As reminded by our photo from last year, the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade isn’t “just” a parade – it’s also a fun family post-parade celebration with games on the green at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, all wrapped up in plenty of time for you to get your barbecue going, stake out your north-facing fireworks-watching spot, etc. Today, the key points:

WHEN/WHERE IT STARTS: 10 am Saturday, July 4th, at 44th & Sunset (map)
WHO’S IN IT: Whoever shows up! On foot, on bike, on scooter, on skateboard, in wagon, in stroller, etc.
WHO’S EMCEE’ING: Josh Sutton from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor)
WHO’S SINGING THE ANTHEM: Leilani Nitkey
WHO ELSE YOU’LL SEE: Guests include West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty
WHAT TO WEAR: Red, white, and blue if you can, NOT mandatory
WHAT TO BRING: Diapers for WestSide Baby
WHERE IT GOES: 44th to Atlantic to Palm, and remember traffic stops down a while as the parade crosses California
WHAT NOT TO DO: Please don’t park along the parade route

Also from parade coordinator Jackie Clough of Alki Party Treasures (WSB sponsor): The crowdfunding campaign to cover parade costs (especially insurance, which was picked up by a sponsor in previous years) continues – if you can drop a few dollars in the virtual kitty, please do it here. And if you can spare a little time that morning but aren’t planning to be IN the parade – more volunteer help would be awesome (e-mail jackie@alkipartytreasures.com). See you Saturday at the parade!