West Seattle Summer Fest applications update: Locals first!

(WSB photo from West Seattle Summer Fest 2010)
Tonight, an update on applying NOW to be part of the summer’s biggest local event, West Seattle Summer Fest, this July: We reported last week that applications were available online for everything except musicians; now, musicians’ applications are available too. Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association wants to make sure you know that if you’re local and you apply within the next month, you get to be at the head of the line:

We strongly encourage West Seattle businesses and non-profits to participate. Space in this event is in high demand and in an effort to have our local flavor well represented, the Junction Association is offering West Seattleites priority. All West Seattle businesses and non-profits that turn in complete applications by March 15 will get priority consideration.

The application links are all on the Summer Fest home page – one form for crafts/imports/nonprofits/services, one form for food vendors, and one for musicians. This year’s Summer Fest dates are Friday-Sunday, July 8-10.

Buddy February 12, 2011 (10:19 am)

That’s good to know… hopefully they follow through and select some local acts. I feel like last year a lot of great local bands got shut out… and I think they ended up having something like 4 cover/tribute acts. Lame

coffee February 12, 2011 (12:01 pm)

wow, to be a commercial provider you sure have to pay more. Seems to me that would block out some potential good small businesses here in west seattle.

JoAnne February 12, 2011 (12:11 pm)

I remember when this event was called the “sidewalk sale,” and was held mainly for local merchants.

Now it’s at least 80% outsiders. Too sad.

Cheryl February 12, 2011 (12:21 pm)

Dreaming wistfully of Summer Fest… thanks WSB!

WSB February 12, 2011 (12:40 pm)

Regarding “80 percent outsiders” … I must respectfully ask, did you count or otherwise verify? We have been onsite at the festival all three days, continuously, open to close, the last three years, also have been a co-sponsor (which doesn’t entail organizing or otherwise having a say in who is participating), and without checking a list, would question that contention. I have felt bad every year for not getting to photograph all the local participants … just too many!
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There are also the group areas with dozens of individuals taking part, which definitely outnumber the individual booths – the Art Dive, the nonprofit area, the new Green Expo (which will be back this year, we’ve heard) – and then there are the local businesses all along both sides, many having sidewalk sales (if I had a brick-and-mortar local business in The Junction, I don’t think I’d get a booth too, so the sidewalk sales also count as participating) or even sidewalk food sales (like Husky Deli’s grilling) and the special one-time sidewalk-cafe areas (West 5, Elliott Bay) … We’ve been in West Seattle twenty years and certainly the midsummer event is a lot different than what it was; maybe we got here too late for the real heyday of the “sidewalk sale,” and only were able to see it in its waning years, in which case your memories will definitely differ from ours … but while we can all differ on our opinion of the change, the one inarguable fact about Summer Fest is that it is increasingly successful every year and brings thousands of people from inside and outside West Seattle to The Junction … meaning new exposure for businesses both old and new, which is good news for the long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency of our peninsula (especially as we go into the years of Highway 99 construction!). I hope even more local businesses will choose to participate – that’s what the Junction Association is trying to encourage with the “local priority” signup period.
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In the spirit of the long-ago “sidewalk sale,” there’s the late summer “Bonanza” sale day which does *not* involve booths, rides, bands, etc. … TR

miws February 12, 2011 (1:03 pm)

My memory may be a bit clouded, what with the changes (for the better) over the years, but the old Sidewalk Sale was basically existing merchants setting up tables, and rolling out some of their clothing racks. No street closures, don’t remember if street parking was limited, or forbidden during Sale hours.

The Poggie would have a table set up out front, with a Hamilton-Beach, or Nesco roaster full of hotdogs, and a sign, paraphrasing; “Carl sez, ‘buy a hot dog’! Pat sez, ‘don’t forget your ticket for a discount on a beer!'”

Carl and Pat were the then owners, and I think proceeds of the hotdog sales went to an Organization, like maybe the VFW, Eagles, or Legion.

Mike

RJB February 12, 2011 (1:38 pm)

Excited!! The bigger the better!! I saw and bought from a lot of local vendors last year…and the previous years. Can’t wait!

SaraJ February 12, 2011 (5:11 pm)

They should get Macklemore — he’s the biggest hip hop act in WA, consistently performs at the Showbox, and lives on Alki.
Maybe then I’d go to this sleepy event.