(WSB file photo)

Just three nights until this year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting, Saturday night (December 1st) at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska)! We’ve already mentioned the plan is different from years past – primarily that the stage performances will span a few hours during the Night Market, instead of being clumped together preceding the tree lighting. So here’s what’ll happen onstage and when:

4:00 pm Mode Music Studios – holiday singalong

4:30 pm The Not-It’s

5:15 pm Endolyne Children’s Choir

5:45 pm School of Rock West Seattle

6:00 pm Jack Menashe and Linda Menashe, bringing Santa and grandkids onstage to light the tree

The Night Market will be bigger than ever, with dozens of vendors/artists in closed-for-the-occasion SW Alaska by the park – we’ll preview that lineup tomorrow! (And you’ll find many more seasonal events in our frequently updated West Seattle Holiday Guide.)

As we head into the heart of the holiday season, here’s a reminder about what’s in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, grouped by event type (whether one-time or ongoing), including:

-Bazaars, business open houses, craft fairs, art sales, other types of special shopping events
-Gift wrapping
-Santa
-Light shows and tree lightings
-Christmas Ship visits
-Trees and wreaths
-Concerts
-Community parties
-Also a special section for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays, which we’re co-sponsoring

And the guide has even more, such as service schedules, New Year’s Eve/Day celebrations … If your school, business, organization, etc. has something happening that’s open to the public, just e-mail us the info and we’ll get it in the guide – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(WSB photos from 2017 Tree Lighting and Night Market)

One week from tonight – on Saturday, December 1st – you’re invited to the biggest celebration of the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays season – the Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Night Market, in and around Junction Plaza Park.

One big difference this year: Rather than an extended tree-lighting ceremony with speeches and songs, there’ll be entertainment throughout the Night Market, and then a simple, fun gathering at 6 pm with Santa lighting the tree. From the West Seattle Junction Association, here’s the schedule:

*Night Market starts at 3 pm
*Endolyne Children’s Choir, 4 pm
*The Not-Its, 4:30 pm
*Mode Music Studios, 5:30 pm
*School of Rock West Seattle, 5:45 pm
*Santa lights the tree, 6 pm
*Night Market continues until 7 pm

It’s a bigger Night Market than ever, in the street on SW Alaska between California and 42nd – more than 40 local artists/vendors selling handmade goods.

Christmas tree lots are open, and it’s another way to “shop small” this season. Our photos are from the Holy Rosary School tree lot, which is now open on the north side of the school, off 42nd between Genesee and Dakota.

This lot donates part of the proceeds to local nonprofits and features fresh wreaths, too.

From our list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, independent lots/businesses also now offering trees, north to south:

–Trees by the Sea (2530 Alki SW)
–Junction True Value (4747 44th SW)
–West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW)
–Tony’s Market (9050 35th SW)

And tomorrow’s the first of four Sundays you can buy the famous Pathfinder K-8 handmade wreaths in The Junction, during and adjacent to (on the southwest corner of California/Alaska) the West Seattle Farmers’ Market.

If you can’t get to the Duwamish Longhouse by 5 today, don’t worry, this is only the first of three days for the season’s first of two Native Northwest Holiday Gift Fairs. Native art is just part of what you’ll see:

That’s from Vashon-based Raven’s Nest. Other participants are selling creations including shoes, drums, jewelry, soaps, purses, cards, and inspirational engravings:

Those are by Kristy Lane Haskey. The fair continues until 5 pm tonight, 10 am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday (then again December 14-15-16) at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.

SIDE NOTE: Though it’s not part of the fair, you might also notice this over the door between the Longhouse’s exhibit space and event space:

“Real Rent” is a new way to support/compensate the Duwamish Tribe, as explained here.

2:23 PM: Despite intermittent showers, it was a festive morning downtown during the 2018 Macy’s Holiday Parade. We recorded the West Seattle High School Marching Band playing “Let It Snow” as they passed our favorite viewing spot (4th/University, where the parade travels west for a block before heading north). Longer clip (also featuring the Salty’s [WSB sponsor] Nutcrackers, which preceded them) a bit later. (The Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band was in the lineup too but wasn’t able to participate after all.) The hour-long parade, with more than 50 entries, is an annual day-after-Thanksgiving tradition.

ADDED 8:32 PM: Here’s our extended video, starting with the Salty’s Nutcrackers and continuing with the WSHS band:

A few photos too:

This parade is mostly VIP-free, but Police Chief Carmen Best was an exception:

That’s Assistant Chief Adrian Z. Diaz to the chief’s right. The SPD contingent also included (not shown as we didn’t spot him until he was leaving camera range) Southwest Precinct operations commander Lt. Steve Strand.

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)>>

Feeling like you need hummingbird-wing speed to get through the holidays? Us too! We are out covering the season’s big start, so for today’s listings, we point you to:

*West Seattle Holiday Guide – which includes some local Black Friday highlights plus the start of Santa-photo season

*West Seattle Event Calendar

Our daily highlight list returns tomorrow!

They put the “giving” in Thanksgiving! For the 20th year, David Meckstroth and Meg and David Haggerty of Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering (aka DSquared) have just hosted a free community Thanksgiving dinner in West Seattle, at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

Every year their staff and volunteers serve hundreds of people a full traditional holiday meal including roast turkey. They provide everything except desserts, which are provided by community donors:

Donated warm clothing is available too, for anybody in need of it. But many go simply to celebrate community.

P.S. If you missed it and aren’t already cooking dinner, our West Seattle Holiday Guide has info on where you can go (including the West Seattle Eagles, whose own annual free community dinner is scheduled to continue until 5 pm).

(Photo by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)

Happy Thanksgiving! As always, we’re starting the holiday with information you might find helpful:

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: 6 West Seattle coffee shops open for at least part of today are listed in the Thanksgiving section atop our Holiday Guide. (Others? Let us know!)

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is also in the Thanksgiving section atop our Holiday Guide.

RESTAURANTS (AND BARS WITH FOOD) OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Here’s the list; please remember that it is a list of who told us, when we called, that they planned to be open – so it’s always subject to last-minute change without notice to us. Please let us know if you find discrepancies – thank you!

PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Four options this morning, indoor and outdoor, and they too are in the Thanksgiving section atop the Holiday Guide.

WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year, everyone welcome:
*Cafe Mia, 11 am-1 pm (4310 SW Oregon)
*The Hall at Fauntleroy, noon-3 pm (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)

IF YOU WANT TO HELP: You can donate a dessert to The Hall at Fauntleroy’s dinner – such as a pie or cookies – dropoffs are welcome between 10 am and 1 pm, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).

WHAT TO DO AFTER DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW) … The West Seattle Lights music-synched light show starts tonight, 7-9 pm – bring food for the West Seattle Food Bank! (3908 SW Charlestown)

(Hawk photographed at Alki by David Hutchinson)

THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit is on the Sunday schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular weekday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here, citywide links on SDOT’s map

OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups, on Saturday
*Seattle Parks closures for today, tomorrow
*Seattle Public Libraries closed today
West Seattle’s Log House Museum is closed today

Detailed info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!)

More handmade holiday shopping right now, from our West Seattle Holiday Guide – we just visited the Ethical Trade Sale at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center for a few photos. From the sale announcement:

Ethical Trade seeks to change the ways in which conventional trade often leaves behind the most vulnerable people. By buying Ethical Trade, you support the efforts of skilled farmers and artisans working to break the cycle of poverty and to build stronger communities. Employers also assure that workers are treated with dignity and that forced labor is not part of the supply chain.

While you’re there, check out the bake sale with treats made by OLG students to benefit Wa href=”http://westsidebaby.org” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>WestSide Baby. The Walmesley Center is on the northeast corner of 35th/Myrtle and the sale continues until 1 pm.

(WSB photo from 2013, the last year the tree was lit)

The city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree is making a comeback this season. Our Lady of Guadalupe is bringing back its tree of lights, after 5 years of a tree-less “Light Up the Night.” Here’s the announcement:

Hundreds will gather on November 30th outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and School in West Seattle for an experience like no other: the lighting of the “tallest” Christmas tree in the Emerald City. With its base at roughly 500 feet above sea level, in Seattle’s aptly named High Point neighborhood, the “OLG Tree” makes a triumphant return for the 2018 holiday season in a fun, family centered “Light Up the Night” celebration. All are welcome to “Light Up the Night,” at the corner of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street, at 7 p.m. on November 30, 2018.

For the past decade, OLG has hosted a “Light Up the Night” gathering, complete with Christmas carols; cocoa, coffee and snacks provided by the Knights of Columbus; and plenty of holiday cheer. This year, more than 9,000 lights will adorn the evergreen tree (visible from the West Seattle Bridge!) just outside the entrance to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, rekindling a holiday tradition for the ages.

“We’re glad to bring the tree lighting back once again to West Seattle,” said Daren Monroe, Athletic Director of OLG’s Catholic Youth Organization sports program, who has helped organize the event. “We’re making sure this tradition of lighting Seattle’s ‘tallest’ tree continues now and into the future. Everyone is welcome to join us!”

In addition to the lighting of the tree, carols, and holiday snacks, “Light Up the Night” asks for your help in “filling the sleigh” for those less fortunate in our community. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted at Walmesley Center gymnasium.

Learn more (here).

11:11 AM: We’re stopping at several of the events on today’s very busy West Seattle Saturday list – starting with the Arts and Crafts Fair at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

This one got going early and runs until 2 pm. More stops to come.

11:56 AM: The craft-fair bazaar at Arrowhead Gardens is one of the biggest we’ve seen! Multiple rooms in the community building full of creations, like these night lights in bottles:

Lots of hand-knit items to keep you warm; preserves too.

This one is on until 3 pm, 9200 2nd SW.

1:17 PM: Also in the south end until 3 pm, the White Center Library Guild has its bazaar and book sale at the library today – some handmade items:

And some rummage sale-y items too:

The library is at 1409 SW 107th.

10:40 AM: Big turnout this morning for Eastridge Church‘s annual turkey giveaway. If you or someone you know could use a turkey and bag of groceries, get there fast because as of our stop a short time ago, they were down to 150 remaining. Between the West Seattle and Issaquah campuses of Eastridge, they were providing 1,500.

The church is at 39th and Oregon on the east side of The Junction.

12:20 PM: Eastridge tells us the turkeys have now all been given out.