AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: West Seattle Summer Fest, day 2, report #1

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(QUICK LINKS: Music lineups … food/drink info … merchant/vendor info … Kids Zone info … bus reroutes …and ICYMI, our Day 1 coverage)

11:11 AM: What you see in that photo is the answer to this morning’s most popular question at the West Seattle Summer Fest Info Booth so far – “where’s the foam party?” It’s part of the Kids’ Zone, in the lot behind KeyBank (and yes, there’s also an area where kids can rinse off the foam before proceeding with the rest of the festival fun). It’s one of this year’s new features. Here’s the festival map:

The main stage on California north of Oregon has just started today’s music schedule:

The A-board with both stages’ schedules is right in front of the Info Booth in the heart of Walk-All-Ways. We should note that what you WON’T find here today, since a few visitors have asked, is SPD and the steering-wheel locks we mentioned Friday – SPD is due to be here in the booth again Sunday at 10 am. Here right now, we have the Emergency Communication Hubs – learn about the one nearest to you, or how to set one up if your neighborhood.

Also, Junction volunteers continue selling festival merch – but if you want a T-shirt, those are being custom printed at the Mobile Apparel booth a short ways north of SW Alaska (you can see it from here).

Coming up at noon right by our booth – Jennifer Cepeda and the DancePowered performance! … Up at the main stage, Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) was first up with a showcase, including this group It’s All Happening:

At the West Side Stage, which is actually on the festival’s east side at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), the schedule began with meditation led by Inner Alchemy‘s Maari Falsetto:

NOON: Important bulletin – Elliott Bay Brewing is back up and running after the power outage that forced them to be closed for the entire first day of the festival. As proprietor Todd Carden says – while trying to maintain a positive outlook – what a day to be hit like that. But they’re open now!

So go have a beer, and/or a burger, and help them bounce back. … Not far from EBB, ArtsWest is hosting the West Seattle Community Orchestras – go test an instrument!

Another popular question: Anyone have free water? Answer: Yes – Masonic Lodge #152‘s booth up near California/Oregon.

12:45 PM: Here’s our video of the DancePowered performance! (That’s leader Jennifer in the beanie.)

Next up, the Comerford School of Irish Dance, also here at California/Alaska. (Video added:)

1:23 PM: If you haven’t been to the festival for a sip or a bite yet, remember that this festival is making Summer Fest history:

Reusable cups, bowls, plates, other serviceware are in use by festival vendors plus the beer garden, in the largest-scale event yet in Seattle to do this! … We’re catching up with more WSB sponsors here at the festival. Canna is a major festival sponsor too, co-presenting the main-stage music, and you’ll find their booth just south of Walk All Ways:

That’s Canna medical consultant Kayla. … On the block north of Alaska, STS Construction Services has a booth, where we found Donavan and Kellen:

Nonprofits have rotated here in the Info Booth, so for the next few hours we have The Whale Trail – whose Donna Sandstrom points out that tomorrow is the 22nd anniversary of the event that inspired her advocacy, the rescue of orphaned orca Springer (about which she’s also written an award-winning book):

The Whale Trail is on the east side of the Info Booth – with whale cards, a species guide, and more swag – while the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is here on the south side for the next few hours.

Music continues on both stages – here’s a bit of Novacrome:

2:43 PM: More of who you’ll find at Summer Fest – the first-year pre-pro soccer club Junction FC has reps on site at the Kids’ Zone today – the day before the club’s final home match of the season:

Also at the Kids’ Zone – learn about robotics:

2:53 PM: If you’ve lost or found an item here at the festival, bring it to the Info Booth, where the official lost-and-found is (check in with the Junction volunteer/s on the west side of the booth).

4:38 PM NOTE: We’ll launch evening coverage soon.

More Summer Fest coverage to come!

AJ July 13, 2024 (1:11 pm)

School of Rock killed it! I was walking by and was pulled in when I heard them playing KISS, Guns and Roses, Ronnie James Dio, and Iron Maiden. Great to hear the older rock songs.

Oerthehillz July 13, 2024 (3:23 pm)

Kid zone was such a disappointment for myself and so many families. The entrance fee was so high! Especially for families with more than 1 kid. We just couldn’t justify it.

WSB July 13, 2024 (4:29 pm)

Hi, please let the Junction Association know – info@wsjunction.org
But just to be clear, the inflatables – as in years past – are the only Kid Zone thing that costs $ – and this year there’s even more free stuff than years past. The festival costs a huge amount of money to pull off – I don’t know what it would take to make inflatables free too, maybe some extra big-ticket sponsorships … They tried a few years ago to cut costs so they could cut charges and it was a disaster.

Sarah July 13, 2024 (4:17 pm)

Quick comment for the organizers… it would be awesome if there were more seating thruout, somehow. There was no where at all to sit and eat the food we got from the trucks.

Bbron July 13, 2024 (6:03 pm)

there needs to be much more permanent street furniture in general (and comfortable, too). this problem can be seen every Sunday during the farmer’s market.
- Walkerws July 14, 2024 (11:30 am)
  
  We need to remove all on street parking from California between Oregon and Edmunds, and use that space for parklets, benches, and outdoor dining seating.
Julia July 13, 2024 (7:38 pm)

We searched for seating too, just wanting to rest a bit. Found lovely benches by Rudy’s, across from Jefferson Square. But they really need more in general. I was feeling wobbly from the heat and it could have turned into a real problem.
- WS Res July 13, 2024 (9:51 pm)
  
  My dad also needed a place to sit down while we were listening to the music at the main stage; I wound up sitting with him in front of Coastline Burgers because no one was camping out there at the time. And what’s with having shade structures near the main stage in the all-ages area but absolutely no shade in the beer garden??