(October 2018 photo by Leda Costa for WSB)

The West Seattle Junction’s fall celebration, the Harvest Festival, will return for its eighth year on Sunday, October 27th, 10 am-2 pm. Even though that’s more than two months away, The Junction is signing up sponsors/activity providers now, if you’d like to be part of the festival. If you’re new, here’s how it works: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is on California SW between Oregon and Alaska that day as usual, but the block to the south is closed too as well as part of SW Alaska (just like Summer Fest!) for free kids’ activities and other highlights – a costume parade, chili cookoff, and root-beer garden are usually part of the celebration. If you’re interested in sponsorship, go here!

Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog

This year’s West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction was the biggest ever, and might have been even bigger if it hadn’t started to rain in the last hour.

Rain and all, it was a success, and we have one more round of photos to share – as well as an update from the Chili Cookoff that raised money for the West Seattle Food Bank:

As we reported in yesterday’s as-it-happened coverage, The Westy won – that’s JP Vidican at right, getting congratulated by past winner Jack Miller of Husky Deli. Judi Yazzolino from the Food Bank tells us the cookoff brought in almost $2,000 to help fight hunger.

Meantime, click ahead to see a new Harvest Festival gallery – the costumes, the activities, the pets, and more, as photographed by WSB’s Leda Costa: Read More

10 AM: It’s on! Joining the Farmers’ Market for the next four hours, it’s the 2016 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. Starting right now, on Alaska between 44th and 42nd, and on California south of the market, Alaska to Edmunds, local businesses, schools, and organizations are offering fun activities. Everything’s free except the Chili Cookoff starting at 11 am – a $10 donation gets you a taste of each of the eight competing chilis, plus a vote, and the money goes to the West Seattle Food Bank. Then at 11:30, it’s the costume parade from Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) around the festival/market zone, and at noon, business trick-or-treating begins. Explore the side-street businesses too – ReMAX, for example, has a noon-2 pm Haunted House on the NW corner of 44th/Alaska (that was canceled).

10:14 AM: Our first activity feature – “melting pumpkins” at the West Seattle Timebank booth. Here’s volunteer Cupcake, showing one off:

Thanks to Timebank leader Tamsen Spengler for the photo. The Timebank booth is on SW Alaska across from Twilight, which is just west of Easy Street. Go visit! We, meantime, are right in the heart of California/Alaska, and immediately west of us you’ll find free facepainting:

The costumes just might be the most-fun part of the festival every year. Even with more than an hour to go until the parade, many costumed people of all sizes are wandering. We’ve even seen Darth Vader (and survived the encounter):

This festivalgoer is costumed as cotton candy:

By the way, there’s free cotton candy (while it lasts) on SW Alaska by Easy Street.

11:07 AM: Chili time! That’s the number one question we’re being asked right now – where’s the chili? Answer: Look for the West Seattle Food Bank canopy right in front of KeyBank on the SW corner of California/Alaska. Here are the competitors:

Number two most popular question – where does the Costume Parade start? Junction Plaza Park is on the NW corner of 42nd/Alaska, and the parade will head west from there, starting at 11:30. Many awesome costumes this year. Check out Sharknado and friend:

11:44 AM: The parade is making its way through the festival. And this year it’s MASSIVE! Hundreds of people. Led by the West Seattle High School Band:

Here’s video from the start (looks like we’ll have to wait until we’re back at HQ for the full 6 1/2 minute clip):

Next up: Business trick-or-treating at noon. We’ve been asked how that works – look for merchants with candy OUTSIDE their businesses throughout The Junction.

12:15 PM: Trick-or-treating is now on! And activities continue. Westside School (WSB sponsor) is one of your stops on California between Alaska and Edmunds – there, you can play Plinko:

Coworking center West Seattle Office Junction (also a WSB sponsor) is nearby and has a “critter pit”:

Meanwhile, the Farmers Market continues until 2 pm as usual. Many vendors are in the spirit!

We have some music here at California/Alaska, too – WSHS Band members, post-parade, are busking, as they’ve been doing to raise money for new instruments. And all the while, more cool costumes:

12:58 PM: Final hour. The crowd has thinned a bit but still really festive – we are talking with organizers and participants about how big the festival is this year, so many people here in The Junction, it reminds us of Summer Fest. Thanks to everyone who’s stopped by to say hi – from our booth in the heart of Walk-All-Ways, we’ve had a front-row seat for it all.

1:19 PM: The crowd’s thinned further because the rain has returned. Next big thing: Vote-counting for the chili cookoff. Here’s a tweet with a look at the contenders’ offerings:

Still some good stuff at this week’s market, too.

1:30 PM: And the chili winners are:

#1 – The Westy
#2 – Brookdale Admiral Heights
#3 – Shadowland

Congratulations!

2 PM: The rain hasn’t stopped but the festival’s wrapping up.

P.S. We will have a separate photo gallery plus some other festival followups at midday Monday.

(WSB file photo from past Harvest Festival)

Just a little over a day and a half until this year’s West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction, which runs concurrent with the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday.

The market remains in the street on California between Alaska and Oregon. Festival activities will also be found on California between Alaska and Edmunds, and on Alaska between 42nd and 44th.

*Activities (games, art, crafts, more – more than two dozen providers – all free!) 10 am-2 pm

*Chili competition on the southwest corner of California/Alaska starting at 11 am – buy a flight (nine competitors), vote for your favorite, and your $ goes to the West Seattle Food Bank

*Costume parade 11:30 am from Junction Plaza Park (gather there starting at 11:15 am at 42nd/Alaska), led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band

*Trick-or-treating at Junction businesses starting at noon

We’ll be there throughout the festival, covering it “live” from the heart of The Junction. See you there on Sunday (forecast so far looks like we’ll see some sunshine)!

(WSB file photo)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:46 PM: The 2016 West Seattle Harvest Festival has just been announced for Sunday, October 30th, 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. If you’re new here – the Harvest Festival is the annual street-fair combination of family activities, business trick-or-treating (that part starts at noon), and WS Farmers’ Market. The West Seattle Junction Association presents it, and director Lora Swift says they’re currently inviting prospective sponsors (WSB is already on board) and activity presenters. Go here ASAP if you’re a business interested in being a sponsor, and/or a business, nonprofit, or school interested in presenting an activity. (And yes, there will be a chili cookoff again this year, with the fee for tasting/judging benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – more to come on that.)

3:19 PM UPDATE: Here’s the scoop on how to enter the chili competition:

Participants must:

§ Be a West Seattle business.

§ Bring two gallons of hot chili made in commercial kitchen and an electric warmer. Maintain chili’s temperature to meet health standards.

§ Provide a chili server who has a current Food Handlers Card.

§ Be ready to serve at 11 am! With 2 gallons of chili, we’ll be able to serve about 100 flights and the competition will probably be done by 1 pm.

§ Space is limited to 8 competitors, and a minimum of 4 competitors are needed.

We’ll provide everything else. To register – admin@wsjunction.org with your business name, contact person, and agreement that rules will be followed.

The festival also includes a costume parade at 11:30 am, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band.

(WSB photo from Sunday, with 4 of the chili contenders, L-R: Todd from Elliott Bay, Amber from Freshy’s, Dave from West 5, Matt from Easy Street)

First of two followups this afternoon on Sunday’s mega-successful West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB): Full results, including fundraising, from the festival’s chili competition. We reported the winner in our as-it-happened coverage – here are the full results, from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:

Thank you so much (to the participants) in our very successful 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off. The West Seattle Food Bank and the clients we serve are most appreciative. We raised an incredible $2,025 in tastings and single serving sales and $357 in straight donations, for a total of $2582! Now for all of the voting results! Congratulations to Jeremy at Shadowland for taking home the beautiful trophy and bragging rights for a year with 41 votes. Here’s how the rest of the votes came in:

Elliott Bay Brewery with 36
The Westy with 26
Easy Street Café with 20
Husky Deli and West Seattle Brewery with 17 each
Freshy’s with 13
West 5 with 6

Everybody who bought a flight for a $10 WSFB donation got a vote; the participants all donated a huge vat of custom-cooked chili plus somebody to serve it, so it was a big contribution, and everyone was a winner, really, with the competition’s popularity – “where’s the chili?” was the most frequently asked question in the info booth.

Despite tonight’s storminess, the forecast is still looking relatively promising for the third annual West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm tomorrow. It’s on, rain or shine – activity booths are covered, so are Farmers’ Market stands, and of course local businesses are happy to welcome you for shopping/dining – so we hope it’s on your schedule already. As a co-sponsor and activity host, we’ll be reporting live starting around 9 am, so check in here in the morning. (And remember that California will be closed to traffic between Edmunds and Oregon, with Alaska closed between 42nd and 44th)

Meantime, one last roundup of festival info! The basics, again, are:
*10 am-2 pm, activities
*10 am-2 pm, Farmers’ Market in the street
*11 am-1 pm, chili competition on southwest corner of California/Alaska
*11:30 am, costume parade from Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band
*Noon-2 pm, trick-or-treating at participating storefronts

We’ve already previewed several of the activities (including ours!) and here’s a more comprehensive list (apologies if we’ve missed yours – this is a compilation of info provided by the Junction Association and sent by those answering a call for info) – read ahead!

Read More

(Updated: Afternoon screengrab from “live” SDOT camera at California/Alaska)
10:13 AM: From kids in costume to Farmers’ Market shoppers, West Seattleites aren’t letting the showers keep them away from the second annual Harvest Festival, happening now in the streets-closed heart of The Junction until 2 pm. We’re on the east side of the California/Alaska intersection, part of the “WSB x 3” pumpkin-bowling booth with WestSide Baby volunteers and West Seattle Bowl equipment.

More updates as the festival unfolds; full schedule here; bus reroutes here.

10:35 AM UPDATE: Hard to tell if we’re going to get another sunbreak, so you might as well grab the umbrella and come on down. We’re seeing more than a few costumed children here at the bowling booth – and nearby:

(Some costumed grownups have passed by, too!) Up and down California, the Farmers’ Market booths and activity tents are particularly festive, with pumpkins, colorful leaves, and other fall/harvest decorations. Less than an hour until the costume parade; meet at 11:30 at Junction Plaza Park, northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska, and less than half an hour until you can be a chili judge, right across the intersection in front of KeyBank. Live music nearby, courtesy of Nick Moyer:

11:07 AM UPDATE: The harvest theme doesn’t just involve plants – you can check out a few baby farm animals:

Right across the intersection, the chili competition is on! Donations for your “judging” samples (hurry, once they’re out, they’re out) go to the West Seattle Food Bank. The cooks are from eight great West Seattle venues (listed here):

More updates to come – including the costume parade!

11:48 AM UPDATE: There’s a snippet of Instagram video as the West Seattle High School Marching Band led the costume parade, which is just wrapping up after traveling all around the festival. We have the full parade on video and will add it once we’re able to get it uploaded. (Added – here it is! That’s Jim Edwards, West Seattle Grand Parade co-coordinator, on the motorcycle.)

REALLY good crowd here now – the rain has stopped, and we can see some blue sky in the distance!

12:06 PM UPDATE: The sun is back! Unscientific costume-tallying observation, meantime, indicates that “Star Wars” and superheroes are the most popular themes. Construction workers too – particularly topical given this year’s backdrop:

We also found a “minion”:

We’ve also seen a washing machine [photo added below], an airplane, lots of other costumes from simple to ornate … so glad to see everybody out having fun.

12:35 PM UPDATE: By the way, it’s officially trick-or-treat time now that it’s past noon. And if you don’t happen to have your own timekeeping device – don’t let the Jefferson Square clock on the southeast corner of 42nd/Alaska confuse you – it’s an hour fast (and if it’s not fixed by this time next week, it’ll be TWO hours fast, since we “fall back” next Sunday morning at 2 am). Here’s someone who knows something about time:

The festival and Farmers’ Market are on until 2 pm; still time to come down to The Junction.

12:51 PM UPDATE: Just got word that Husky Deli won the chili competition – as voted on by everybody who bought a “flight” of samples from the eight competitors, with proceeds benefiting the WS Food Bank.

Congratulations to Jack Miller and team. Judi Yazzolino from WS Food Bank (at right in the photo with Jack and, at left, Susan Melrose from the festival-presenting WS Junction Association) tells us 150 people donated $10 each to be taster/judges, and more than $200 extra was donated, so the food bank has $1,700 more with which to fight hunger, thanks to Harvest Festival-goers!

1:28 PM UPDATE: Half an hour left – crowd’s still going strong, and we have a line outside the “pumpkin bowling” booth. Lots of other activities here, thanks to great community businesses and organizations:

Among those organizations, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which is also handing out flyers for its next big event – the 67th community Pancake Breakfast, coming up December 7th.

2 PM: Festival’s over already! We’ll be adding more photos later – have to roll up the pumpkin-bowling booth first.

9:04 PM: Adding more photos, including some sent by WSB readers. Check back in the morning, as we’ll be adding off and on for the next few hours. First:

Terri Sharp shared the next two photos, and says she’s continuing to add more to her Flickr feed:

Nothing like checking the trick-or-treat bag!

The next two photos are courtesy of Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction – first, more candy inspection:

Next, the WSHS Band warming up in the park before the costume parade:

Still adding more!

Fall’s biggest festival is hours away. That tops the first part of our Sunday list – events from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide:

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL: 11 am-5 pm, rain or shine, it’s the return of the full in-person festival including business trick-or-treating – look for merchants with black/orange balloons. The festival is closing streets in addition to the regular Farmers’ Market closure, so California is closed Oregon to Edmunds, and SW Alaska is closed between 42nd and 44th. Key schedule points:
11 am – Costume parade starting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska)
11:30 am – Trick-or-treating and free family activities.
Noon-2 pm – Chili cookoff on SW corner of California/Alaska – $10 gets you a taste of each entry and a chance to vote, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank
Noon – Cornhole tournament for 32 preregistered teams
Noon, 1:30, 3:30 – Main-stage music (California/Alaska)
12:45 pm – Mural unveiling (main stage)
1 pm – Pie-eating contest (main stage)
1:30 pm – Story time (kids’ area)
2:30 pm – Square dancing
5 pm – Cornhole winners announced

We’ll be covering the festival live from the Info Booth, with updates throughout the day. See you there!

UNDERWATER PUMPKIN CARVING: 8 am-1:30 pm at Alki Beach, divers welcome to join – details here.

WITCHES & WIZARDS PADDLE: 11 am from north beach at Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW) – bring your own board – details in our calendar listing.

HALLOWEEN ‘KIDS EAT FREE’: 11 am-9 pm, dine-in or drive-thru at Pecos Pit-West Seattle (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor), and kids 12 and under eat free with purchase of an entree by someone accompanying them.

WHITE CENTER TRICK-OR-TREATING: Business trick-or-treating in White Center, primarily along 16th SW south of Roxbury, 1-5 pm.

SPOOKOUT 2022: 3-7 pm, brought to you by the people who led a community campaign to save their streetcorner tree north of Solstice Park – must email for appointment – our calendar listing explains.

LIGHT SHOW: Music-synched lights presented by West Seattle Yuletide, 6-9:30 pm, 38th SW between Dakota and Genesee.

NIGHTFALL ORPHANAGE: Spooky experience at 4544 51st Place SW, 7-10 pm. No admission charge, but charity donations requested. Details here.

YARD SHOW: “Halloween frights” with lights, sounds, ghosts at at 5206 23rd Ave SW.

STORE PARTY: After-Hours Halloween Party, all ages, at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 7-10 pm. “Costumes encouraged!”

That’s it for Halloween listings. Now, the second part of today’s list, from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:

CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s list here.

BIRD WALK: 9 am at Roxhill Park (29th/Barton), preregistration required – link and details in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Same location and same time even though the Harvest Festival is happening too – 10 am-2 pm, the market offers fall produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Co-housed Alki UCC and Kol HaNeshamah (6115 SW Hinds) team up for a walk-up Blessing of the Animals, noon-1 pm with Rabbi Sabine and Pastor Emily – details are in our calendar listing.

SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Last day to see the monthlong display of community-contributed art at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), open noon-5 pm today.

SCHOOL FUNDRAISER: 1-8 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), part of today’s proceeds will go to the Madison Middle School PTSA – tell them that’s why you’re there! (And yes, the Seahawks game will be on if you want to watch.)

CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: Monthly meeting, 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) – our calendar listing has info on what they’re discussing this month.

NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(WSB photo, kids’ pie-eating contest at 2018 Harvest Fest)

More details tonight about the expanded West Seattle Junction Harvest Fest, 11 am-5 pm Sunday, October 30th – but first, registration just opened tonight for two of its biggest events, and space is limited, so you’ll want to sign up if you’re interested:

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: Starting at noon, the tournament begins on courts spread out on California and Alaska. Registration is limited to 32 teams – first-come, first-served. The cost per 2-person team: $45. Find prize details and more info on the registration form.

PIE-EATING CONTESTS: At 1 pm, A La Mode Pies will host adults’ and kids’ pie-eating contests. It’s free to register, but only 10 kid spots and 10 adult spots are available. Kid registration is here; adult registration is here.

Here are other festival details:

FESTIVAL FOOTPRINT: Almost as big as Summer Fest – SW Alaska will close from 42nd to 44th, California SW will close from Oregon to Edmunds (the Farmers’ Market will be in its usual spot on California between Oregon and Alaska),

COSTUME PARADE: 11 am, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band – line up at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) pre-parade.

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES AND TRICK-OR-TREATING: 11:30 am-3 pm. Activities will be in booths all along California; businesses participating in trick-or-treating will display orange and black balloons.

CHILI COOKOFF: Noon-2 pm; $10 tickets get you tastes and votes, and benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Competitors include Husky Deli, Shadowland, Pecos Pit BBQ, The Westy, Baker’s Dozen Catering, Margie’s Café, and NW Texas BBQ.

MAIN STAGE MUSIC: 8-Bit Brass Band at noon, Heebie Jeebies at 1:30, Potholes at 3:30.

MURAL UNVEILING: On the main stage at 12:45 pm, your first look at the completed Summer Fest mural created by community members led by artist Stacey Sterling.

STORYTELLING: 1:30 pm with Dolly Warden

SQUARE DANCING: 2:30 pm with Caller Andy Garboden.

Updates before festival day will be at wsjunction.org.

Get ready for a rollicking good time! HARVEST FEST takes over the West Seattle Junction on October 30th.

Festival Hours: 11 am – 5 pm, Sunday, Oct 30.

Street Closures: SW Alaska closed from 42nd to 44th. California Ave SW closed from Alaska to Edmunds. (California from Oregon to Alaska will be closed for the Farmers Market as usual.)

Schedule of Events

11:00: Costume Parade kicks off the fun, led by WSHS Marching Band and Jim Edwards on his motorcycle. Kids line up from Junction Plaza Park along 42nd.

11:30 – 3:00: Free Kids Activities at booths up and down California, provided by local businesses, non-profits and neighborhood groups. Also, Trick-or-Treating at select Junction shops. Look for orange and black balloons at merchants to know who is offering candy.

12:00: Cornhole Tournament begins on courts spread out on California and Alaska. Registration limited to 32 teams – first come first served. Cost per 2-person team: $45. Prize details and more info on registration form.
Registration goes live at 6:00 pm October 11th! https://wsjunction.wufoo.com/forms/qlridck0jbx4ic/
Link also available on the Junction’s website https://wsjunction.org/

12-2: Chili Cookoff hosted by and benefitting the West Seattle Food Bank. Get your $10 tickets on site to taste and vote. Competitors include Husky Deli, Shadowland, Pecos Pit BBQ, The Westy, Baker’s Dozen Catering, Margie’s Café, and NW Texas BBQ.

12:00: Main Stage Music – 8-Bit Brass Band

12:45: Unveiling of the Sea Life Mural that was painted by the community and Stacey Sterling. (Main Stage)

1:00: Pie Eating Contest. Hosted by Ala Mode Pies. We have adults and kids. Prizes! Free to register, but only 10 Kid spots and 10 Adult spots available. Registration goes live at 6:00 pm October 11th!
Kids registration: https://wsjunction.wufoo.com/forms/q10csx4j043egaf/
Adults registration: https://wsjunction.wufoo.com/forms/q2wt1wm17qk9o4/
Links also available on the Junction’s website https://wsjunction.org/

1:30 – 2:00: Storytelling with Dolly Warden for children ages 3 – 12. (Kids area)

1:30 Mainstage music – Heebie Jeebies

2:30 – 3:30: Square Dancing with Caller Andy Garboden! All welcome to have fun! https://www.squaredancecallerandy.com/ (Main Stage)

3:30: Mainstage music – Potholes

5:00: Cornhole Tournament winners announced. (Main Stage)

Stay for the whole day and celebrate the season in style!

(WSB photo from 2019 Harvest Festival)

Last year, trick-or-treating returned – this year, the West Seattle Junction Association is ready to put on a full-fledged Harvest Festival for the first time in three years! Sunday, October 30th is the date. And while Harvest Fest will again share the streets of The Junction with the Farmers’ Market, the festival will feature new features this year – including live music and a cornhole tournament. Some traditional favorites will return: The costume parade at 11 am, the chili cookoff at noon, for starters. The festival will run longer than years past, too. Trick-or-treating will run 11 am-2 pm; a pie-eating contest is planned at 1 pm; square dancing at 2:30 pm, and music continuing into the afternoon, with the announcement of the cornhole-tournament winners planned to end the festival at 5 pm. Stay tuned for more details as it gets closer!

(WSB photo, October 2019)

Last weekend’s Summer Fest/Sidewalk Sale was the last hybrid event planned by the West Seattle Junction Association – looking ahead to Halloween season, WSJA tells WSB that the “full Harvest Festival” will be back. That means trick-or-treating, a costume parade, and other activities mingled with the Farmers’ Market in the street in the heart of The Junction (here’s our coverage of the last one in 2019) – and Halloween is on a Sunday this year! That said, the hybrid Summer Fest offered in-person and online fun – WSJA invites you to enjoy this online recap with photos and video, showing how it all unfolded. Between now and Harvest Fest, watch for Night Out on August 3, West Seattle Art Walk on August 12, Fall Clean on a TBA date, and the new Junction gift card – good in multiple businesses – available soon!

In our as-it-happened West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival coverage on Sunday, we mentioned the winners of the Chili Cookoff but promised a followup – and courtesy of Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank, here it is:

WOW, this year’s Chili Cook-off at the West Seattle Junction’s Harvest Festival was bigger and better than last year for the West Seattle Food Bank. Thank you to all that purchased their tastings and ate some fabulous chili. We sold 405 tastings before the chili ran out, which was 65 more than last year, and raised $4,087 including donations.

A huge thank you to the Junction Association for allowing us to participate and to the generosity of chili & time that the nine participating businesses donated. Thank you to Duos Catering, Easy Street Cafe, Elliott Bay Brewery, Girls Gone BBQ, Husky Deli, Ma’ono, Pecos Pit BBQ, Shadowland, & The Westy. A big congratulations to Ben & Josh at Duos Catering for winning coveted bragging rights for a 3rd year in a row! And to Easy Street Café for 2nd place & Elliott Bay Brewery for 3rd place.

Each cookoff participant made and donated 5 gallons of chili as well as server time! (Photo by WSFB board member Jan Roberts)

(Festival info/map here … Bus reroute info here …)

10:03 AM: Not only is the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on in The Junction as always … so is the Harvest Festival, with a bonus block of activities on California south to Edmunds … both until 2 pm! Our as-it-happens coverage starts now.

The Chili Cookoff is on, at the KeyBank corner – $10 gets you 9 tastes and a vote, and the money goes to the West Seattle Food Bank … the contenders are right behind the booth:

The weather is clear but chilly so bundle up! The sun will be a little higher in the sky by Costume Parade time at 11:30. We’re already seeing lots of costumes:

We’re in the Info Booth at California/Alaska – right across from us at the south end of the Farmers’ Market block, you’ll find the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, who would be happy to sell you advance tickets to their December 7th pancake breakfast!

11:12 AM: Lots of people here enjoying the festival. If you are here for the parade, gather at Junction Plaza Park, where the West Seattle High School Band is warming up. Meantime, activities continue on the block south of Alaska throughout the festival:

Above, Titans Lacrosse; below, Mode Music Studios.

Above, Westside School (which is a WSB sponsor as are the Titans and Mode); below, West City Rope Ninjas. 50 businesses, schools, and organizations are here with activities:

11:54 PM: The parade, which circles the Farmers’ Market block, has just wrapped up. The band had an appropriate song:

Now it’s trick-or-treat time – businesses as well as booths! P.S. If you’re looking for something more savory, chili’s still available last time we checked the cookoff booth. Right next to it on the west side of California/Alaska is the Cider/Cocoa Garden, $2 for either.

Festival and Market both continue until 2 pm.

12:51 PM: Costume-watching continues, as does trick-or-treating – visit your Junction merchants too – they sponsor the festival through the Junction Association!

Above, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor); below, Curious Kidstuff:

Along with the merchants, thanks to the many volunteers here today too! Events coming up: Around 1:30 pm, the chili vote winner will be announced; that’s also when the kids’ pie-eating contest (all spots filled, we’re told) will be happening here at the Info Booth (California/Alaska).

1:23 PM: Lots of costumed pets as well as people. CJ sent these photos of “Pope Leo” and “Stuart Little”:

1:34 PM: The Chili Cookoff vote results are in:
Duos #1
Easy Street #2
Elliott Bay #3

(Matt from Easy Street and Ben from Duos, with Judi from WSFB)

Almost 400 ballots cast — great support for the WS Food Bank (official tally later)!

1:54 PM: Festival’s almost over – here’s a bit of how the pie-eating contest went:

(added) Here’s Chris with winners Connor, Seth, and Arthur:

8:10 PM: A few photos added inline above, and below:

Above – name that costume! Below, from the WSHS Band leading the parade:

The littlest kids’ costumes were some of the cutest:

Thanks to everybody for coming down and being part of the festival!

Festival doubleheader tomorrow, so we have one last round of previews tonight.

First up on Sunday is the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm, concurrent with the Farmers’ Market. The highlights:

Street closure – California between Oregon and Edmunds, Alaska between 42nd and 44th
Bus reroutes – Listed here
Activities – Businesses, schools, and organizations’ booths are mostly on California south of Alaska. 10 am-2 pm
Chili cookoff – $10 (benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank) for a flight of nine tastes and a ballot, California/Alaska, starting at 10 am
Applepalooza – Taste and vote at the Market, starting at 10 am
Cocoa/cider garden – $2, on Alaska west of California
Family costume parade – Everyone welcome! West Seattle High School Marching Band leads the way. Meet at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska); starts at 11:30 am
Trick-or-treating – Noon, at participating Junction businesses + festival Info Booth
Kids’ pie-eating contest – 1:30 pm, Info Booth

We’ll be in the Info Booth with as-it-happens coverage, so check WSB for festival updates. See you in The Junction!

Sunday’s festival doubleheader starts with the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm. As we continue our countdown, here’s the map!

New this year, a Hot Cider and Cocoa Garden – your choice of beverage will cost just $2, whipped cream included if you want it! PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) is the cocoa/cider/whipped cream provider; The Beer Junction is donating its time to run the “garden.”

The festival also features:
–Applepalooza tasting and voting during the Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm)
–Activities presented by local businesses/schools/organizations (10 am-2 pm)
–Chili Cookoff benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank (10 am until sold out)
–Costume Parade at 11:30 am
–Trick or Treating at noon
–Kids’ Pie-Eating Contest at 1:30 pm

We’ll be in the Info Booth in the heart of The Junction; see you Sunday. (WSB is a Harvest Festival community co-sponsor.)

Those medals await the 8- to 12-year-olds who win the kids’ pumpkin-pie-eating contest at the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. If yours wants to be part of it, you need to sign up at A la Mode Pies in The Junction (4225 SW Alaska, hours here) ASAP – they’re looking for 10 participants (eight spots remain at last check). The contest will happen at 1:30 pm at California/Alaska during the festival this Sunday (October 27th).

The festival also features:
–Applepalooza tasting and voting during the Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm)
–Activities presented by local businesses/schools/organizations (10 am-2 pm)
–Chili Cookoff benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank (10 am until sold out)
–Hot Cocoa/Cider Garden
–Costume Parade at 11:30 am
–Trick or Treating at noon

See you Sunday in The Junction! (WSB is a Harvest Festival community co-sponsor.)

(WSB photo from past West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival)

We know, the weekend’s just ended, but so much is happening next weekend, we’re going to spend the whole week looking ahead to it. Today we’re continuing previews with another one focused on the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. It runs concurrent with the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm Sunday (October 27th), and while the market remains on its usual block of California SW, the street closure will extend south to SW Edmunds, with the extra block full of activities provided by local businesses, schools, and organizations, who provided these descriptions:

*Create King and Queen crowns
*Decorate tea-light lanterns with leaves, glitter, etc. and put the handles on. Made out of school milk cartons!
*Bean Bag into Pumpkins Toss
*Jack o’ Lantern Face basketball hoop shoot.
*Tea light crafts
*Turkey hands: kids will draw their hands and paint them to look like turkeys
*Pumpkin faces: kids with paint a paper plate with two holes for eyes and they can paint
*Photo booth with Halloween props
*Hula hoops for contests to see who can last the longest and just general fun with a large photo backdrop so parents can take pictures
*Kids coloring placemats.
*Spin a wheel or pick up a pumpkin (and look underneath) to see if they win a prize or a 4oz Pumpkin yogurt cup
*Fly casting for kids!
*”Mock” election for kids to try out ranked-choice voting.
*Spin wheel for small prizes!
*Cookie Decorating
*Coloring pages
*Marshmallow/toothpick building, hand turkeys, and large Pinko
*”Build your own sushi” table with hot glue guns (adults will be there to help assemble), cotton balls, felt and markers etc. Come on over and build your own nigiri and temaki’s!
*Math games for students and they will win free prizes and candies
*Coloring and origami
*Sensory bins
*Food systems-based trivia for all ages. Prizes will include a selection of goods
*Spinning wheel that kids can spin to win fun prizes
*Spooky tic-tac toe with painted rocks. Winners will receive a prize!
*Learn to row with a coach.
*Button making and a guitar for kids to try out
*Cow Toss Corn Hole
*Mini putt-putt golf green with small prizes for making a hole in one.
*Goal with a goalie that kids will be able to pick up a lacrosse stick and take shots on goal!
*Allow kids to harvest seeds off plantings and create seed packs that they can take home and plant in their home gardens
*A spin wheel, ring toss, Plinko board
*Witch hat hoop throw and obstacle course.
*Decorate lunch sacks to look like Turkeys
*Decorate mini pumpkins
*Pie Face – kids dig through whipped cream with their mouth to pull out the candy corn and pumpkin candy. Each has their own pie dish to dig in
*Ring toss the Pumpkin – we line up pumpkins and they use a hula hoop to ring toss a pumpkin
*Connect 4
*Jenga and Corn Hole
*Color your own teddy bear and a photo booth.
*Cornhole, stickers, coloring.
*Getting kids involved in jump roping
*Photo booth
*Fishing booth where kids get fishing poles to catch Goldfish crackers.
*Applepalooza (Farmers’ Market taste testing and voting)
*Photo Booth with costumes and cut out dancers and coloring!
*Coloring pages and a fun spinner wheel trivia game

Also – the costume parade at 11:30 am, trick-or-treating at noon, and the chili cookoff (as previewed here). We’ll be in the Info Booth at Walk-All-Ways just like West Seattle Summer Fest – see you there!

(WSB photo from 2018 Harvest Festival)

Time to start counting down to next weekend’s biggest event, the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival (Sunday, October 27th, 10 am-2 pm). First preview: A popular feature, the Chili Cookoff, which raises money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Nine local restaurants/caterers donate chili so hundreds of “flights” can be served for $10 donations; tasters get to vote, and at 1:30 pm, the winner will be crowned. From Lora Radford of the West Seattle Junction Association, this year’s list of competitors:

Duos Catering
Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay
Girls Gone BBQ
Husky Deli
Ma’ono
Pecos Pit
Shadowland
The Westy

All but Ma’ono were part of last year’s lineup; the 2018 winner was Duos. Who will win the taste test this year? Look for the chili being served on the southwest corner of California/Alaska during the festival, which also includes a Hot Cocoa/Cider Garden, the costume parade at 11:30 am, trick-or-treating at noon, and the Farmers’ Market ongoing throughout.

Set your calendar for Sunday, October 27th for West Seattle Harvest Festival! 10 am to 2 pm. Full details here.

GAMES, CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES 10 am – 2pm Games and arts activities brought to you many merchants, nonprofits and community groups all along California Ave from SW Alaska St to Edmunds.

HOT COCOA AND CIDER GARDEN 10 am – 2 pm Yes, it’s true – we’ve got hot cocoa and hot cider garden for people of all ages. Find the cocoa and cider garden on Alaska St by Easy Street Records.

APPLEPALOOZA 10 am – 2 pm Brought to you by the West Seattle Farmers Market. Taste and vote for your favorite apples.

HARVEST FARMERS MARKET 10 am – 2pm Enjoy the bounty of the season at the usual Sunday Farmers Market location between SW Oregon and SW Alaska on California Ave.

CHILI COOK-OFF 10 am – 1pm See local restaurants go head-to-head at the chili cook-off (located by Key Bank at the all-walk). $10 buys you nine tastings – let your taste buds vote for the favorite! All proceeds goes to the West Seattle Food Bank. Check out the cook-off and buy yourself some chili. See the champion crowned at 1:30 pm.

COSTUME PARADE 11:30 am Meet in Junction Plaza Park (SW Alaska and 42nd Ave) for the costume parade led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band and Kawanis motorcyclists. Stop by before the start of the parade for a homemade musical instrument activity.

TRICK OR TREAT 12 NOON See what treats the Junction merchants and booths have for little hands. Also stop by the INFO BOOTH located at the All-Walk for treats!

KIDS PUMPKIN PIE EATING CONTEST (Ages 8-13) 1:30 pm Presented by A la Mode Pies. Sign up at A la Mode Pies for the contest, tons of prizes for first, second and third place. Pie eating contest will be held at the INFO BOOTH located at the All-Walk intersection of California Ave SW and SW Alaska St.

(WSB photos from Sunday)

As reported in our as-it-happened West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival coverage Sunday, Duos Catering won the Chili Cookoff. But thanks to all nine contenders who donated and served chili, and the hundreds of people who bought tastes and voted, the real winners are the West Seattle Food Bank‘s clients – Lora Radford of the WSJA (above left) sends word via Judi Yazzolino of WSFB (above right) that the cookoff raised $3,400 to fight hunger. Plus, the Root Beer Garden raised $130 in tips for WSFB.

The folks from The Beer Junction ran the garden again this year. As a festival sponsor, we were there to cover it all – see our as-it-happened report here and bonus photo gallery here!

Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog

As promised – more views from the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, which filled the streets in the heart of The Junction with four hours of fun on Sunday. (Here’s our as-it-happened coverage.) Costumed canines were part of the fun:

The festival began as a fusion of the Farmers’ Market and Junction business trick-or-treating – and has continued to grow, but both of those components are still part of it:

The Farmers’ Market can take on a sort of town-square character, where you see your friends and neighbors. The Harvest Festival, like Summer Fest, is something of a supercharged version:

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