(WSB video by Tracy Record)
With SPD motorcycles in the lead, followed by a privately owned historic fire engine (more about that later), West Seattle’s only Fourth of July parade strolled and rolled through North Admiral this morning to start the holiday. The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents the West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade, which our video above shows in its entirety; president Joanie Jacobs spoke briefly pre-parade, followed in our clip below by anthem singer Kavya Bhatkar and this year’s guest elected official, Seattle School Board president (and Admiral entrepreneur) Gina Topp:

(WSB video by Jason Grotelueschen)
ADDED 2:07 PM: Now, WSB photojournalist Torin Record-Sand‘s photos from the parade, and the Hamilton Viewpoint Park funfest that followed. First – like many a parade, this one had convertibles:

Others rode on two wheels:

Some paraders got parental assistance:

Pets paraded too:

And some signage was sighted:

Some shirts made statements, too:

Over at the park, food and treat trucks drew crowds:

So did the activity booths featuring parade sponsors including Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (also a WSB sponsor):

They offered a tea activity:

Steps away, on the park green, the sack races were a highlight as always:

The joke-cracking race emcee was local lawyer Imants Holmquist again this year:

Two more notes: First, about the fire truck. It’s a 1942 American LaFrance, owned by West Seattle resident Bill Ayer for the past 37 years:

And the parade was supported for the first time by volunteer communicators from the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club – among them, Ron Zuber, who we photographed along the route:

The club also supports the West Seattle Grand Parade (which is just two weeks away!).

P.S. The Admiral Neighborhood Association has more big summer events to come – Admiral Music in the Parks concerts July 16, 23, and 30, and the Admiral Block Party on August 22.

That’s one of dozens of flags lining The Junction today after volunteers put them in place this morning. This is one of several holidays each year when the West Seattle Junction Association brings them out. They’ll be up until volunteers return to take them down after 4 pm. WSJA, the nonprofit merchants’ association, relies on volunteer power for a variety of tasks – if you want to help, here’s how.

(Nature’s own fireworks – Friday night photo by Kevin Stock)

Here’s info we’ve gathered on what’s happening and what’s not on this Independence Day holiday. (More to add? Please text us – 206-293-6302.)

CHANGES/CLOSURES: For transit/transportation, >Metro buses are on their regular Saturday schedule with some extra late-night service; King County Water Taxi is on its normal Saturday service; so are Washington State Ferries; Seattle street parking is free; libraries, banks, USPS are closed. Here’s the Seattle Parks holiday roundup.

WEST SEATTLE FOURTH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: 10 am start from 44th SW/SW Sunset, just show up and you’re in this short, non-motorized parade, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, winding a few blocks through North Admiral neighborhoods and then to Hamilton Viewpoint Park for sack races, game booth, treat and food trucks (as listed in our parade preview). Note: Please do not park on the parade route.

DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: New location! 10 am-2 pm, shop for fruit and vegetables, prepared food and beverages, artisan body care, more … Here’s who to expect this week. (9th SW and SW Henderson)

MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

FREE WRITING GROUP TAKES HOLIDAY BREAK: No meeting today.

ALKI HISTORY WALKING TOUR: What better holiday for learning about history? Register here, then meet at the Log House Museum (61st SW and SW Stevens) at 11 am.

ALSO AT THE MUSEUM – FOURTH OF JULY STORYTIME: 11 am-1 pm, storytelling, crafts, lemonade, free!

SPRAYPARK SEASON: The season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)

BASEBALL: Holiday home game for the DubSea Fish Sticks at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, 11:05 am, vs. the A’s. Online tickets are sold out but you can check at the ball park!

COLMAN POOL: Rain or shine – noon-7 pm, daily operation continues at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

ALKI LADY LIBERTY PROCESSION: Noon on the Alki promenade, explained here.

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park – the forecast is for sunshine and 70+ degrees – so this pool should be open, noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS: Seattle’s one and only show is the Seafair Fourth of July fireworks over Lake Union, 10:15 pm, partly visible from north-/northeast-facing West Seattle. (Want to watch on TV? Channel 13 this year.) Vashon/Maury Islands have a fireworks show too.

NO REVELRY ROOM SPINNING: Closed for the holiday.

NO SATURDAY NIGHT SKATING: Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW) is closed tonight, Sunday, and Monday for floor resurfacing.

Planning a West Seattle event that’s open to the community? Tell us about it; calendar listings are free of charge, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

With the Fourth of July happening on a Saturday this year, that sets up some differentiation in what’s closed Friday and what’s not. The general rule is, if an agency/service is generally open on Saturdays, it’ll be closed on the actual holiday Saturday and open tomorrow, but if it’s not generally open on Saturdays, it’ll be observe the holiday on Friday. This means, among other things, that banks, libraries, and the USPS are open/in service Friday, closed Saturday. And some have modified schedules both days – as seen in the Seattle Parks plan. And if you use street parking in areas where the city charges for it, Saturday is the free-parking day. (We’ll have holiday transit info in our morning traffic/transit/weather roundup Friday morning.)

Just two days until hundreds of West Seattle’s youngest residents will parade through the streets of North Admiral with their families, as the Admiral Neighborhood Association again presents the West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade. We’ve checked in with parade coordinators for the newest info:
>Gina Topp (SPS School Board President, Admiral resident, and owner of Mission Cantina) will kick off the parade.

–Kavya Bhatkar (age 10), a School of Rock student, will sing the anthem.

-Title sponsors for the parade are: Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care and Holy Rosary.

-Food available for purchase including:

Seattle Pops
West Seattle Grounds
Where Ya at Matt
Empanadas El Pachi
La La Lemonade
Seattle Sorbet
Hawk Dogs
Sugar & Spoon

The parade starts at 10 am Saturday from 44th SW and SW Sunset, heads west on Sunset for a bit, turns south and then east, ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park for a post-parade celebration with sack races, activity booths, the aforementioned food/treat vendors, and if they’re not called away to an emergency, an SFD truck to see. No RSVP or registration required to be in the parade – just show up (non-motorized bikes, trikes, scooters, strollers, etc., welcome, or just walk).

We’re just five days away from the 4th of July, so it’s time to remind you that the holiday brings a quarter-century-plus tradition – the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade! This is a “show up and you’re part of it” parade, starting at 10 am Saturday at 45th SW and Sunset SW [map] in North Admiral, winding through a few residential blocks before crossing California SW and heading into Hamilton Viewpoint Park for post-parade fun – sack races, activity booths, food trucks. This is a non-motorized parade (except for the classic pickup truck and fire truck that usually lead it), but pedaled bikes, push scooters, wagons, and strollers are welcome. The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents the parade, powered by volunteers, donations, and sponsorships (more on that here).

(‘Bey’ the Bald Eagle, photographed by James Tilley)

Here’s info you might find useful on this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026:

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET

Rain and wind expected by pm, low-60s high. Sunrise was at 5:20 am; sunset will be at 8:52 pm.

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION

Metro: Sunday schedule

West Seattle Water Taxi and its shuttles: Regular weekday schedule

Washington State Ferries: The ferry-alert page says Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth will be on a holiday schedule today

Sound Transit: Sunday schedule for light rail, ST Express buses

Other services: See a list here

No charge for street parking in Seattle neighborhoods with city-managed pay-to-park

TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Our page highlighting local cameras is here

SDOT’s map with cameras and alerts from around the city is here

CLOSURES

Most Seattle Parks facilities

Seattle Public Library facilities

Schools

Government offices

Banks

USPS holiday

RAIN-OR-SHINE OUTDOOR AQUATICS

Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale)

Colman Pool (noon-7 pm, on Lincoln Park shore, session schedule here)

REMEMBERING

*The traditional Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW), 2 pm, all welcome

Anything else we should know/ensure your neighbors know about? Texting’s the best way to reach us today – 206-293-6302 – thank you!

(2025 WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)

If you’re looking for a ceremonial way to observe Memorial Day on Monday, Forest Lawn in West Seattle has announced its annual ceremony:

Join us in person to honor and remember at our Annual Memorial Day Celebration (2 pm at Forest Lawn Cemetery & Funeral Home)! Pay tribute to those who have served our country with an event of music, speeches and a flag ceremony. Share stories and connect with the community. Whether you come with friends or family, there’s a warm welcome waiting for you. Don’t miss out on a meaningful way to spend the day outdoors.

Forest Lawn’s official address is 6701 30th SW but the ceremony is toward the south side of the cemetery – look for the canopy and flagpole.

(2025 WSB photo, Lincoln Park)

In recent years, Eastridge Church‘s egg-hunt extravaganza at Lincoln Park, usually the Saturday before Easter, has been the biggest one in West Seattle. We noticed when compiling information for the first list we published that it wasn’t mentioned anywhere on Eastridge’s website – neither for its West Seattle church nor its Eastside main campus. We asked Eastridge’s Heather Westad, who replied, “We are moving away from doing egg hunts this year and trying other things on Sunday morning during service. In West Seattle the kids will have a simple hunt during the service that ties in with the church gathering and other kids Easter activities.” So no Lincoln Park hunt this year, but so far our list has nine others, on March 28, April 3, and April 4 – see the lineup here.

P.S. For egg hunts after churches’ Easter services, see this list.

Story, photos, and video by Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

This afternoon, community members gathered at West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center to celebrate Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The event was hosted by the Trần Hưng Đạo foundation, the nonprofit group that operates the center.

To start off the event, the crowd was called to attention by emcee Thúy Nguyễn, with an explanation that 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, thought to represent energy, vitality, grace, and free spirit, and hopes tthat the horse would “bring you into the joyous year ahead. … May this year find you abound in good health and your family be blessed with luck, love, and prosperity!”

Then came a flag ceremony carried out by Vietnamese military veterans, raising the flag of South Vietnam and singing its anthem, after a salute to the U.S. flag. There was also a moment of silence to honor the fallen U.S. and Vietnamese service members from the Vietnam War.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, onlookers were invited to watch a lion dance performed by Vovinam Burien.

Appearances were made by two city councilmembers, Seattle’s Rob Saka and Tukwila’s Jane Ho, who provided short speeches and expressions of gratitude for being invited to the celebration.

(Center director Lee Bui with Councilmember Rob Saka)

Councilmember Saka – representing District 1 including West Seattle, South Park, SODO, Pioneer Square and Georgetown – took to the microphone first. He extended congratulations to fellow Councilmember Ho in light of her recent election, and added that as one of the few local elected officials of Vietnamese ancestry, her representation matters. He continued thanking volunteers from the foundation, including for their support of unhoused neighbors in the community.

Ho, a graduate of West Seattle High School and a newly elected member of the Tukwila City Council, followed. She affirmed Saka’s notion of representation by adding that it was an honor to be representing the Vietnamese community. She thanked the Bui family – center director Lee Bui and his daughter Lynda Bui – for enabling her to celebrate the Lunar New Year this afternoon.

At the conclusion of the speeches, attendees were invited to eat and socialize. An array of food was served outside, with some portions placed on the indoor altar to be shared with the ancestors.

Other aspects of the traditional altar were incense, flowers, fruit, as well as the five-color flag representing the five fundamental elements of the universe. Music ensued and some participants opted to sing karaoke while others ate. Celebrations were somewhat rushed this year, however, because of continuous rain.

Eventually, the center will have an indoor space in a building under construction on the property along SW Orchard west of Delridge Way. Lynda Bui said the building would serve as a retail front, with living spaces as well as a hall to support the cultural center. However, construction is currently on hold.

The Trần Hưng Đạo foundation’s next community event at the Vietnamese Cultural Center will honor the Trung Sisters on March 14. The sisters were integral in “raising an army to fight colonial oppression, earning them a place in history,” according to the Vietnamese Cultural Center website.

The Christmas season doesn’t end on December 25 .. and here’s a ton of proof.

Judy Pickens sent this followup about the results of one of this past season’s unique giving opportunities:

Results are in from the annual Festival of Trees at Fauntleroy Church – which continued into the first week of January – and they’re impressive.

The goal for the forest of 16 creatively decorated trees was to collect 1,500 “votes” of shelf-stable food items for area food banks. Those who came to enjoy the trees generously blew past that goal to give just over 2,000 items. West Seattle and White Center food banks were able to restock their shelves with a full ton of food from the project.

Three trees tied for the most votes:

Furry Friends – the Goldfines & the Mandts
Love in Many Languages – the Petty, Johnson & Harwood team
Year-Round Joy in Fauntleroy Park – Hazelwood Preschool (below)

We showed some of the trees in this early-December report, as well as in some of our daily event lists, as the trees were on display for visitation for about a month.

That was just part of the crowd – likely 2,000+ strong – that ran into and out of Puget Sound all along Alki Beach at 10 am sharp. Biggest crowd yet, as estimated by some practiced eyes – the beach was full of scenes pre-swim that resembled tailgate parties. The food-donation bins put out by organizer Mark Ufkes and family were getting filled, too, adding an expression of giving spirit to the ever-more-popular occasion.

ADDED 11:50 AM: Mark and wife Lois Schipper, a longtime public-health professional now living with early-onset Alzheimer’s (as Mark mentioned in this year’s swim announcement), went into the water from mid-beach

(WSB photos from here by Dave Gershgorn)

But first he had to do the countdown!

Pre-plunge, Mark told WSB’s Jason Grotelueschen – who recorded the video above – that it’s amazing to see the community come out every year… this year the water temperature (mid-40s) was considerably warmer than the air temperature (mid-30s), which makes going in less shocking, “at least that’s the theory! But we never truly get used to it.” Going into 2026, he encouraged people to truly care for each other and encourage each other because “they need it more than we’ll ever know.” Many were there with friends, family, as Dave Gershgorn‘s next 12 photos for WSB show:

ADDED 12:55 PM: Other sights:

(WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)

No fewer than three mobile saunas were there – a microbusiness trend around here – as part of a group of wellness enterpreneurs who set up at and near the Bathhouse, along with the Alki Community Council, whose president Charlotte Starck and vice president Zak Nyberg walked the beach handing out mylar blankets – like the one modeled here by Alki Beach Pride‘s Stacy Bass-Walden:

(WSB photo by Tracy Record)

Shortly after arrival, we passed a family whose littlest member could be heard asking their parents, “Why are there hundreds of people?” We didn’t hear the answer but ultimately it could be – why not? Happy 2026!

(Reader photo, foggy New Year’s Eve at Solstice Park)

Welcome to 2026! We hope this info will be helpful on your New Year’s Day holiday:

WEATHER ALERT: Dense Fog Advisory this morning. Besides visibility challenges, beware of frosty streets.

BUSES: Metro‘s on the Sunday schedule. (Free rides were just for New Year’s Eve, so fares ARE being collected again as of a few hours ago.)

WATER TAXI: Not running today.

FERRIES: Weekend schedule on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route – check for alerts here.

MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this SDOT map.

COFFEE AND RESTAURANT/BAR HOURS: This year, we made lists, though closures for New Year’s are far fewer than for Christmas; open/closed coffee shops are listed here, open/closed restaurants/bars are here (scroll past the Christmas info to get to the New Year’s info).

GROCERY HOURS TODAY: A few changes today – our list is here.

NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS: As they do every year, the Emerald City Wanderers are hosting New Year’s Day walks, starting at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church. The 5- or 10-kilometer walks are noncompetitive, starting between 8:30 and 11:30 am. There is no fee, though contributions to help cover costs are welcome. Hot soup will be available after the walks. St John’s is at 3050 California SW.

ALKI POLAR BEAR SWIM + FOOD DRIVE: You’re invited to join in the annual tradition of running into Puget Sound with more than a thousand others at 10 am sharp, from the beach across from Do Si BBQ, or really, anywhere along the sand – this year, bring a nonperishable-food donation if you can – here’s here’s our most-recent reminder.

OTHER THINGS TO DO: See our Event Calendar – the West Seattle Book Club‘s special holiday edition at 7 pm is a highlight!

OTHER NOTES: Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed … Solid-waste pickups are on one-day delay for the rest of the week.

If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365!