10:53 AM: As the West Seattle Bee Festival ramps up to full buzz – with the parade coming up at 11 am – we’re seeing other creatures too:
That’s Gamma the python, one of the creatures you’ll see inside Neighborhood House – which is the venue for the festival’s indoor component, at Sylvan/Lanham [map]; the latter street is closed to motorized vehicles for the vendor fair, where we and dozens of other community organizations and businesses are boothing (officially starting at 11 am, but most are set up already); and there’s the West Seattle Bee Garden itself on the north end of High Point Commons Park. Here’s the bright and bzz-y schedule:
And what would a Bee Festival “bee” without honey?
11:31 AM: The Big Bee led the parade a short time ago – here’s a bit of video:
The Big Bee leads the way in the West Seattle Bee Festival parade! pic.twitter.com/oc1LXyCEg2
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 19, 2018
Lots of people here and the sun is out. Dog-friendly, too. Just ask Frankie:
We’re about to take a stroll along the vendor fair – here’s the map of who’s where. Lots to be learned – it’s not just vendors, but also community organizations!
NOON: Live music is about to start, and the International Finger Food Buffet is getting going inside Neighborhood House. And Seattle Fire Engine 37 is here:
About that music we mentioned:
Bell and the Bees kick off live outdoor music (jazz!) at the West Seattle Bee Festival. (Continuing until 2) pic.twitter.com/lcRVY01Xb0
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 19, 2018
12:17 PM: Back inside Neighborhood House, we’ve also spotted Tut the tortoise:
And the sewing pop-up is under way:
It’s a day to express yourself. Marco has a beard of bees!
12:55 PM: One thing that’s impressed us, boothing here at the festival today – a turnout of all ages, from babies to seniors, and people from all over West Seattle (at least judging unscientifically by those who have stopped to say hi). And we’ve even spotted a bee in the wild:
The bee-attracting lupins are in the pollination garden borders around the Bee Garden itself, where Puget Sound Beekeepers are ready to talk with you about the stars of today’s festival:
That’s at the north end of the festival – all along its west side on Lanham is the vendor (etc.) fair:
As mentioned in our Admiral Neighborhood Association report published last night, SDOT is here to talk with you about the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway (or any other project you have a question about):
1:24 PM: More music!
Mississippi Jones performing now at the West Seattle Bee Festival. Just half an hour left to ‘bee’ here! pic.twitter.com/6l2xkeI9JW
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 19, 2018
And along vendor-fair row, it’s photo op time:
Woodland Park Zoo is busy inside and out here at the Bee Festival, which continues until 2!
1:53 PM: Since it’s all about the bees, we checked back with the Puget Sound Beekeepers for the final word on today’s festival (which by the way is hosted by the Events Committee of the High Point Open Spaces Association). They tell us they sold out of all 21 cases of honey they brought – 50 percent more than last year! – and that the turnout was great, lots of people curious about bees and prepared with good questions. The Bee Garden, by the way, is open year-round for visiting.
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