(TODAY’S INFO HERE; TODAY’S 1ST REPORT HERE; SATURDAY COVERAGE HERE, HERE; FRIDAY REPORTS HERE, HERE, HERE)

2:34 PM: Final hours of West Seattle Summer Fest 2016 and it seems like EVERYONE, and we do mean EVERYONE, is here. This is your last chance for festival deals, for one thing – above, that’s the Easy Street Records tent, right outside their store, where, according to their Instagram post, you’ll find “3 for $5 LPs, CDs & DVDs. Tons of 45s too.”

Steps away, in the Pet Junction zone outside Next to Nature, you will find the answer to a question that’s been asked for months … “When is The Hydrant opening?” :

It was Summer Fest last year when The Hydrant was announced as “coming soon” for the former Junction Bakery/Coffee to a Tea space. The banner above the window there, in the Pet Junction zone, explains that the proprietors had to deal with a death in the family but that the “place for people and pets” really will be opening.

2:57 PM: While you’re here, don’t miss GreenLife, at the south end of the festival zone. While SeattleTinyHomes.com has been drawing a lot of interest, as we’ve shown you in the past few days, GreenLife has a lot more going on. There’s a petting zoo, for starters, and booths with local groups and businesses focused on sustainability. Among them, Tamsen Spengler from the West Seattle Timebank, who sent us a note talking about networking happening here – her organization, for example, has a new member because of connections they’ve made here: The Urban Homestead Foundation:

We reported on the UHF during recent coverage of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, when they came to talk about their plan for the Genesee Hill ex-substation:

You can catch up with them (and the Timebank) at GreenLife, before 5 pm. And just about anywhere in the festival zone – be on the lookout for impromptu performances:

They’re with Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby, which you’ll find on the south side of the Info Tent/Community Tent. Now, we’re off to check out the 3 pm band, The Swearengens.

3:26 PM: And here they are:

Today’s headline band is coming up at 4 pm – last band of the day – The Dusty 45s. While you’re headed north to the stage, some places to stop – we see Seattle App Academy (WSB sponsor) on the sidewalk outside West Seattle Computers on the east side of California just south of Oregon, and in that same vicinity, the Bella Maps booth caught our eye:

Maps in laser-cut wood!

Meantime, also ahead at 4 pm, your second-to-last chance to get into a We Love The Junction group photo, just north of the Info Tent. And while you’re in the vicinity, take one last look at all the info we have about upcoming summer events (grab a free West Seattle Outdoor Movies button, and make plans to join us for the first movie next Saturday – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).

4:21 PM: The Dusty 45s are onstage right now (photos added):

One more reminder – today’s the one day that the festival ends at its official announced closing time; at 5 pm, the breakdown and cleanup begins, so that the streets will be cleared no later than midnight. But first – right at 5 – one last “We Love The Junction” group photo, so if you’re here, come to California and Alaska, by the YMCA and QFC booths, and make it the biggest one of the weekend. Plus – last call for deep-fried PB&Js, gigantic stacks of french fries, elephant ears big enough to sleep on, etc…. (And coconuts or fruit kabobs from QFC across the way.)

5:03 PM: And … it’s over. But not before that last group photo – video:

And if you’re wondering why Ladder 11 is at the end of SW Alaska with its ladder extended … just there for festivalgoers to see.

They tell us you’re welcome to stop by for a look!

P.S. Remember that it will be late tonight before the Junction streets reopen and bus reroutes end. We’ll put up traffic cameras later in the evening so you can check, and we’ll keep watch, too.

11:28 PM: Still closed, as shown on the 42nd/Alaska camera (looking west):

When the “road closed” barricades are gone, that means it’s open again.

(TODAY’S INFO HERE; SATURDAY COVERAGE HERE & HERE; FRIDAY COVERAGE HERE & HERE & HERE)

11:30 AM: The last day of West Seattle Summer Fest always goes fast. We’re in the Info Tent again today, with volunteers from the WS Chamber of Commerce as well as team members from the West Seattle Junction Association, which presents the festival every year. In the Community Tent sections (same tent, west and south sides) right now are the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Wildcats Football and Cheer, Empower Mentoring Network, and the West Seattle Community Orchestras:

Come try an instrument! Then steps away from us, the kids’ rides are in full swing, including this one (Saturday photo):

The all-day ride pass today is $18, a little less than the previous two days, since everything ends at 5 pm. (Single tickets are $1.25 and the rides/bouncy toys – on SW Alaska west of California and in the lot behind Wells Fargo just north of there – cost 1 to 5 tickets each.)

Music starts in an hour and a half – four bands today on the main stage (California north of Oregon):

1 pm – Featherbones
2 pm – Marieke and the Go Get ‘Em Boys
3 pm – The Swearengens
4 pm – The Dusty 45s

12:28 PM: Lunchtime at the fair. If this is your first visit, all the food booths are on SW Alaska east of California – but many year-round restaurants have special carts and/or seating areas out front, just for the weekend, so check them out too! And the fruit kabobs/coconuts are at the QFC stand across from the Info Tent – look for the orange umbrellas. One thing we should mention about the food booths – if you have an allergy, be sure to ask before you buy – a mom called us to say her teenager wound up with something with undisclosed peanuts, and that was a scary close call.

Speaking of scary – if you lose or find a child at Summer Fest, come to the Info Tent and folks here will get the word out and contact police. They’re dealing with one right now – usually these are resolved quickly but if one ever isn’t, we’ll add the info here.

And thanks as always to everyone who’s been stopping by to say hi. Al from West Seattle Bike Connections visited right after the “Mini-STP” got to the festival – and showed off the new WSBC T-shirts:

Today’s your last chance to come down, meantime, and find out about lots of local businesses in one place – many have booths among the visiting vendors. Another WSB sponsor who’s here is GoodMed Direct Primary Care, which is offering a new way to ensure you have access to primary health care:

Come talk to Dr. Ryan Campbell and Dr. Wendy Hueners (both NDs) from GoodMed at their booth, on the east side of California a little ways south of Alaska.

12:51 PM: Getting close to the top of the hour, and the next We Love The Junction group photo at California/Alaska. Look for the banner, which should be unfurled shortly, and for photographer Peder Nelson:

If you miss the 1 pm photo – four more after that, at 2, 3, 4, and 5. Top of the hour also means the music is starting on the main stage.

1:31 PM: Just wandered up to check out the first act, Featherbones:

The beer garden’s next to the main stage. Next up, Marieke and the Go Get ‘Em Boys at 2.

Just north of all that, don’t miss Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), where your editor here just picked up her second Mexi-Mocha of the festival. Cayenne and all. Enhances the wakefulness required for Info Tent duty.

Booths on the north end include Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), whose booth includes a trivia game. They’re on the east side, north of Oregon, and on the west side, you’ll find WSDOT, talking about the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, aka the tunnel project. For kids, they have a show-and-tell about what kind of soil the tunneling machine has been going through:

For adults – we talked with today’s booth reps about the most frequently asked questions. “When’s it going to be done?” was one; the other, how people from West Seattle are going to get onto and off Highway 99 once the tunnel’s open. For all the times we’ve covered that, one thing we didn’t realize – not only will the Battery Street Tunnel be decommissioned, it will be filled in and filled over, and that will be a north-end connection to the grid.

2:08 PM: Another We Love The Junction walking tour is about to take off from here at California/Alaska, 2:15 pm – hear about the stores in The Junction’s past. The SW Seattle Historical Society just took its 2 pm group shot – each starts with a countdown:

Next one, 3 pm. And we’re about to launch our second and final report of the day to track the last few hours of the festival, which will go by SO fast – it’s sunny, busy, and fun.

Our calendar highlights start with one more day to jump into the biggest West Seattle party of the year:

(Thanks to Sarah for sharing that photo of Truman at West Seattle Summer Fest)

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST, DAY 3: Today’s festival hours are 11 am-5 pm, and this is the one day that everything does end at the official closing time, so if you’re coming to the festival, don’t procrastinate!

Music lineup (main stage at north end of festival zone, California south of Genesee, first band Featherbones @ 1 pm, last band The Dusty 45s @ 4 pm)
Vendor list
Food info
Kids’ area (free AND fee activities – rides are open until 5 pm, they cost 1-5 tickets at $1.25/ticket or [updated] $18/day pass)
GreenLife (south end of festival zone, California/Edmunds)
Southwest Seattle Historical Society group photos (top of each hour, noon-5 pm) and walking tours (12:15, 2:15, 3:15 pm) activities

At Summer Fest and need info/help/directions/etc.? Come see us and community-group volunteers in the Info Tent, center of California/Alaska, headquarters for our as-it-happens festival coverage.

STREETS CLOSED: The closure zone is on California Avenue SW between SW Edmunds and SW Genesee (with SW Oregon remaining open to east/west traffic), and SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th.

BUS REROUTES: From the Metro “alerts and updates” page, which will be in effect until late tonight (after the festival closes at 5 pm Sunday, breakdown and cleanup usually take several hours):

C Line – here
Route 22 – here
Route 37 – here
Route 50 – here
Route 55 – here
Route 57 – here
Route 128 – here
Route 773 Water Taxi Shuttle – here

Also in West Seattle today:

MINI-STP BIKE RIDE: This is one way to get to the festival – or just to have a fun bicycle ride. West Seattle Bike Connections‘ “Mini-STP” ride – Seattle (Street) to Portland (Street), and then on to Summer Fest. Meet at 9:15 am at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in North Admiral – more info in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, the market DOES happen during Summer Fest – back in its old location in the lot behind KeyBank, just for one day. 10 am-2 pm. (44th SW/SW Alaska)

WSUU RUMMAGE SALE: 10 am-3 pm are the hours for the second and final day of this legendary rummage sale presented annually by the West Seattle Unitarian Universalists. (7141 California SW)

COLMAN POOL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN: This weekend’s swim-meet closures are over (until next Friday-Saturday) and the regular Colman Pool schedule resumes, noon-7 pm.

CAT ADOPTIONS: Kitty Harbor is open noon-4 pm today with 47 kittens and 11 adults available for adoption. (3422 Harbor SW)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, your next round of chances to tour the Alki Point Lighthouse free – be there no later than 3:40 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (3201 Alki SW)

SEATTLE OPERA PREVIEW: Lecture previewing Seattle Opera‘s “Count Ory,” 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. Free. More info here. (2306 42nd SW)