturday: Summer arrives with Morgan Junction Community Festival and much more – including traffic alerts

Happy summer (as of 3:51 am)! We start our Saturday calendar-highlights list with a traffic reminder:

99/VIADUCT HALF-CLOSURE: Northbound 99 (left side of “live” cam view above) is closed from here to the Battery Street Tunnel, all weekend. WSDOT is realigning the lanes west of the stadium zone, as it did on the southbound side two weeks ago, and for part of today, the road will be in use for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half-Marathon (which has other closures around the city – see the full list here.) *added* P.S. We should mention the 520 bridge is closed too – here’s the regional overview.

ALSO, AN AIRBORNE NOTE: Since we so often answer questions about unusual (and/or noisy) aircraft, we’re mentioning something pointed out recently by Bob (thanks!) – the Wings of Freedom Tour is at the Museum of Flight this weekend with three classic types of warplane, so you might see/hear them overheard, especially if you’re on the Boeing Field flight path in southern West Seattle.

Now, as for what’s happening – we start with the spotlight event:

MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: Today’s the day! The live music starts around 10:15 am and ends around 7 pm, and inbetween, you’ll find other entertainment – Bubbleman at 11:30! – plus activities like the Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests at 2 pm, food including Bite of Morgan samples and the festival-benefiting barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), plus dozens of community groups/vendors waiting to meet/talk with you. We’ll be covering the festival “live” from our booth (we’re a co-sponsor) as always. Come on down to Morgan Junction and roam the festival sites around the California/Fauntleroy intersection.

Also happening today/tonight:

BIG RUMMAGE SALE, DAY 2: 8:30 am-4 pm, Shorewood Christian School‘s “Massive Parking Lot Sale” is happening in Arbor Heights. 100+ families have contributed items to the sale. (35th and Roxbury)

HIAWATHA PLAYFIELD WALKING TOUR: This isn’t just any playfield – Hiawatha was the first in the city, and it is a historic Olmsted Park. See and hear about the history in a free two-hour walking tour with Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks, starting at 10 am. Details here. (Meet at Walnut/Forest)

BENEFIT CAR WASH: 10 am-4 pm at Les Schwab in The Triangle, the cheer squad for West Seattle Junior Football and Cheer is having a fundraising car wash. (Fauntleroy/Alaska)

CHAMPAGNE GALA BRUNCH AND ART AUCTION: 11 am at the Duwamish Tribe‘s Longhouse in West Seattle, with proceeds benefiting Duwamish Tribal Services. Details in our listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

WADING POOL SEASON BEGINS: Lincoln Park wading pool (central upper park, walk in from the central parking lot off Fauntleroy Way) is the first Seattle Parks-operated wading pool in West Seattle to open for the season, 11 am-8 pm today. Here’s the full citywide schedule of dates and times. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FREE WORKSHOP FOR PET OWNERS: 11 am-1 pm at Muttley Crew Cuts in The Admiral District, check out a free workshop by ACCES with information about pet first aid and CPR, as explained here. (42nd/Admiral)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The season continues for free weekend tours with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm. (3200 Point Place)

LUCHADORES AT THE LIBRARY! Story time with lucha libre wrestlers at South Park Library, 2:30 pm. (8604 8th Avenue S.)

SOCCER TEAM ON NETWORK TV: As noted here earlier this week, the West Seattle Soccer Club‘s Valkyries will appear in a CBS show that is scheduled to air at 3:30 pm today on KIRO Channel 7.

FREE COMMUNITY BARBECUE: The three fitness studios at 3270 California SW (including WSB sponsor Equilibrium Fitness) are hosting a free barbecue – just bring yourself and your appetite, starting at 4 pm; details in our calendar listing.

SUMMER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL … at Twilight Gallery and Boutique, 4-10 pm (and continuing Sunday), with art, performance, food/drink, more. Details in our calendar listing. (4306 SW Alaska)

DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB DEDICATION: At 5 pm, West Seattleites welcome too (along with everyone interested) as the club dedicates its “newest racing 4+, honoring Robert L. McNeil … Join us as we celebrate at our boat house, with a great pot luck. Don’t be shy, bring your favorite dish to share with us. We are a family oriented rowing club. We can be found at S. Elmgrove between 10th Ave S and 12th Ave S., South Park.”

‘PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS’ BENEFIT DINNER: 5:30 pm-8 pm at the West Seattle Eagles, delicious dinner for a good cause – PMIFK, which gets school supplies to kids who need them. Details in our calendar listing – you can bring the types of supplies described in the listing as well as donating the dinner price. (4426 California SW)

ROCK PAPER GARY: Acoustic/folk duo plays C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

SAY HI … live in-store at Easy Street Records in The Junction, celebrating the release of a new album, 7 pm, all ages, free. (California/Alaska)

CD RELEASE PARTY: Del Rey and Suzy Thompson have a new CD, and they’re celebrating with a performance at historic Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

SOLSTICE SUNSET: As previewed here, you’re invited to end the first day of summer by watching the sunset with Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park. Arrive by 8:45 and prepare to learn and enjoy. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, uphill past the tennis courts)

MORE NIGHTLIFE … and other events, on our calendar!

17 Replies to "West Seattle Saturday: Summer arrives with Morgan Junction Community Festival and much more - including traffic alerts"

  • AIDM June 21, 2014 (8:22 am)

    The WSDOT Seattle page shows partial closure of every major highway in Seattle this weekend. I-90, 520, 99, I-5. It makes it really tough to get off of the peninsula to attend solstice/summer events around town. I’m surprised WSDOT didn’t make a bigger deal of all of these closures.

    • WSB June 21, 2014 (8:40 am)

      They’re not all WSDOT closures. For some reason the traffic authorities just don’t make much noise about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, despite the fact it involves dozens of closures (follow the link, which we have been publishing here for going on two weeks now); I would hope they get a decent price for the permits. 99 and 520 are the only “construction” closures listed on the WSDOT news release. I’ll add this link above, I should have mentioned 520 even though it’s not directly adjacent to the key “to and through West Seattle” routes we commit to covering. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2014/06/17_MarathonSummerSolsticeCelebrationsAndMajorRoadCclosuresHappeningThisWeekend.htm
      .
      TR

  • sam-c June 21, 2014 (8:40 am)

    yeah, it seems like the R&R marathon was the same day as Solstice parade last year too? was it? why do they do that? so annoying. (frequent WSB’er car haters- and don’t tell me we should bike there because my child is not old enough, strong enough, have enough stamina etc to ride a bike all the way to fremont and he’s too big/ heavy for any carrier).

    oh well, looks like there is plenty to do around here.

  • Sue June 21, 2014 (9:07 am)

    sam-c, yes, it was the same weekend last year. Several years now I believe there have been closures the same day as the Fremont Solstice parade for other reasons too, if not that same marathon. It’s one of my favorite events (solstice, not the marathon), and I haven’t gone the last 2 years because I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with getting there from here. I’m really wanting to go this year, but still debating whether it’s worth the hassle, and that’s a shame.

  • miws June 21, 2014 (10:01 am)

    Fortunately, since this is not the last Saturday in June, the very popular Greenwood Car Show is not happening today, which shuts down probably a good, solid, 15 blocks of Greenwood Av. (For those not familiar with that part of town, think our California Av).

    .

    I rode the bus out there on at least one occasion, both several years back, when both event were happening.

    .

    Mike

  • Hey June 21, 2014 (11:26 am)

    I am not a runner but I do know the Rock N Roll marathon brings a lot of people into town and lots of $$$$. I was downtown yesterday and saw lots and lots of runners walking around with swag bags and other shopping bags. My guess is that the city likes the visitors and $$$$ so that is why there is a willingness to shut down roadways despite the traffic headaches.

  • Gina June 21, 2014 (11:49 am)

    What wasn’t mentioned was that both 4th Ave S at Royal Brogham and 1st Ave at Union were also closed, along with Airport Way, with detours to nowhere. U Turns and one heck of a big mess. All exits from 1st Ave were blocked off downtown.

    • WSB June 21, 2014 (11:59 am)

      Gina – that wasn’t on the list I linked?

  • ws runner June 21, 2014 (11:54 am)

    I ran in today’s Rock n Roll Half Marathon. The race has 18,000 runners from across the US and several foreign countries. I talked to a guy from Florida and a woman from Japan. This race generates big bucks for downtown retailers.
    Yes, there are road closures, but this race also has a strict schedule to re-open roads. I was walking through downtown at 10:30 a.m. and 5th Avenue was completely open.
    BTW next year’s race is June 13th, one week earlier. Same day as UW graduation.

  • sam-c June 21, 2014 (1:00 pm)

    I don’t care if there is a marathon that shuts downs lots of roads, just wish it and/or viaduct maintenance closure wasn’t on the same day as a big seattle tradition that has been around a lot longer than the R&R marathon.

  • metrognome June 21, 2014 (1:09 pm)

    @hey — the reason that there is so much willingness to shut down roadways despite the traffic headaches is because those who make the decisions and reap the benefits aren’t the ones who are stuck in traffic.

  • Gina June 21, 2014 (3:47 pm)

    The Rock and Roll Marathon list didn’t include the downtown Seattle closures. Bit of a pain to have to u-turn on 1st and Marion after being detoured to it from everywhere else!

  • KM June 21, 2014 (6:25 pm)

    Yeah, it was a mess :-( Making it worse, people running red lights, making illegal turns and blocking intersections. I think it would have been easier to deal with downtown if people would have, you know, not been selfish. I know that’s a huge ask.

    Wondered why if they closed only NB99 why they didn’t have the express ramps on I-5 open for NB traffic? Was that for the marathon as well? I didn’t see it listed on their info sheet. I think next time something that would help is eliminating parking on the parts of 1st avenue, or other major streets, that are hybrid lane/parking in and around downtown. Would have made a big difference on 1st today to have both lanes open to traffic. Anywhere we can make these suggestions?

  • PSPS June 22, 2014 (8:06 am)

    What they should do is install some kind of warning signals that alert drivers when the viaduct is closed.
    .
    Oh, wait…

    Yes, they’re all turned off as usual. That was money well spent, what?

    • WSB June 22, 2014 (8:57 am)

      PSPS, those are only used when the entire viaduct is closed. Not one way.

  • West Seattle Hipster June 22, 2014 (3:57 pm)

    Looks like the northbound section is open again.

    • WSB June 22, 2014 (4:00 pm)

      Thanks! WSDOT tweet says it’s open to the Western offramp – I believe they’re still doing some work to the north – but that’s good news for our side of the bay. Will write a separate update. – TR

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