(TODAY’S INFO is here; FIRST SATURDAY REPORT is here; DAY 1 COVERAGE here, is here, and here)

(Our 4 pm view from the Info Tent)

4 PM: Though technically we’re two hours away from tonight’s “closing time” at West Seattle Summer Fest, most of the action continues on into Saturday night – food and rides into at least the mid-evening, music until about 11:30. But if you want to check out the shopping – both The Junction’s year-round stores as well as the booths – get here sooner rather than later.

As we’ve mentioned before, the Info Tent is the place to stop (our side facing north at California/Alaska) for info on not only this festival, but also much of the upcoming West Seattle summer fun – we have flyers/cards for West Seattle Outdoor Movies (starting one week from tonight!), Alki Art Fair (two weeks away), Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (six Thursday nights starting July 21st), West Seattle Garden Tour (July 17th) … And elsewhere at Summer Fest, you can find out all about other upcoming events. For example, the Float Dodger 5K before the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 23rd:

Sign up for the race at the West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) – Elite Sports and Spine booth on the east side of California between Oregon and Alaska. (In our photo above are Lori McConnell from WSR and Dr. Nate Moore from ESS.)

Also publicized here at Summer Fest – the month-long Stuff the Bus diaper drive for WestSide Baby:

The biggest day is July 24th, when you can bring diapers to “stuff the bus” at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction (41st/Alaska), but there are other dropoff spots and drives all month long.

HomeStreet has a booth here at the festival, we should mention … on Day 1, we photographed Eric, Melodie, and Cody:

4:19 PM: Hot toy of the day seems to be a Nemo (you know, Dory’s friend) -themed bubble blaster that also makes a spooky little noise when bubbling. Have seen and heard this in the hands of many a child; not sure of the source, but they are suddenly everywhere. Children in general are abundant, too, as they are in most of West Seattle, as observed King County Executive Dow Constantine at last Monday’s 4th of July Kids’ Parade (speaking while holding his toddler daughter).

Popular questions include “kettle corn?” (short answer: no) and “festival T-shirts?” – that too is a “no” but there are places you can seek West Seattle-themed shirts including Seattle Logo Pro (west of us at California/Alaska) and Shockwave Tees (on California south of Alaska). And a really popular feature – the Tiny Homes display at GreenLife, though the one we’ve seen these past few days isn’t THAT tiny:

5:01 PM: If Summer Fest had a turnstile, we’re speculating this might be the biggest turnout ever. And this is the peak time – late afternoon, Saturday.

(The view from Cupcake Royale, closest recharge spot for our laptop)

Still some sunshine. Doesn’t feel like you have to see absolutely EVERYTHING, because there’s still one more day (and let us mention again, YES, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will be happening 10 am-2 pm as always tomorrow – but in the lot behind KeyBank, the one day a year it can’t be out in the street).

5:45 PM: Major hang-around time, now. Shopping time is wrapping up – as we’ve said before, don’t miss the year-round stores as well as the booths. Twilight, on SW Alaska west of California, had cool Seattle-themed art on display today:

At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) at 4540 California SW – east side, a little ways north of Alaska – stop by the shop to register for a Fatboy hammock giveaway.

Another longtime WSB sponsor, Dream Dinners-West Seattle, is based in The Junction – but a little ways out of the festival zone (outer east side of Jefferson Square), so you’ll find them in a booth here at the festival:

Ask them about festival specials/deals – and check out their current menu here.

6:44 PM: As crowded now as it was at mid-afternoon! Meantime, up at the stage, we got a bit of video of the 6 pm band, Christian Mistress:

Still four bands to go tonight, and music on the GreenLife stage too – see our first report today for both lineups.

7 PM: We’re the last ones out of the Info Tent, folding up for the night, but Summer Fest goes on! Sunday hours are 11 am to 5 pm – and it’s the one day that everything really DOES end at that announced closing time, because hours of cleanup/breakdown will follow.

(TODAY’S INFO here; DAY 1 COVERAGE here, here, and here)

11 AM: One hour into West Seattle Summer Fest 2016, day 2, and it seems like the whole town’s here already. It’s the biggest day of the festival and we’re live in the Info Tent again today with festival updates. Including …

CORONATION: In half an hour (at 11:30 am), West Seattle Hi-Yu will crown Haley Beebe as this year’s Senior Court Queen on the main stage (California SW, north end of the festival zone, between Oregon and Genesee) Update: photo added:

After that, you’ll find Hi-Yu royalty, ambassadors, and volunteers, plus this year’s parade float, on SW Alaska east of California, across from the food zone.

‘WE LOVE THE JUNCTION’: Come write down why you love The Junction, on the blackboard at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s booth – here are photos of what some festivalgoers wrote on Friday. And be part of 360-degree photos and walking tours with SWSHS executive director Clay Eals and other local experts:

The photos are happening at the top of each hour, noon-5 pm, and the tours, at 12:15, 2:15, and 3:15 pm – find the SWSHS booth on the west side of California just north of Alaska, across from Easy Street Café.

TODAY’S MUSIC: Here’s today’s lineup on the main stage (north end of festival):

(The Hollers include, center, Frank Gross of Thunder Road Guitars [WSB sponsor])

Noon – The Hollers
1 pm – Danny Newcomb and The Sugarmakers
2 pm – Tomten
3 pm – Donormaal
4 pm – Draemhouse
5 pm – Crater
6 pm – Christian Mistress
7 pm – Bread & Butter
8 pm – Hobosexual
9 pm – Pillar Point
10:30 pm – Grace Love & The True Loves

HIGHLIGHTS ON THE GREENLIFE STAGE … which is at the south end by California/Edmunds:
Noon – Indian dance performance
1 pm – Dance: Odissi By Urvasi Dance Ensemble
2 pm – Discussion of growth/development
4 pm – Electric-bike demonstration
4:30 pm – Music with Aji Piper
5:30 pm – Poetry with Raven Matthews x DoNormaal
6 pm – Music with Richie Dagger’s Crime
7 pm – Music with Sendai Era
8 pm – Music with The Brodcast

11:42 AM: Not EVERYTHING is on the schedule – wouldn’t be a festival without some unscheduled performances, and one is happening right now just east of our Info Tent HQ, with D&G Dance Beatfeet:

11:56 AM: The youth-led #BlackLivesMatter demonstration is about to start – looks like at least 50 people gathering on the west side of California/Alaska.

Organizer Lashanna Williams just spoke briefly to invite people to join.

They’ll be photographed by the same crew that is about to take the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s first group photo, Clay from SWSHS then announced.

12:15 PM: The demonstration is still going by – with more people joining as they proceed around the festival’s perimeter.

We’ll have more photos later. Meantime, Deb Barker is taking off on the first SWSHS walking tour from right in front of the Info Tent.

12:58 PM: The demonstration just ended with a gathering at California/Alaska, where it began – here’s our Instagram video panning across part of the group:

“Carry peace through your day,” Lashanna urged them, in closing.

1:20 PM: While the clouds have moved back in, we’re seeing some blue sky to the west. All the same, if you haven’t been here yet, you might consider bringing a jacket or sweater.

3 PM: Crazy busy! Part of what we checked out last hour – a panel discussing West Seattle growth and development at the GreenLife Stage:

Lots of viewpoints on how our community can and should grow. Next up on the GL Stage – 4 pm, electric-bike demo with Alki Bike and Board. Our coverage continues shortly in today’s 2nd report …

(WSB photos. Above, singer Emily Nokes)

A near-perfect first day for West Seattle Summer Fest 2016, with Seattle’s own Tacocat taking the stage to wrap it up, delighting a curb-to-curb crowd in The Junction’s streets.

(Drummer Lelah Maupin)

Their set included a song all too appropriate for our Jultober weather, “Bridge to Hawaii,” and one for X-Files fans, “Dana Katherine Scully.”

(Tacocat’s Eric Randall in left background, Bree McKenna in right foreground)

Introducing Tacocat was West Seattle’s own Brent Amaker:

Saturday’s music lineup starts at noon with The Hollers, includes Hobosexual at 8 pm, and runs through Grace Love and The True Loves at 10:30 pm.