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10:39 AM: One of the changes for this year’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – the chili cookoff started earlier than usual, so if you head here right now, it’s awaiting you! On the southwest corner at California/Alaska, $10 donation to the West Seattle Food Bank gets you a flight of chili tastes by all the contenders, and a vote.

More chili than last year too. Also happening now – free activities presented by dozens of local businesses and organizations, including Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor):

And Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor):

Somehow this fish escaped being hooked:

Costume parade is at 11:30 am (starts from the park on the northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska) but costumes are already here in abundance. Activities are on California between Alaska and Edmunds; the Farmers’ Market is on California north of Alaska; the Root Beer Garden ($3.50 for root beer with Husky Deli ice cream) is on Alaska west of California, next to chili. More coverage to come!

11:02 AM: Costumed adults aplenty, too. Above, masquerading as an emoji, is Jennifer Danner, SPD’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator. Family costume themes are everywhere:

11:30 AM: The costume parade is starting!

Overheard on the parade sidelines: “Santa? What’s Santa doing here?”

11:45 AM: The parade has circled back to Alaska/42nd, with the WSHS Band wrapping up with “Thriller.” Now it’s almost trick-or-treat time.

12:15 PM: Above, the Junction Association volunteers with whom we’re sharing the Info Booth during today’s festival have candy – so if you’re trick-or-treating at California/Alaska, see them on the south side of the booth. WSJA’s executive director Lora Radford is here, in costume of course.

Thanks to Steve Thiele for the photo. Besides our as-it-happens pics, we have photographer Leda Costa roaming for festival scenes and we will publish a separate gallery later.

12:41 PM: Bulletin – the Chili Cookoff is sold out. And that’s with more this year than past years! Winner (a flight got you a vote) will be announced shortly. Meantime, our vote for best Farmers’ Market vendor costume – a murder of crows at Whistling Train Farms:

And sunshine!

1:08 PM: The chili-cookoff votes were tallied and announced a little earlier than planned. Duos in a landslide:

For the win – a trophy, medal, and apron.

Meanwhile, though the election is just nine days away, we’ve had only one political sighting today:

I-1631 is one of four state initiatives on your ballot. Whomever and whatever you’re voting for, Tuesday, November 6th, is the deadline.

1:40 PM: Last scheduled event of the festival – kids’ pie-eating contest – just wrapped up!

Festival concludes at 2, same time as the Farmers’ Market. Great turnout – thanks to everybody who’s been part of it! Gallery later! (Added: Here it is.)