(WSB photo, July 2023)

Before the barbecue – before the beach – Independence Day begins with the West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade. We have more details today of what’s happening before and after the parade, thanks to Megan Erb, who’s organizing the parade again this year for the Admiral Neighborhood Association.

As always, the parade starts from 44th/Sunset shortly after 10 am. Eliza Cooper will sing the anthem, on behalf of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), and you’ll hear words of welcome from organizer Megan as well as ANA president Joanie Jacobs and City Councilmember Rob Saka. Again, here’s the parade route, proceeding west and then east to Hamilton Viewpoint Park (to be in it, just show up! also, please avoid parking oon the parade route):

If you are traveling in the area Thursday morning, note that traffic on California Avenue SW will be stopped by officers at SW Atlantic as the parade crosses. At the park, you’ll find free post-parade fun – including sack races by age groups, starting with 3-year-olds (there’s usually a grownup round too).

Activity booth/table providers (parade co-sponsors):

–Mode Music, Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor), South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, Bridge School Cooperative Elementary, Holy Rosary School, Dragonfly Yoga & Pilates, Mathnasium, Wicked Rae’s Art Studio, Admiral Neighborhood Association

Plus food/treat trucks/carts.

– Lil’ J’s Super Dawgs, West Seattle Grounds, Seattle Sorbets, NWTXBBQ, LaLa’s Lemonade

At the park for up-close visits:

– SFD, SPD vehicles

Also at Hamilton Viewpoint: Four portable restrooms thanks to Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). The post-parade festivities usually wrap up at the park around noon, and it’s on with the rest of the holiday!

Before we get to today’s what’s-happening list, a quick reminder that we are now two weeks away from the big, free, fun event that starts Independence Day celebrations on the peninsula, the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade. It’s now presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, and organizer Megan Erb sent this reminder of the route:

The parade officially starts at 10 am from Sunset and 44th, where you can start gathering at 9:30 am. The parade will be preceded by the National Anthem, with a singer from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), and a brief welcome from City Councilmember Rob Saka. Then everyone heads west/southwest on the route shown above, which loops back to cross California Avenue SW on the way to end at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where you’ll find games and food trucks, highlighted by the traditional sack races. This is a non-motorized parade except for the Seattle Fire engine and classic pickup truck at the start – human-powered wheels are welcome. The parade is in its second quarter-century!

(WSB photo, 2023 parade)

Just one month until Independence Day … and the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, a quarter-century tradition. Megan Erb is coordinating it again this year, now under the umbrella of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, and she sent us this update:

We’re one month away from one of the biggest and possibly cutest West Seattle events of the year! The West Seattle 4th of July Kids Parade takes place on Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m. at the corner of Sunset Ave. and 44th Ave SW. Start planning your festive decorations for your bike, wagon, scooter, stroller, and yourself and kiddos! West Seattle families are the parade as we march through the North Admiral neighborhood to Hamilton Viewpoint Park. At the park, you’ll find booths full of kids’ activities, food trucks, coffee stands, and our famous coffee-bean-sack races! Our local fire department truck and police officers will be on hand with truck tours, stickers, and more!

This year the event is hosted by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (ANA), with support from Mode Music Studios, Potter Construction, Mathnasium, South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, Holy Rosary School, Neighborhood Naturopathic, Fit4Mom West Seattle, West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Blog, and three new sponsors this year: Wicked Rae’s Art Studio, Dragonfly Yoga Pilates Dance, and Brian M. Peters Design. Parade attendees can get food and coffee from JJ Super Dawgs and West Seattle Grounds! Festive 4th of July swag will be handed out at the beginning of the parade thanks to Holy Rosary School, Neghborhood Naturopathic, and South Seattle college Cooperative Preschool.

To learn more about the event, including how to sponsor a kids’ activity table or volunteer for the event, visit the ANA’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids Parade webpage or contact info@connecttoadmiral.org.

If you’re new – here’s our coverage of last year, including video of all participants as the parade began.

(WSB photos)

Flags are flying along California SW in the heart of The Junction today, thanks to volunteers spanning a wide age range.

The Junction Association recruits volunteers for occasions like this; they gathered this morning to put the flags in place, and will be back at the end of the day to remove them.

If you notice that some of the flags – like the one in that photo – look new, good eye; The Junction says generous donors helped cover the cost of some replacements recently.

P.S. If you’re interested in joining The Junction’s volunteer ranks for future occasions, go here!

(Juvenile Bald Eagles, photographed this week by James Tilley)

Here’s info you might find useful on this Memorial Day Monday:

TRANSIT

Metro: Sunday schedule

West Seattle Water Taxi and its shuttles: Sunday schedule

Washington State Ferries: No announced changes

Sound Transit: Schedule changes here

Other services: See a list here

TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Our page highlighting local cameras is here

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

CLOSURES/CHANGES

Most Seattle Parks facilities

Seattle Public Library facilities

Schools

Government offices

Banks

USPS holiday

No charge for street parking in Seattle neighborhoods with city pay stations

OPEN

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

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

SPECIAL EVENTS

*American Legion poppies will be available outside Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) again today, by donation

*For the first time since 2019, a Memorial Day remembrance will be held at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW), 2 pm, all welcome

*Volunteer beach naturalists will be at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach) and Lincoln Park, 12:15 pm-3:15 pm, for low-low tide (-2.4 feet at 2:19 pm)

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

Flags are flying over veterans’ graves at Forest Lawn Cemetery (6701 30th SW), where West Seattle’s traditional Memorial Day remembrance returns tomorrow for the first time since 2019, described as “a special way to honor and remember our fallen heroes.” We’re reminding you in case you missed our announcement last Monday. All are welcome for the ceremony, which will feature speakers and music. Look for the canopy.

(Photo by James Tilley – ‘Bey the Bald Eagle in a very focused dive’)

6:01 AM: Good morning and welcome to Monday, February 19th, Presidents Day. Here’s what you should know:

TRANSPORTATION

Transit – No Water Taxi service today; Metro is on a regular weekday schedule; no planned state-ferry changes; here’s the Sound Transit holiday plan

Traffic cameras – Here’s our page of West Seattle-relevant cameras; the citywide map is here

Parking – No charge today for pay-station spaces on city streets in neighborhoods with them

OTHER SERVICES

Schools – Closed

Libraries – Closed

Parks facilities – Here’s what’s closed and what’s open

Mail – Holiday for most USPS facilities/services

Banks – Holiday

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy, chance of rain, high in the low 50s.

EVENTS

Check the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – a highlight for tonight is 7 pm comedy at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way) – check here to see if any tickets are left.

If you see news – including traffic trouble – please call or text 206-293-6302 when you can do so safely – thank you!

It’s almost Lunar New Year, and our West Seattle Event Calendar has three listings for Year of the Dragon celebrations open to all:

WSHS, FRIDAY NIGHT: The photo above is from West Seattle High School students who are organizing a Lunar New Year celebration for tomorrow night (Friday, February 9), 7-8:30 pm. Festivities will include potluck-style food and a student fashion show, and the students say, “All are welcome!”

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER, SATURDAY AFTERNOON: A lion dance and flag-raising are part of what’s planned at the Vietnamese Cultural Center of West Seattle (2236 SW Orchard), 1-3 pm Saturday (February 10), and you’re invited.

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN, FEBRUARY 24: Then in two weeks, the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle College parking lot (6000 16th SW) celebrates Lunar New Year with a Lantern Festival, 11 am-3 pm Saturday, February 24. See the schedule here.

(Reader photo – The Brothers’ peek appearance)

Welcome to 2024! Here’s info we hope you’ll find helpful on this holiday:

BUSES: Metro‘s on the Sunday schedule. (Fares ARE being collected today, after fare-free NYE.)

WATER TAXI: It’s not running today.

STATE FERRIES: Weekend 2-boat schedule on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route – check for alerts here.

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

GROCERY-STORE HOURS AND OTHER BIZNOTES FOR TODAY: Though we don’t make full New Year’s Day lists because closures/changes are far fewer than on the other fall/winter holidays, we do have a few notes for today: First, grocery-store changes — Trader Joe’s is closed; PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opens later (9 am); Whole Foods opens later (9 am); Metropolitan Market opens later and closes earlier (8 am-8 pm). For Costco fans, the SODO store and other locations are closed today. … Other biznotes, including a few sent in – C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) is open 8 am-4 pm today … Grillbird is open regular hours; Freshy’s is open 9 am-7 pm, Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) is closed today but returns to regular hours tomorrow (Tuesday).

NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS: The Emerald City Wanderers‘ New Year’s Day walks are on again ths year, starting at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW). Choose the 5- or 10-kilometer walk and start between 9 and noon, with soup and snacks afterward. No fee, but donations to help cover costs are welcome.

ALKI POLAR BEAR SWIM: Be at the beach to be part of the annual tradition of running into Puget Sound with hundreds of other people at 10 am sharp, just about anywhere on the sand – here’s this year’s announcement, with a special invitation to – before going in the water – “write down what you want to leave behind from 2023 and what you want from the New Year for you, your family, and for our great nation” (there’ll be a jar to drop your wish in).

OTHER NOTES: Seattle Public Utilities customers’ trash/recycling/yard-waste pickup is on one-day delay all this week too – Monday customers get Tuesday pickup, Tuesday customers get Wednesday pickup, etc. … Seattle Parks & Recreation closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed today.

ASTRA LUMINA: The celestially inspired light show continues on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Tickets and info here.

‘4040 HOUSE’ LIGHTS: Last night this season to see the music-synched light show at 4040 47th SW, 6-9 pm – the display’s creator asks that you park on Andover or Dakota if you’re driving to see it.

If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365 (or, this year, 366)!