(SEE THE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE – entertainment, activities – here)

11:06 AM: Perfect almost-summer day at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, spread across multiple spots in and around Morgan Junction Park (west side of California, just north of Fauntleroy)! The performances have begun:

The food vendors are up and running – The Tamale Guy, Jones BBQ, and Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream are in the lot on the north side of Beveridge Place Pub:

And kitty corner from the park, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is serving up a benefit barbecue with proceeds going to keep the festival free and fun.

While you’re wandering, be sure to see the vendors and community groups behind Whisky West (WSB sponsor) and Zeeks Pizza:

Along with local business, a few local departments/agencies are there – Sound Transit (got questions about West Seattle light rail?) and the Department of Neighborhoods (kicking off this year’s Your Voice, Your Choice voting – more on that post-festival). In the heart of the park right now – Bubbleman!

Lots of ways to participate, not just watch – like chalk art:

We’re in a row of booths just north of the park, with the West Seattle Timebank, Emergency Communication Hubs, and kids’ arts and crafts. The festival’s on until 4 pm – more coverage to come!

12:19 PM: Second musical act of the festival!

Here again is the schedule for the day. Many activities are continuous – face-painting, kids’ art, etc. – so no matter what time you drop by, you’ll find something happening. You’ll also find public-safety personnel, including SPD:

At left is the Southwest Precinct’s longtime second-in-command, Operations Lt. Ron Smith, who’s on his farewell tour of festivals – he’s retiring at month’s end. On the south edge of the park, artist Desmond Hansen started his mural-painting early and has drawn an audience:

1:08 PM: Speaking of painting, if you’d rather do it than watch, one of this festival’s unique activities is under way – the Splatter of Morgan:

You can come down and blast paint at the canvas draping the fence at the future Morgan Junction Park addition, just north of where we are. Another unique activity, the Bark of Morgan dog parade and contests, is coming up at 2 pm. Meantime, another SPD delegation:

1:21 PM: Every year we’ve boothed at festivals, we’ve had a standing offer: Candidates who stop by get photographed. First candidate of the year, Shannon Braddock, who’s running for the open 34th District State Senate seat, just stopped by:

She and other candidates will be at the <strong>West Seattle Democratic Women‘s forum June 18th and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s forum later in the summer (date to be announced). Speaking of politics, the festival’s emcee, MoCA vice president Phil Tavel, confirms he’s considering running for City Council again next year (he finished third in the crowded August 2015 primary).

2:14 PM: We’ve had a city official visit too, interim Neighborhoods director Andres Mantilla (a West Seattleite):

And a small but spirited dog parade has gone by:

More live music right now, too – Deal is onstage.

Festival’s on until 4 if you haven’t been here yet!

2:37 PM: The Tamale Guy is sold out of tamales. And the SFD engine that was here, 32, just had to leave on a call, minutes after we snapped a photo:

Medical call, according to Real-Time 911. Speaking of medical, while you’re here you can find out about Good Med Direct Primary Care (WSB sponsor):

Drs. Ryan Campbell and Wendy Hueners can tell you all about their unique model for keeping you healthy. You’ll find them and other local businesses, organizations, etc., behind Whisky West/Zeeks. In the park, meantime, we looked in again on muralist Desmond Hansen:

Thanks yet again to all the kind people who’ve stopped by to say hi and thank us for our work – community collaboration has been what WSB’s been about for more than a decade now, and we appreciate the continuing tips, questions, suggestions … westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text/voice 206-293-6302 any time.

3:30 PM: Final half-hour for the festival. Gary Benson is onstage – mellow music for a mellow afternoon.

Also just talked with a couple more people who stopped by – Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail, who is on the governor’s new task force about orcas, saying it’s time for bold action to try to save the Southern Resident Killer Whales; Karimah Edwards from Seattle Parks, telling us they’ve had a good day of talking to people about the future development of Morgan Junction Park’s expansion site to the north. Look for an online survey starting next week, with options for park design and potential elements (we’ll write a separate story when it goes live).

4 PM: The festival’s officially over – but live music will stretch out a little longer; Servants of the Rich missed their slot earlier, getting caught in multiple traffic jams while headed this way from the south, but they’re here now. We’re headed out. Thanks to MoCA and festivalgoers/participants for a great day!