WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST 2016: Saturday, report #2

(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.

miws July 9, 2016 (4:39 pm)

There’s a bubble booth, probably in the NW Art & Frame/Bakery Noveau area, if memory serves. On one pass by, just a little north of that while I was walking southbound, a little kid had a bubble device (didn’t notice a sound coming from it, but then again not expecting one), but it was kind of cute because a dog , that appeared to belong to another family was getting all excited and wanted to play with the bubbles that were floating around.

Mike

Jerald July 9, 2016 (5:00 pm)

I saw a big sign at the bubble-seller’s booth saying “Free Refills,” which I think helps explain the explosion of bubbles throughout the fair — no need to ration your solution!

Cashmere July 9, 2016 (5:10 pm)

How late can I get an elephant ear ; ) I don’t get home from work until 730!!

WSB July 9, 2016 (5:25 pm)

Cindi Barker from West Seattle Be Prepared, who’s been here in the Community Tent all day, just hopped over and asked. “8, 9, 10, whenever the crowds stop!” was the reply.

Erithan July 9, 2016 (7:54 pm)

Curious if police will be around tonight after the later concerts end?

last night was horrible after things let out, even nearing midnight and 2am, actually had someone go as far as to honk driving all the way out of the lot an “f you” reaction . Apparently asking nice for people to tone it down trumps calling the police on them off the bat instead.

guy was drunk I think, very very short temper….

Carol T July 9, 2016 (7:59 pm)

I heard BECU was giving out money for opening accounts and loans. Gonna swing by on Sunday. I could use some cash.

Beckyjo July 9, 2016 (8:21 pm)

Becu giving out money for opening accounts? How much money?

Kaye July 9, 2016 (10:59 pm)

How come no festival t-shirts?

WSB July 9, 2016 (11:10 pm)

It’s been a few years since those were last offered, IIRC. I believe the general sentiment is that they don’t sell well enough to be worth the investment.
- db July 11, 2016 (8:36 pm)
  
  They sold t-shirts last year… really nice ones, and we were looking forward to buying one this year. Too bad! I’m not surprised if they didn’t sell well, gotta save money for the deep fried pb&j sandwiches :)

justducky July 10, 2016 (1:45 am)

Is there security somewhere near the main stage? A friend and I were there for Grace Love and a woman started fighting another lady over a beach ball. She was actually shoving the older lady and screaming at her, and when other people tried to calm her down, she started shoving and screaming at them. She continued yelling at people and trying to start a fight.

It would have been nice for someone to remove the disruptive person so the rest of us could enjoy the show.

WSB July 10, 2016 (7:53 am)

Yes, in black shirts with white lettering SECURITY. Saw them myself on runs past the beer garden/stage area. Also uniformed SPD.

Sunuva July 10, 2016 (9:25 am)

Somebody was taking panoramic pictures of the crowd with a camera mounted on a tall pole in the Alaska junction. They said they’d do so every hour but I missed hearing how to find the pictures afterwards. Does anyone know where to find those pictures?

WSB July 10, 2016 (10:10 am)

Hi. We’ve mentioned that a few times – it’s the SW Seattle Historical Society. The twist is that it’s not on their main Facebook page – it’s on their “We Love The Junction” page. Wish they were on the open web (maybe eventually!) but for now – here’s the direct link to that page:

https://www.facebook.com/We-Love-The-Junction-240045766333026/

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