Before the weekend’s out, we have 10 more photos from Saturday’s 90th edition of the West Seattle Grand Parade:

#1: If you watched near California/Alaska, the announcers you heard were Christa and Brian Callanan. Parade organizers presented them with an award for their volunteer service:

#2: We mentioned some first-time participants in our previews. Another sort-of first – this was Rob Saka‘s first Grand Parade as District 1 City Councilmember:

#3: Among this year’s participants were seven WSB sponsors – here’s how they rolled in the parade, from hydro to hearse:

Above, it’s just not a parade without a hydro, and STS Construction Services‘ parade entry included one. Below, Emmick Family Funeral Services had the only hearse in the parade, a classic Cadillac:

We showed you Potter Construction‘s parade preps on Friday night – here’s how the parade sponsor/participants went down the route:

Westside School had a contingent in the parade – showing what you might say was a pride of wolves:

Village Green Retirement Living-West Seattle was one of more than a few parade entries with vans or mini-buses:

Another was The Mount, which added human-powered wheels too:

We showed you some of the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA‘s marchers in our awards gallery; they had this van too!

Finally, one more pre-parade view – at the center of this photo is parade coordinator Michelle Edwards, whose volunteer work organized those 80-plus entries into the 90th West Seattle Grand Parade. This was the moment as she assessed whether it was time to give the Honor Guard the green light to start down the parade route (which is monitored all along the way, Admiral to The Junction, by volunteers including more than a dozen amateur-radio operators):

Watch thewestseattleparade.com for information on how to participate and/or be a sponsor next year!

EARLIER PARADE COVERAGE: Our video and photos of all 42 award-winning entries is here; how the parade began, including the Duwamish blessing and the honorees who rode at the start, is here. For our previews, and coverage of previous years’ parades, scroll through this WSB archive.

Those are the West Seattle Grand Parade judges, who reviewed the 80-plus entries in today’s parade and chose the winners! Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards just sent us the judges’ final list. (11:55 PM UPDATE: We have finished adding photos and video below over the past several hours, showing all the winners .)

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE OVERALL GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS

1st Place: All-City Band

2nd Place: Seafair Pirates

3rd Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

CHEER TEAMS

1st Place: West Seattle High School Coed Cheer Team

2nd Place: Kennedy High School Cheer

3rd Place: Chief Sealth High School Cheer

COMMUNITY DANCE TEAMS

1st Place: Grupo Folklorico Citlali

2nd Place: Sayaw Filipino Folk Dance Troupe

3rd Place: Comerford School of Irish Dance

MARCHING BANDS

1st Place: All-City Band

2nd Place: Sumner High School Spartan Marching Band

3rd Place: (Tie) All-Star Drumline and Kennedy Catholic High School Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard

PERFORMING ACTS

1st Place: Hi-Liners Musical Theatre

2nd Place: Rain City Ropeworks Jump Rope Team

3rd Place: (Tie) Southpaw Barbershop and Endolyne Children’s Choir

EQUESTRIAN

1st Place: Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle

CARS & ANTIQUE CARS

1st Place: Corvette Marque Club Seattle

2nd Place: VFW Jeep

3rd Place: Walter’s Wine Shop

COMMUNITY ADULT

1st Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

2nd Place: F3 Seattle

3rd Place: Star Wars Washington

COMMUNITY YOUTH

1st Place: Flower Power! Petals to Metal! Girl Scouts of Western Washington

2nd Place: Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby

3rd Place: West Seattle Fauntleroy YMCA

COMMERCIAL

1st Place: StarCycle

2nd Place: Dragonfly West Seattle

3rd Place: Seattle Gymnastics Academy

DRILL TEAM SR.

1st Place: Dolls & Gents Drill Team and Drumline

2nd Place: Electronettes HiSteppers Drill Team and Drumline

DRILL TEAM JR.

1st Place: Baby Dolls Drill Team

2nd Place: Daughters of Royalty Drill and Dance Ensemble

3rd Place: (Tie) Epitome Drill Team and the Electronettes Jr. Drill Team

CONVEYED FLOAT

1st Place: Holy Rosary School

2nd Place: West Seattle Lions

3rd Place: Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum

SEAFAIR
1st Place: Seafair Pirates

2nd Place: Seafair Clowns

3rd Place: Seafair Commodores

We have at least two more parade galleries yet to come. Meantime, see all our parade coverage, including previews, in this WSB archive.

We’ve been processing photos and videos, and now it’s time to start presenting parade galleries! First – how this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade began. If you were in The Junction, you saw and heard Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen bless the parade for the first time. Our video is above. Meantime, at the start of the parade route at California/Lander, it began with the return of Seattle Police motorcycles – albeit a smaller group – for the first time in five years:

They performed simpler maneuvers than you might recall, including some circling:

Their appearance wasn’t announced in advance because even parade organizers weren’t sure they’d be able to make it until they arrived. They were followed onto the parade route by another law-enforcement group, the King County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard:

Also toward the start, this year’s Grand Marshals, the West Seattle High School baseball team, winners of this year’s state championship – and yes, they brought the trophy:

The players and coaches required so many vehicles, we recorded video too:

Also toward the start were this year’s winners of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community – explained here -local volunteers extraordinaire Bianca Thomka and Neil Duncan:

Next up – the list of award-winning entries, as decided by West Seattle Grand Parade judges!

10:50 AM: The West Seattle Grand Parade has just begun at California/Lander, starting off with a last-minute surprise – four SPD motorcycles. After years of hiatus, a smaller group is just getting back to parade participation. Someone else to watch for as the parade makes its way south on California to Edmunds, as mentioned in one of our previews, the West Seattle Mrs. Ropers:

This will be the biggest parade in years, with more than 80 entries expected (you can see our previews by scrolling through this coverage archive). Remember that California is closed south of Admiral, to the south end of The Junction, until the route is cleared – the parade proceeds southbound on California. You can watch anywhere that has a view of the street. We’ll update when it’s over, and we’ll of course have lots of coverage later.

12:19 PM: The parade has ended at the north end, with volunteers from A Cleaner Alki:

We’ll update when it’s concluded at the south end. And then – lots of highlights later!

1 PM: Over in The Junction too. Street has been reopening block by block behind it.

It all begins in a matter of hours … and some participants in tomorrow’s West Seattle Grand Parade are just finishing up their entries:

That’s part of the crew from Potter Construction, a parade sponsor and participant (and longtime WSB sponsor too), decorating their truck. We’ve been publishing parade previews all week, after sitting in on the Monday night parade-lineup review meeting as usual. More entries to mention tonight so you can be ready to cheer them on – youth-focused organizations! Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby, Rain City Ropeworks, Endolyne Children’s Choir, Highline Premier FC, West Seattle Junior Football and Cheer, Seattle Gymnastics Academy, drill teams, scouting groups … you can also watch for unique entries like the DeLorean car(s), costumed Star Wars fans, and the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum‘s USS Nimitz replica.

(WSB photo, 2023 Float Dodger 5K)

But first, the Float Dodger 5K sends hundreds of runners and walkers from Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW) out onto the parade route at 9:30 am, and you can still register to be part of it – West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) presents the Float Dodger, and proceeds go to help the West Seattle Food Bank fight hunger and prevent homelessness.

As the signs say, parking is off-limits on the parade route – California from SW Lander to SW Edmunds – plus side streets used for staging, starting at 7 am, so get your car moved by then, because tow trucks have their own pre-parade of sorts. Otherwise, just set up a spot somewhere on the route and enjoy the parade. (If you’re not settled on a spot, as we mentioned last night, West Seattle Realty [2715 California SW; WSB sponsor] invites you to their parade-viewing party, out front of the office, treats and restroom access!) The parade, celebrating its 90th year, starts from California/Lander at 11 am and usually ends by ~1:30 at the south end of the route, but this is the biggest one in years, and there are always variables along the way, so that’s just an estimate.

Tonight, they presented a free concert … Saturday, the Admiral Neighborhood Association will be in the 90th-anniversary West Seattle Grand Parade! Neighborhood and community groups, nonprofits, and schools are always part of the lineup (more than 80 entries this year). Among those you’ll be able to cheer for as they roll and/or stroll down the road: Service clubs West Seattle Rotary (whose Service Foundation presents the parade) and West Seattle Lions; nonprofits and community organizations including the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline, the Center For Active Living (formerly the Senior Center), A Cleaner Alki, the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), and the American Red Cross; and school groups including Westside School (WSB sponsor), Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hope Lutheran, and cheer teams from Chief Sealth International, West Seattle, and Kennedy Catholic High Schools. Again, that’s just a sampling of what you’ll see! Other parade notes:

The no-parking signs are out – so remember, whether you’re watching the parade – or participating – or not, remember California will close from south of Admiral Way to just south of The Junction, and parking restrictions will be in effect too (signs are up for 7 am through 3 pm). The Saturday morning fun starts with the Float Dodger 5K on the parade route at 9:30 am (you still have time to register to participate); the parade rolls out onto California SW from SW Lander (north side of Hiawatha) at 11 am and heads south to Edmunds. Announcing stands are at California/Alaska with Brian and Christa Callanan and at California/Charlestown with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle. Stand by for one more preview tomorrow, then we’ll see you out on the route Saturday! (Our previous previews are here, here, here, and here.)

P.S. Haven’t decided on a place to watch the parade? West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor) invites you to their parade-viewing party, out front of their office in the Admiral Station building (2715 California SW) near the start of the parade route. WSR’s Kevin Broveleit says everyone’s welcome to sit with them: “Lots of treats, a great location and nice bathrooms.”

Time for another preview of Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade – this one’s for marching-band fans!

(WSB file photos)

ALL-CITY MARCHING BAND: The marching musicians of this beloved band are from throughout Seattle Public Schools (which is why you don’t see individual SPS schools’ bands in summer parades), led by Dr. Marcus Pimpleton. Last year, West Seattle Grand Parade judges chose them as Grand Prize winners.

KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS BAND: Again this year, the band from Burien – ever distinctive in their classic uniforms – will visit to participate in the Grand Parade.

SUMNER HS MARCHING BAND: This will be the Pierce County school’s first appearance in the West Seattle Grand Parade since 2019. Their town may not be big, but the band is – more than 100 members!

DRUMLINES: Also in the category of marching musicians, watch for drumlines – the All-Star Drumline, plus – accompanying drill teams – Anointed to Praise, Epitome Family Entertainment, and Dolls & Gents.

Two more previews to come before parade day! (The ones we’ve already published are here, here, and here.) The basics – the Grand Parade heads southbound on California SW from Lander to Edmunds starting at 11 am Saturday (July 20) – announcing stands will be at California/Alaska and California/Charlestown, if you want to hear about who you’re seeing. The parade is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year; it’s a community celebration presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation, in collaboration with volunteers, donors, sponsors, participants, and spectators!

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

This Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade is not only a celebration of the parade’s 90th anniversary, but will be the biggest parade in years, with more than 80 entries.

We sat in on the pre-parade lineup review last night, led by parade coordinator Michelle Edwards, for a sneak peek at what you’ll see. Today, we’re previewing some of the new participants! But first, a few of the basics:

-The route is the same – the parade is scheduled to start from California/Lander in The Admiral District at 11 am, proceeding southbound to California/Edmunds in The Junction. (Staging includes some side streets so watch for no-parking signs and heed them.)

-The main parade announcing stand is at California/Alaska, with Brian Callanan and Christa Callanan, Again this year, there also will be an auxiliary announcing stand at California/Charlestown, with members of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle

-As we’ve already reported, the Grand Marshals are the players and coaches of West Seattle High School‘s state-championship-winning baseball team, and the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community winners are Bianca Thomka and Neil Duncan.

Here are five of the new participants:

DUWAMISH TRIBE: Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen is expected to be at California/Alaska shortly after 11 to give a blessing before the parade arrives in The Junction

SAYAW FILIPINO FOLK DANCE TROUPE: A “student-based” group

COMERFORD SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE: As seen at West Seattle Summer Fest!

ORCA NETWORK PARADE POD: An entry in honor of the whales whose waters we share

WEST SEATTLE MRS. ROPERS: An entry with a sense of humor and 1970s TV roots (as seen in a pub crawl last year)

We’re working on daily previews for the rest of the week. Other parade entries include the Seafair Pirates and Clowns, marching bands, specialty vehicles, schools, businesses, nonprofits, youth groups from Scouting to sports, among others. And all that doesn’t just happen spontaneously – coordinator Michelle has worked hard on outreach; every year there are other areas of the region having parades on the same summer Saturday, so there’s something of a competition for entries. (This year it’s Des Moines.) Michelle is second-generation parade coordinator; her dad Jim Edwards, coordinator emeritus, works on logistics, especially the 13 amateur-radio operators in communication along the route, while her mom Barbara Edwards has long coordinated the judging. The parade is presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation, represented at last night’s lineup review by Keith Hughes (who runs the building where it happened – home to the Westside Neighbors’ Shelter, American Legion Post 160, and the West Seattle Veteran Center).

It’s all powered by volunteers, sponsors, and donations – plus, spectators: If you can, show up on the sidelines along California on Saturday and cheer, to help make sure all that hard work producing a parade (something most neighborhoods in the city don’t have) is worthwhile!

Among our visitors at the West Seattle Summer Fest Info Booth today – Seafair Clowns, perhaps doing a little scouting for next Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade. At 11 am on July 20, the parade starts rolling south on California SW from SW Lander in Admiral to SW Edmunds in The Junction. Come early and watch the Float Dodger 5K along the parade route starting at 9:30 (or better yet, run/walk in it). The clowns are among dozens of groups, organizations, schools, and others that you’ll see in the parade, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year! As we’ve reported, the state championship-winning West Seattle High School baseball team will be grand marshals, and the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community – another honor that gets you a ride toward the start of the parade – goes this year to Bianca Thomka and Neil Duncan. We’ll have more parade previews in the week ahead.

Just ten days until this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade! We’ve already reported on the news that West Seattle High School‘s state championship baseball team being chosen as Grand Marshals; today, parade coordinator Michelle Edwards announced the parade’s other major honorees:

The 2024 West Seattle Grand Parade honorees for the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community are Neil Duncan and Bianca Thomka! Neil and Bianca are this year’s honorees due to their significant contributions to the West Seattle community.

Neil’s expansive IT skills have been instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of multiple local organizations, including the West Seattle Chamber, The Center for Active Living (formerly known as the Senior Center of West Seattle) and the West Seattle Junction Association, where he has donated well over 100 hours to set up communications infrastructure. Bianca excels in organizing events with remarkable efficiency and cooking for community events. She has been volunteering for over eight years in the kitchen of The Center for Active Living. Every Wednesday, Bianca helps the Chef get hot lunches ready for 100 community seniors. She also assists the Chef during large Rainbow Bingo fundraising events and monthly birthday luncheons.

Together, their dedication and expertise have significantly enriched West Seattle, making them the ideal candidates for the Orville Rummel Trophy!

You can cheer Neil and Bianca, and the hundreds of other people who will be participating in the parade, celebrating its 90th anniversary on Saturday, July 20th – it starts at 11 am, southbound on California from Lander to Edmunds.

ABOUT THE ORVILLE RUMMEL TROPHY: It’s named after the man who founded the West Seattle parade in 1934, Orville Rummel – lots of background in the story we published the year we were honored with the trophy, 2010. The award was first presented in 1984. Here’s the full list of recipients along the way (no parade 2020-2021 because of the pandemic, so no award recipient):

1984: Charles and Ann Gage
1985: RB Chris Crisler Jr.
1986: Morgan and Carol McBride
1987: Margaret Miaullis
1988: Charles Jung
1989: Aurlo Bonney
1990: Katie Thorburn
1991: Dorothy Poplawski
1992: Dan Wiseman
1993: Virgil Sheppard
1994: Dorene Smith
1995: Doris Richards
1996: John Kelly
1997: Dick Kennedy
1998: Jim Edwards and Barbara Edwards
1999: Lt. David E. Cass
2000: Husky Deli/Miller Family
2001: Stephanie Haskins
2002: Forest Lawn
2003: Sue Lindblom
2004: Edgar and Ann Phipps
2005: Karen Sisson
2006: Walt DeLong
2007: David and Doreen Vague
2008: Tim St. Clair
2009: Morey Skaret
2010: West Seattle Blog
2011: Cindi Barker
2012: Shirley Vradenburgh
2013: Judy Pickens
2014: Earl Cruzen
2015: Donn Weaver
2016: Clay Eals
2017: Keith Hughes
2018: Velko Vitalich
2019: Adah Cruzen
2022: Deb Barker
2023: Erik Bell

Today’s West Seattle Grand Parade was much more than floats and boats and bands – hundreds of people were part of it. That included honorees, like Grand Marshal Whitney Moore, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, above, and Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Community Service recipient Erik Bell, founder of A Cleaner Alki, below:

Accompanying his company’s entry was Gary Potter of Potter Construction (longtime WSB sponsor), whose “Our New Home” banner celebrated their recent headquarters move (the Potter truck started the parade blasting the Starship classic “We Built This City”):

And with voting under way for the August 1st primary election, no surprise that eight candidates were represented in the parade, including four of the eight running for the open City Council District 1 seat – Maren Costa:

Mia Jacobson:

Phil Tavel (with The Bubbleman)

Rob Saka walked with the 34th District Democrats, as did School Board District 6 Director candidate Gina Topp:

One of the other two School Board candidates, Maryanne Wood, also was in the parade.

So were entries supporting two County Council District 8 candidates – Sofia Aragon:

And Teresa Mosqueda:

(If you need an election refresher, here’s ours.)

This parade even had a Sasquatch sighting:

And a shout-out to the Adopt-a-Street cleanup crew who walked – with grabbers – down the parade route as the last entry:

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Grand Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards)

For the eighth consecutive West Seattle Grand Parade, judges have chosen the Seattle Public Schools All-City Band, directed by Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, as the grand-prize winner. Barbara Edwards leads the judging team (above), who watched from various spots along the route, then met post-parade to make their decisions. Here’s the list (update; we’re still adding more photos and video):

OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

1st Place: Seattle Schools All-City Band

2nd Place: Kennedy Catholic Marching Band and Cheer

3rd Place: Holy Rosary School

COMMUNITY ADULT

1st Place: Lions Club of West Seattle

2nd Place: West Seattle Chamber of Commerce & Battle for West Seattle Winning Softball Team

3rd Place: West Seattle Yacht Club

COMMUNITY YOUTH

1st Place: Our Lady of Guadalupe School

2nd Place: Girl Scouts Rock

3rd Place: West Seattle Jr. Football and Cheer

MARCHING BANDS

1st Place: Seattle Schools All-City Band
2nd Place: Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band

3rd Place (Tie): Washington Scottish Pipe Band and All Star Drumline

COMMERCIAL

1st Place: Dragonfly Yoga Pilates Dance
2nd Place: Dub Sea Fish Sticks

3rd Place: “There’s No Place Like Home” Village Green Retirement

DANCE TEAMS

1st Place: Joyas Mestizas

2nd Place: Grupo Folklorico Citlali

3rd Place: Leikarringen of Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001

CHEER TEAMS

1st Place: West Seattle High School Cheer

2nd Place: Chief Sealth High School Cheer

3rd Place: Kennedy Catholic High School Cheer

PERFORMING ACTS

1st Place: Seafair Pirates

2nd Place: Nile Shriners
3rd Place: Endolyne Children’s Choir

CARS & ANTIQUE CARS

1st Place: Corvette Marque Club of Seattle
2nd Place: 1942 American LaFrance Fire Engine

3rd Place: Pacific Northwest Delorean Club

DRILL TEAMS, SR.

1st Place: Epitome Family Entertainment

CONVEYED FLOATS

1st Place: Holy Rosary School
2nd Place: Seafair Commodores
3rd Place: Pacific NW Naval Air Museum Replica Nimitz

FESTIVAL ROYALTY

1st Place: The Daffodil Festival

2nd Place: Fathoms o’ Fun Festival – Legends Around the Sound

Congratulations to all!

P.S. The award ceremony was held post-parade at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Here are two photos from the Parade Committee, showing new parade participants accepting their trophies – Prentice Family Entertainment (with parade chair Keith Hughes at left and parade coordinator Michelle Edwards at right).

And Dragonfly Yoga and Pilates:

If you want to compare, here’s the list (with photos and video) of last year’s winners. Before that, the parade, like so many things, was on pandemic hiatus in 2020 and 2021.

This year, as in some past years, we’ll be publishing themed groups of photos from the West Seattle Grand Parade, starting with the boats! Above, the DubSea Fish Sticks baseball team from White Center. Below, the Miss HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) hydroplane:

The Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum from Oak Harbor brought its replica of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) aircraft carrier, which is based in Bremerton:

Another replica – the Sea Scouts’ Yankee Clipper, sponsored by the Lions Club of West Seattle:

And it’s not a Seattle parade without the Seafair Pirates‘ Moby Duck:

The Seafair Commodores‘ parade boat carried festival royalty:

Last but by no means least, parading in their home port, the West Seattle Yacht Club:

Much more to come, including the list of winners – this is a judged parade – when we get it!

Just in case you were wondering – the parade is over (lots of coverage to come) and California SW has reopened. It ran exactly an hour at the California/Lander start and the last entries were in the final block before Edmunds around 12:45 pm. The bus reroutes should be ending shortly if they haven’t already.

(WSB file photo, Kennedy Catholic HS in past West Seattle Grand Parade)

Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade is just hours away, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K. Here’s a last look at what you need to know!

WHEN: The 5K starts at 9:30 am; the parade starts at 11 am.

WHERE: The parade starts from California/Lander and continues south on California to Edmunds – see the route here. The 5K travels the same route except for a start/finish slightly south, at West Seattle High School.

WHO: 70+ parade entries, 500+ 5K runners/walkers (you can still join them)

WHAT: Floats, all sorts of vehicles – cars, fire trucks, buses, boats – plus people walking, dancing, jumping, and rolling, drill teams, school groups, and yes, marching bands, like the All-City Band and Kennedy Catholic HS Band

GRAND MARSHAL: Whitney Moore, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, as noted here

ORVILLE RUMMEL TROPHY HONOREE: Erik Bell, founder of A Cleaner Alki, which has expanded to lead volunteers in stewarding a cleaner West Seattle in general – read more about him and the trophy here

PARADE PRESENTERS: The West Seattle Rotary Club Service Foundation presents the parade, which is planned and coordinated by volunteers

ANNOUNCERS: Led by West Seattle-residing journalist/broadcaster Brian Callanan and wife Christa Callanan at the main California/Alaska stand; the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has a stand at California/Charlestown

AWARDS: The parade is judged and the winners will be announced post-parade (we’ll publish the list).

STREET CLOSURES/PARKING RESTRICTIONS: The latter kick in at 7 am (don’t risk getting your car towed!); the former start taking effect at 8 am. Also note that in addition to the route on California, some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging, so they are posted too. More info here. (P.S. Bus reroutes for Routes 50 and 128 and the C Line – info’s here.)

WHERE TO WATCH: Anywhere along the route! Be near California/Lander to be the first to see everyone get going; be at California/Charlestown or California/Alaska to hear the entries announced. (Some people stake out spots early.)

The West Seattle Grand Parade is is less than 36 hours away! Two more previews before this night is out:

(Seafair Pirates in 2019 West Seattle Grand Parade)

PARADE TRAFFIC: The parade starts at 11 am at California/Lander and heads south on California to Edmunds, and it’s preceded on that route by the Float Dodger 5K, starting at 9:30 am. The street closures and bus reroutes start earlier. Here’s what to know:

*Bus reroutes start at 5 am – you can see the changes for C Line, Route 50, and Route 128 buses by going here

*Street-closure signs are staged as early as 6 am

*No-parking enforcement starts at 7 am – please move vehicles before then

*Police start fully closing California from Admiral to Edmunds at 8 am – it’s a phased closure that will be complete by 9 am

*To travel north alongside the parade route, use 45th Avenue SW from Erskine to Oregon, 44th Ave SW from Oregon to Stevens, 45th Ave SW from Stevens to Admiral Way

*PCC (WSB sponsor) is accessible from 44th and Stevens, but don’t exit north through the alley; Admiral Safeway is accessible from Admiral Way SW and 42nd Avenue SW; you’ll have to exit back to Admiral Way.

GRAND MARSHAL: In addition to Erik Bell riding in the parade as the Orville Rummel Trophy winner, you can cheer for Grand Marshal Whitney Moore. She is about to leave the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce after two years as its executive director – two years during which energy and resiliency was vital, to help local businesses get through the pandemic and bridge closure. Whitney was hailed when she started the job as bringing “talents in community engagement, leadership, innovation, and a passion for small businesses” as well as “many years of leadership, communications, event planning, and strategic marketing experience.” Her future plans include completing a children’s book! Lately she’s been presiding as the Chamber celebrates its centennial, and by riding in the Grand Parade, she’s part of a tradition that’s been around almost that long. We asked for her thoughts on being this year’s Grand Marshal: “I’m honored to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade in West Seattle, Best Seattle! This is such a fun event and I love how many people it brings out to our local businesses year after year. West Seattle is the best community to be a part of and I’m humbled to be leading this year’s parade down our iconic California Ave SW.”

(2017 West Seattle Grand Parade photo by Christopher Boffoli – All-City Band)

This Saturday (July 22nd) is the day when West Seattle Grand Parade participants will roll, march, dance, and jump down California Avenue from SW Lander to SW Edmunds [map]. This past Monday, parade coordinators and committee members gathered for the annual pre-parade lineup meeting, and again this year, we got to observe.

This was the first year that parade applications were accepted online, so instead of the lineup meeting involving a long table topped with dozens of pieces of paper, this time it involved a spreadsheet with color-coded lines, projected onto a wall at the West Seattle Veteran Center/American Legion Post 160, in Pershing Hall, which serves as West Seattle’s only emergency shelter in the cold months.

Parade lineups are an art, not a science, and the descriptions submitted with entries are important in helping coordinators led by Michelle Edwards decide who goes where – it’s all carefully crafted, not just a matter of who shows up when and where on parade morning. But there are invariably last-minute surprises – no-shows, or entries that are nothing like what was described on the entry form. The coordinators just roll with it and make things work.

From the entries discussed at Monday night’s meeting, here’s some of what to look for (but again, it’s all tentative, subject to last-minute changes, cancellations, additions):

Marching bands including the ever-popular Seattle Schools All-City Band, featuring student musicians from all over the district, and Kennedy Catholic High School

Folklorico dancers

Youth groups (including jump-rope and singers)

Cheer teams

Floats from festivals (motorized) to schools (trucks and trailers)

Vessels, from the HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) hydro to a USS Nimitz replica

Classic and antique cars

Fire engines, antique and modern

Seafair Pirates and Clowns

The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club (whose members also help parade coordinators with communication along the parade route)

New entries include the Burien UFO Festival

In all, at least 70 entries are expected, more than last year. The Parade Committee is still working to confirm some entries who signed up early. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes activity, wander the staging zone (California north of Lander, plus Lander on both sides) before the parade start time of 11 am. Parade prep starts hours earlier (and remember the Float Dodger 5K takes off from the West Seattle High School lot at 9:30 am). The parade is presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation. You can watch anywhere along the route; announcers will be at California/Charlestown and California/Alaska. We’ll have another preview tomorrow!