West Seattle Friday: Summer Fest begins – and more

Happy Friday! Rain or shine, the biggest party of the summer is on:

(Live SDOT traffic camera, east edge of the festival zone – road closure & bus reroute info here)

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST: Day 1 runs 10 am-6 pm, but the music runs well past then – it starts on the main stage (California north of Oregon) at 4 pm, with tonight’s headliner Tacocat at 9:30 pm – see the full music lineup here. … We’ll start reporting on what’s up and who’s where once we’re in place at the Info Booth at California/Alaska, but here are some other links that might help for starters:

Vendor list
Food list
Kids’ area (free AND fee activities – update: $1.25/ticket, $20/day pass, $45 three-day pass)
GreenLife (south end of festival zone, California/Edmunds)
Road closure/bus reroute info

Again, watch for live festival coverage here after things get going post-10 am. Also happening today/tonight:

COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC … because of a swim meet.

WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, journalist Eric Wagner and photographer Tom Reese talk about their collaboration “Once and Future River: Reclaiming the Duwamish.”:

The monthly author presentations comprising WWWS are presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. (2800 SW Barton)

OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: 7 pm at the amphitheater behind Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, it’s the Greenstage Backyard Bard version of “Twelfth Night.” Free. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

TX TRUMBO: Singer-songwriter live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

M July 8, 2016 (12:33 pm)

I was a little surprised and concerned that the event doesn’t have any security or police presence. Took my two young kids this morning at about 10:30. There was a young hooligan, probably 17-20 years old who was threatening people walking by. At one point telling a senior citizen that he was going to beat her up and that “women get r$&”:ed in West Seattle.”

WSB July 8, 2016 (12:43 pm)

Hi there – sorry to hear that happened but yes, there are police on site, at least two pairs walking patrol right now, and festival staff in marked uniforms. Every year Summer Fest has SPD teams assigned. If anyone has trouble at the festival and you don’t see police or festival staff near you, come to the Info Tent here at California and Alaska and a Junction employee will radio for help – that’s what we did early on today when there was a potential problem at a nearby booth, right about that same time you mention, and two officers arrived quickly to help sort it out. – TR

Joe Dirt July 8, 2016 (1:02 pm)

I like the community event just wish it didn’t cause traffic to be jacked up around the perimeter and attract lowlifes. Was it last year or the year before when a vendor was robbed of cash?

WSB July 8, 2016 (1:25 pm)

Last year. https://westseattleblog.com/2015/07/west-seattle-crime-watch-followup-summer-fest-theft-suspect-charged/ Rather remarkably low-crime, overall, for an event with five-digit turnout. By the way, watch where you park, as a couple stopped by to suggest we warn people that SPD parking enforcement IS out, and if you park right next to a NO PARKING sign, you’re pretty easy pickings. P.S. At least five officers patrolling on site currently – they just passed by. – TR