Just a few nights until the tree in Junction Plaza Park will be lit as part of Hometown Holidays, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association with co-sponsors including WSB. And tonight, we have the lineup, so you know how it’ll unfold – with more room this year because of the SW Alaska street closure between 42nd and California (as first reported here two weeks ago), you won’t have to worry as hard about getting there early to get a space.

The West Seattle High School Marching Band, directed by Ethan Thomas, is the opening act, playing by quarter till 5. At the top of the hour, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse proprietor Lora Swift takes the microphone, and will then introduce emcee Josh Sutton from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). By 5:05, Josh will introduce the Endolyne Children’s Choir and director Amy Stagno Bokanev. Quarter past, you’ll be hearing from Jack Menashe of Menashe and Sons Jewelers; then ArtsWest has a mini-performance, followed by a few words from West Seattle Hi-Yu, and then at 5:30 pm you won’t want to miss the special poem by local writer Lori Hinton. Jay Cates and the Big Boss Band will play, with the tree scheduled to be lit around 5:38 pm. Before and after all this, it’ll be the Junction Holiday Party – with many merchants serving up holiday specials and treats.

P.S. Get in the mood for all this two nights early with the first Shop Late Thursday, tomorrow night! And preview the rest of the weekend and the season in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – still adding more events daily.

(As always, we disclose whenever we mention sponsors: Three are in this story – Hotwire, the Y, and Menashe & Sons)