VIDEO: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays’ big night

| Holidays | West Seattle news

5 PM: It’s on! The West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Festival is happening – the Night Market is open, performances have begun on the stage in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), and the tree lighting is barely an hour away. Get down here if you’re not here already. See the schedule here (tree lighting’s scheduled around 6, festival continues until 8); this is just meant as a reminder – we’ll have lots more coverage later! And wait – is that Santa we see?

6:30 PM: We caught up with Santa shortly thereafter … as he spoke to a young fan whose mom pronounced her child “starstruck”:

(If you haven’t caught up with Santa yet this season, see the list in our Holiday Guide for many upcoming opportunities!)

The stage show continued with the West Seattle School of Rock, well, rocking:

The Seattle Metropolitan Singers caroled:

You can hear more from them at 7 pm December 15th at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds). … And the “butchered” Christmas tree lit up quite nicely, thanks to some Charlie Brown Christmas-style love from the West Seattle Junction Association:

(WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)

Here’s how Santa, emcee Brian Callanan, and guest tree lighter City Councilmember Rob Saka lit it up:

Yet more images of tonight’s festivities to upload (including the pet-costume-contest winner!) when we’re back at HQ! Still time to get down here and wander … you might even see this:

(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)

ADDED POST-FESTIVAL: Here’s a bit of the night’s first musical performance, by the Endolyne Children’s Choir:

The pet-costume contest winner was a Corgi, “Chef Coy-Ar-Gee“:

WSB sponsor All The Best Pet Care (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW) donated prizes.

Finally, a video montage with a few more sights and one more look at the tree-lighting countdown:

Alaska House Resident December 7, 2024 (5:10 pm)

Is the loud band im hearing right now on the stage? I wish they’d quit putting it against our building it makes it shake really badly!

WSB December 8, 2024 (3:14 am)

The stage moved out of the street and into the park this year, but that’s a spot where other festivals and events have had stages before.
WS Resident December 8, 2024 (2:35 pm)

Perk of living in the city, especially if you’re in the Junction. With that comes noise due to events. It may not be an optimal location based on your needs.

Jules December 7, 2024 (5:37 pm)

Does anyone know if they are selling mugs this year? I bought one in 2022 and didn’t make it last year.

WSB December 7, 2024 (7:00 pm)

Good question. Didn’t come up in any of our advance conversations with WSJA and I haven’t seen any tonight, will see if I can find out on my way back thru.

Jort December 7, 2024 (6:58 pm)

Great event! It was nice to hear people booing Rob Saka.

WSB December 7, 2024 (8:51 pm)

I didn’t hear boos from the front of the crowd but certainly it was not raucous cheering.

Sad December 7, 2024 (9:48 pm)

What happened to the Menashe’s lighting the Christmas tree? It was always one of my favorite traditions!! (but the tree looks pretty GOOD- considering!!)

WSB December 8, 2024 (2:01 am)

The Junction has actually changed up the official tree-lighters over the years. (We even got to do it one year in the early WSB days!)