AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Trick-or-treating and more at Halloween in The Junction

(WSB photos, video unless otherwise credited)

10:58 AM: Halloween in The Junction is on! The costume parade, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, will soon leave Junction Plaza Park and head around the Farmers’ Market, then around the extra block that’s closed for today’s celebration, California between Alaska and Edmunds. Trick-or-treating is getting under way – find candy outside participating businesses as well as at booths south of Alaska. The Seattle Thrillers are set to perform at noon, and there’s a surprise performer – The Bubbleman is here.

We’re helping hand out candy (while it lasts!) near Walk-All-Ways. See you here!

11:20 AM: The parade is over (added: video) …

(Photo by Holli Margell)

… and the trick-or-treating has ramped up.

11:50 AM: Huge turnout. Hundreds of pieces of candy already distributed. (We’ve gone to the store in search of more.) In the booths here on California south of Alaska, you’ll find local schools and organizations with treats and activities, like Westside School (WSB sponsor):

And Tilden School (WSB sponsor):

Coming up: Thrlllers perform here at Walk-All-Ways at noon.

12:19 PM: Many creative costumes!

Everything stopped dead in its tracks, of course, when the Seattle Thrillers started their show:

They’re also doing a slow-speed audience-participation version:

The Bubbleman – who’s emerged from retirement – remains here close to our booth, with low-key bubbly fun:

The party’s on until 2 pm. (And yes, we found more candy.)

12:45 PM: The pace has slowed. More time to appreciate the costumes!

If we were judging, we’d have to say this multi-holiday family wins:

And we have to go out on another candy run!

1:31 PM: New phenomenon this year – non-costumed adult trick-or-treaters. (Hey, the free candy’s for everyone!) Meantime, we should note that it’s not just those of us who have been hanging out in the street who are handing out treats – your Junction businesses are at the heart of this, long before it turned into a block pqrty – this is presented by the West Seattle Junction Association! It’s an especially big day for kid-oriented businesses, like Curious Kidstuff:

And 3 Little Birds:

And a visiting-for-the-day business, from south of The Junction – West Seattle Nursery:

Thanks to everyone who’s stopped to say hi, too!

2 PM: Party’s over, as somebody just said. We’ll be adding video and more photos later.

7:19 PM: Still in the process of doing that. Meantime, regarding the comment discussion about leaving Alaska open to cross-traffic this year, Marco says he emailed WSJA and executive director Chris Mackay has replied that they’ll definitely return to doing that next year.

13 Replies to "AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Trick-or-treating and more at Halloween in The Junction"

  • Lp October 29, 2023 (11:51 am)

    Do you know what that ambulance was about?

    • WSB October 29, 2023 (12:05 pm)

      Someone fell at the Farmers’ Market, I believe.

  • SeaviewMom October 29, 2023 (12:57 pm)

    Has Alaska always remained open during this event? Seems like it has been closed in the past. It would be really nice to close it for future events (Harvest Fest included). It’s an accident waiting to happen, and neither the drivers nor the peds are happy about it. 

    • WSB October 29, 2023 (1:59 pm)

      This year was the first that it was kept open. Definitely let the Junction Association know what you think – info@wsjunction.org

      (added) I should note, for any relative newcomers, there was no street closure at all (the Farmers’ Market was in the lot behind KeyBank and trick-or-treating just took place on the sidewalks in front of businesses) until the WSJA expanded the event into a festival in 2012

      https://westseattleblog.com/2012/09/you-asked-for-it-you-got-it-junction-to-close-streets-for-trick-or-treating-during-new-harvest-festival/

      • Marco October 29, 2023 (2:14 pm)

        I noticed the Ham Radio Safety volunteers jumping in so the WS High School marching band could cross the Junction safely…. thanks for providing the email, WSB :)

    • Mel October 29, 2023 (2:26 pm)

      I thought the same thing. Seemed super odd to have it open with kids everywhere. It was just one more thing to worry about when hanging near Alaska with my kids. Also a potential safety issue with giving cars the opportunity to be that close to a large crowd. 

  • MH October 29, 2023 (1:04 pm)

    Ocean Gate costume? Really? 

    • MW October 29, 2023 (3:55 pm)

      Right? Too soon! Almost feel bad for laughing as soon as I saw it. To each his own, I guess!

    • Orb October 29, 2023 (4:23 pm)

      Yeah i thought the same thing. :/

    • Jeff October 29, 2023 (9:37 pm)

      I think it’s funny as heck!

  • MW October 29, 2023 (3:57 pm)

    Really fun to see this on WSB! Pretty cool Peanuts inspired set-up from West Seattle Nursery!! Neat that WSB handed out treats, too. Keep up the good work! 

  • JM October 29, 2023 (8:43 pm)

    Can people still trick or treat at the junction on October 31st? Since it’s Halloween.

    • WSB October 29, 2023 (9:10 pm)

      Today was the official business trick-or-treating day. Whether any business(es) are offering candy on Halloween too, that’s up to them. Haven’t heard of any; if we do, we’ll add them to our Halloween Guide. (One business on Alki, West Seattle Arcade, is promising treats to costumed trick-or-treaters on Halloween, including some free play!)

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