(WSB file photo)

The West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade is actually more than a parade. It’s West Seattle’s biggest Independence Day celebration, and after the parade, there are sack races, activity booths, and food trucks at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where the route ends. Here are the basics:

WHEN: 10 am Wednesday, July 4th

WHERE: Parade starts at 44th and Sunset – from the official parade website, here’s the route:

WHO: Countless hundreds of West Seattle kids and their families

HOW MUCH: No cost to be in the parade or the post-parade games/activities. However, if you can chip in a bit to help the volunteer organizers cover the costs (permits, etc.), here’s the crowdfunding page.

WHO’S SPEAKING/SINGING? No politician speaking this year at the start of the parade. School of Rock West Seattle student Vega Zaringlee will sing the national anthem.

DID YOU SAY FOOD TRUCKS? Three post-parade – Lil J’s Super Dawgs, All City Ice Cream, Mini The Dough-Nut.

WHO ELSE IS AT THE PARK? 12 sponsor/activity presenters! Plus usually police and fire for vehicle visits.

WHO MAKES THIS ALL HAPPEN? This year’s coordinators are Emily Williams, Megan Erb, and Nicole Lutomski.

WHAT TO BRING: Besides your red-white-and-blue-decked selves … diapers! They’re being collected for WestSide Baby.

ANYTHING TRAFFIC/TRANSIT OTHERS SHOULD KNOW IF THEY’RE NOT PARADING/SPECTATING? Yes! For one, traffic will be held by police when the parade crosses California SW on the last leg (hard to say when that will happen, somewhere between 10 and 11). Second, Route 128 will have a reroute during the parade – details here.

See you there!