Saturday’s doubleheader is getting ever closer – you can run or walk the Float Dodger 5K, and then watch (if you don’t happen to be among the hundreds of people set to participate) the West Seattle Grand Parade! We have a few more notes tonight, looking ahead:

(WSB file photo)

FLOAT DODGER 5K: Still time to register and avoid the last-minute price increase! The 5K starts from the field at Hiawatha at 9:30 am Saturday (July 19). Even if you’re not running/walking, come down early and visit the booths – among them, the West Seattle Food Bank, to which West Seattle Runner (which presents Float Dodger) donates proceeds. They’re offering an extra way to support the WSFB (which needs it more than ever) – a new raffle for $5/ticket, with your chance to win tickets to the September 25 Taste of West Seattle. (The WSFB’s other raffle, the Summer Raffle with prizes from local businesses, sold out for the first time ever!) Bring your $5 and look for the WSFB tent at Hiawatha on Saturday morning. And if you want to register for the Float Dodger 5K, do that here!

(WSB photo, 2024 Grand Parade)

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Official parade start time from California/Lander is 11 am, but the leadoff group, the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team, will likely start at about 10:45 am. They’re expecting at least eight motorcycle officers this year, twice the size of the comeback unit last year. One big decision if you haven’t made it already is where to watch – this year there’s an official list of “watch parties” – including:

Cherry Consignment
Falafel Salam
Hotwire Coffee
Sebastiano’s Natural Wines
WEND Jewelry
West Seattle Realty

One of those businesses has an entry in the parade too – Falafel Salam. Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards explains that the businesses on the list “are the businesses that the West Seattle Grand Parade Committee is currently aware of having and promoting a parade watch party at their business. There may be others that we don’t know about, but we are excited to see so many businesses bringing the community together for the parade and would love to know if anyone else is having one!” Email westseattleparade@gmail.com (and tell us too!). … For previous parade previews, click “West Seattle Grand Parade” under the headline and scroll through our archive!