(scroll down for frequent updates – we’ll start a new running-coverage story after noon)
Today, it all revs up early at West Seattle Summer Fest. It’s 10 am and booths have just opened; music starts early, with Caspar Babypants on the Alaska stage (in front of KeyBank, next to our spot in the Information Booth) at 11 am.
Here’s the music schedule (street dance tonight!); here’s the schedule of other entertainment/activities; here’s the vendor list with map; use the links in the sidebar at right to check out our coverage from yesterday and last night, as well as “what’s different” plus info on road/bus closures. Frequent updates as the day unfolds!

10:23 AM UPDATE: The number one question here at the Info Booth yesterday was “where do you buy tickets for the kids’ bouncers?” Here’s the answer: Over by the West Seattle Farmers’ Market parking lot (above photo), just west of the food booths. When you head that way, also head under the Wells Fargo drive-thru roof for the coolest FREE family events, right next to all the bouncy stuff (which requires tickets) – Pathfinder K-8 is sponsoring this area, including face-painting and arts/crafts:

Sighting of the day, already: King County Executive Dow Constantine is here, helping with the setup for Caspar Babypants, who he’ll be introducing at 11 am, at the Alaska stage right next to the Info Booth:

10:49 AM UPDATE: Before the concert – there’s a veggie-dog eating contest under way at this moment, with contestants including Spring Hill‘s renowned Mark Fuller, West 5 also-legendary proprietor Dave Montoure, and Georgetown beer mogul (fabled too!) Manny (whose wares are on hand for washing down the dogs).

The winner: Marcus from Double Mountain, formerly of West Seattle-founded Schooner Exact (that’s him above, high-fiving Dave). And the remaining veggie dogs have been given away to the gathering crowd.

11:11 AM: Caspar Babypants is under way. (The grownups are bouncing almost as much as their kids.) *video added @ noon*

He mentioned a contest to help the nonprofit Kids Helping Kids and potentially win your own custom CB song – check that out here. Meantime – we’ve just chatted with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith, who was here all day and most of the night last night – he says the crowd was well-behaved – three fights but all resolved without too much trouble. Also playing shortly: Rat City Brass, at the California stage on the north end of the festival zone. (We’ll have video of them a bit later)

12:05 PM: We’ll continue the morning report at least another half-hour, before launching the afternoon coverage – we’ve also got folks out covering the Seafair Pirates’ Landing and a few other things right now. TILA is continuing its “Minute to Win It” contest hourly – sometimes here at the main stage, sometimes over at their booth by Petco – winners are entered into the drawing that’ll be held right about this time tomorrow for $10,000. When you’re here roaming the festival, check out the merchants’ sidewalk sales as well as the visiting (and not-visiting) vendors’ booths – among those we heard from pre-festival is Cherry Consignment, celebrating their first anniversary soon on the north side of The Junction – as they have tweeted, “$5 & $10 dollar racks will be out ALL weekend!”