CANCELED: 2020 West Seattle Summer Fest

| Coronavirus | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The peninsula’s biggest party of the year is the latest big event canceled by coronavirus concerns. This announcement is just in from the West Seattle Junction Association:

For 38 years, the biggest festival in West Seattle has continued to evolve, starting out as the Sidewalk Sale, then the Street Fair, and now Summer Fest – a three-day celebration in the West Seattle streets.

The festival has been a July tradition in West Seattle since 1982, the same year Seattle became the Emerald City. Even prior to the West Seattle bridge being built (but that’s another story…).

After much discussion, the Junction has made the safest decision for the community – to cancel the 2020 Summer Fest – July 10-12th.

We are saddened but hopeful we will rise like a Westside phoenix to bring back Summer Fest stronger than ever July 2021.

In the meantime, we’re developing a plan for a block-party-style community gathering that will be announced as soon as we’re confident it’s safe to bring people together. Current events and info from King Co Public Health give us hope for a late August date.

We’ll continue to monitor all health regulations, and sincerely hope the Junction merchants can show appreciation of the outpouring of community support by bringing you one day that celebrates all the West Seattle goodness we’ve stored up through this pandemic.

Stay tuned, stay healthy.

David April 17, 2020 (2:56 pm)

Gotta do it. Come back with a bang next year.

RayWest April 19, 2020 (4:12 am)

I imagine this is just one more of our annual festival/events that will (and should) be cancelled this year. Seafair, Bumbershoot, and more will likely also be cancelled. Probably most theater, lectures, concerts, sports, etc. will disappear or be at a minimum. It’s unfortunate, but if we ever want to get back to some semblance of “normal,” it’s worth the sacrifice. Next year will be better than ever. On the plus side, our global slow-down has given our Earth a “breath of fresh air” as pollution levels have dropped around the world. Hopefully this is a wake-up call that shows how changing our behavior does have a big impact.

S - in West Seattle April 17, 2020 (3:20 pm)

Wow a little early do we think. It is 84 days away. I mean shoot we might as well all cancel everything in our lives and just become hermit crabs and stay in everyday.

WSB April 17, 2020 (3:34 pm)

The challenge is that (speaking as someone who had to cancel an event) tons of planning is involved and it’s difficult to plan when you don’t know what the rules/guidelines/health situation will be.
Brian April 17, 2020 (4:16 pm)

Not sure if you realize this yet, but this is how our lives look now. The alternative is millions of deaths.
AMD April 17, 2020 (6:21 pm)

I have an event in October that was just cancelled (smaller gathering–not a community event). All the scientists are saying things won’t go back to normal until there’s a solid treatment (one with thorough double blind randomized testing of a large sample of people) or a vaccine. It sucks, but I feel like it’s better to know further out than make plans and have the rug yanked out at the last minute, as many did in March.
Ken April 17, 2020 (6:34 pm)

@ S – In West Seattle – When you’re referring to something like a global pandemic that’s continuing to spread, canceling everything is the prudent thing to do unless you’d prefer the alternative.

There are a couple of obvious choices:
1) Live as a hermit for the foreseeable future and protect yourself
2) Continue gathering as if nothing is wrong and watch as (potentially) you or your loved ones, friends, neighbors; colleagues, etc succumb to this awful disease.

Don’t be at all surprised if every event is canceled for the remainder of the year and probably next year as well. No Seafair activities; no Night Out for Crime block parties; no holiday/Christmas type events; no concerts; no MLB, NFL, NBA; conventions; etc.

If people take responsibility, maintain social distancing, demonstrate basic, common sense respect for others, then there’s a (slim) chance of beating this. But the moment things start returning to normal, unless there’s a vaccine or cure, all that we’re currently going through is just going to start all over again. This is reality. To think any differently shows a staggering level of short-sightedness.

sf April 17, 2020 (3:54 pm)

Most studies/plans have the world socially distancing until vaccine, herd immunity or 500,000 tests per day along with tracing and isolation. It is unlikely that we will have concerts, conventions or sporting events until 2021.

Prepare the Hermitage.

Peter April 17, 2020 (4:20 pm)

Crap. Well. Kegger at my place, then.

Erin Clancy April 18, 2020 (5:29 am)

👌🍔🍻👍

Cycleman April 17, 2020 (4:34 pm)

Does seem early to cancel, but it also sounds like a very well thought out plan. Good job thinking ahead and being socially responsible! We don’t know how to plan day to day stuff let alone something that is 84 days away. 👍👍👍

Meyer April 17, 2020 (5:13 pm)

Huge bummer but I figured this would happen. These things take months of planning and as of today its looking like large gatherings might not even be allowed come July/August. Most sports are exploring options on how to have games without fans in the stands.

m April 17, 2020 (5:22 pm)

2020 sucks!

TJ April 17, 2020 (6:18 pm)

This country doesn’t have the spine and couldn’t have made it thru WW2. Social distancing until 2021! Good luck with that as it will fall apart before that. I am only 48, but am a rugged individualist and am teaching my kids the same. The federal government can’t support people and businesses for much longer, so don’t accept 2021 and then blame anyone for the economic damage created.

notsurpised April 17, 2020 (6:44 pm)

Just came here to see what TJ and his friends had to say. He didn’t disappoint.
sf April 17, 2020 (6:51 pm)

Though I am only 47 – I would like to also think I am rugged. TJ for such an individualist, you do comment a bit on a community blog. We know that you think people won’t stand for this, that you run a small local business and all of your friends have a annual trip planned later this year that WILL NOT be cancelled.I think our world is very capable of doing this and doing it well. Additionally, I am optimistic that the changes necessary will teach us to telecommute more, to use mass transit more, to appreciate time with our family, friends and community more and to shop for unnecessary crap less.
flimflam April 17, 2020 (7:07 pm)

ooh, rugged?! i am swooning!
Mike T April 17, 2020 (9:08 pm)

🙄
Mike T April 17, 2020 (9:22 pm)

This community is will band together.
rme April 17, 2020 (9:52 pm)

TJ — I wonder if you’d be such a “rugged individualist” if you were 84 instead of 48 or of one of your children had a severely compromised immune system. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re tougher than everyone else. You’re just lucky this time.
David April 17, 2020 (10:08 pm)

Stoked to hear about TJs annual get together with friends, where as of a few weeks ago 13 of the 15 BROS were still in (hooray). Just kidding. Stay home dude. It’s only a few more months. Hang with your kids. Have a glass of wine. This ain’t that bad.
Barton April 18, 2020 (6:36 pm)

LOL -the irony of TJ likening this to WWII and viewing himself as a courageous hero. In reality it would be like saying “I refuse to stay in this foxhole for the good of my squadron so the enemy can’t find us, it negatively impacts MY personal freedom.”

Mj April 17, 2020 (6:18 pm)

m – yes 2020 sucks and 2021 without the West Seattle Bridge is not feeling great either!

KBear April 17, 2020 (6:51 pm)

TJ, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Your “rugged individualism” is a danger to others.

ScubaFrog April 18, 2020 (12:41 pm)

It’s sad, but prudent :/ Hopefully Remdesivir proves to be a great treatment, that’s a great start. Then perhaps the vaccine. We’re doing a great job in Seattle of social distancing and getting these numbers down. It’s not fun being away from family and friends, and this discipline isn’t easy. But it’s paying off.I’m horrified to see what Florida and Texas’s consequences for exposing citizens to the pandemic are going to be. I’m so glad I live in a place where our leadership is cautious during a pandemic.