Video, photos: West Seattle’s Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade

(If you’d rather watch that on YouTube – slightly shorter because of YT upload limits – click here)
From the pickup truck and medic unit leading the way, right ahead of the West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court carrying the banner, that 11-minute video clip shows the entirety of this morning’s Admiral 4th of July Parade, after the traditional kickoff speech by Mayor Nickels, who lives a few blocks from the parade route, as you’re about to hear parade organizer Sherri Chun note while introducing him:

When we spoke with Sherri just before the parade, she wondered if the crowd would be as big as last year, given that the 4th fell on a Saturday and more people seemed to be out of town. By our unofficial estimate, it might actually have been larger – though we didn’t take a head count, we can tell you that it took longer this year for the entire parade to go by! It was preceded by the national anthem, sung this year by Jonathan Rosoff. Sherri also offered a special thanks to folks including Dave Weitzel from Weitzel Construction (WSB sponsor), who underwrote the cost of the porta-potties at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where fun contests and games follow the parade. Thanks to Luckie for sharing a photo of today’s wheelbarrow races:

(added 8:32 pm) Almost forgot – Lisa sent us this photo via Twitter. TOTALLY made our day – we didn’t see her during the parade, as we got our video/photos from in front of the participants:

Next West Seattle parade is a doubleheader – the Rotary Club Kiddies Parade (all welcome!) and American Legion Post 160-presented West Seattle Grand Parade, both on Saturday, July 18 (two weeks from today!); the Kiddies’ Parade leaves California/Genesee at 10:30 am, the Grand Parade leaves California/Lander at 11 – with both concluding at the southern end of The Junction (California/Edmunds).

5 Replies to "Video, photos: West Seattle's Admiral 4th of July Kids' Parade"

  • bsmomma July 4, 2009 (10:56 pm)

    That’s my little girl, Brooklyn, on the pink “vespa” scooter! I thought we’d show our love for the West Seattle Blog! Since we’ve discovered this awesome site we have had so much fun and been so much more active in the community! I’ve lived her for 25 years and never knew about this awesome parade! Thanks guys! You seriously ROCK! And I’m glad we made your day!

  • WSB July 4, 2009 (11:10 pm)

    Thank you, bsmomma! Gosh, that was extra sweet of Lisa to send the photo – I assumed it was her own child :) – Seriously, though we now do all the “hard news” too (fires, crashes, City Council meetings, development applications), this kind of event is EXACTLY what inspired us to start writing about West Seattle online three and a half years ago – feeling like there was a lot of great stuff going on but no central place to talk about it or get reminders about it. Always thrilled to find out that is of value to others too (p.s. I only learned about this particular parade a couple years ago, and we’ve lived here 18 years now – missed the chance to be in it when our son still was “a kid” …) TR

  • Forest July 5, 2009 (12:49 am)

    Notice the optical illusion in the freeze frame of Mayor Nickels. It looks to me as if he’s holding a rubber chicken in his left hand.

  • miws July 5, 2009 (6:49 am)

    Cute pic of your little one, bsmomma! Thanks to Lisa for capturing and sharing it!

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    If WSB bumper stickers and/or window clings ever come about, it would be cool to scan those graphics to be made into them.

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    Forest, I kinda see that too!

    For longtime Puget Sounders:

    Mayor: “I have Tikey Turkey here, and if you don’t want any harm to come to him, you’ll re-elect me in November!” ;-)

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    Mike

  • shell July 5, 2009 (12:35 pm)

    That was so much fun. I love West Seattle and the traditions we have.

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