(QUICK LINKS: Music lineups … food/drink info … merchant/vendor info … Kids Zone info … bus reroutes …and ICYMI, our Summer Fest Eve coverage)

1:44 PM: Our peninsula’s biggest party of the year, West Seattle Summer Fest – today through Sunday – has started! Here’s our view from the Info Booth at California/Alaska:

See the Mobile Apparel booth in the center of that view? That’s where you can get your customized Summer Fest T-shirt. Other festival merch is on sale here, on the west side of the Info Booth:

Also here on the south side of the Info Booth right now – Seattle Police Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite with some free items including steering-wheel locks (3:03 pm update – they’re out but there’s more at the precinct):

Alice Kuder is on the east side of the Info Booth this afternoon, talking about her Just In Case Preparedness Services and the free scavenger hunt she’s presenting next month, Summer Scramble:

South of the intersection, you’ll find all the festival food (with reusable ware) – aside from what the year-round food/drink businesses are offering at (and/or in front of) their venues. In Junction Plaza Park, where the West Side Stage will have music starting at 4 pm (the main stage, north of SW Oregon, near the Post Office, gets going at 3 pm; buskers are playing music at other spots too). West of California/Alaska is the Kids’ Zone, lots of free fun as well as the inflatables (for which you need a day pass or individual tickets – you can pay online too).

2:56 PM: Most of the inflatables are actually in the parking lot behind KeyBank – if you look down SW Alaska, you’ll only see one, and the ticket booth. Also on Alaska by the lot entrance – the West Seattle Arcade game zone:

Elsewhere in festival-land, it’s almost time for the main-stage music to start, up on California SW north of Oregon:

Music is also happening inside Jet City Labs (a few steps north of Easy Street) – proprietor Derek Moon has a DJ lineup all weekend:

Or you can keep shopping – remember, this all began as a sidewalk sale way back when, and many year-round merchants have tables outside their shops, like Three Little Birds (with a guest appearance by their sister store Alair):

That’s on the east side of California south of Alaska. At the very south end of the festival zone, we found a visiting vendor with a sense of humor:

3:39 PM: Also on the Alaska-to-Edmunds section of California, one of the festival’s face painters – we just got a question about where to find them (answer: midblock raised crosswalk):

4:32 PM: Music has begun on both stages – the West Side Stage (sponsored by West Side Music Academy) is in Junction Plaza Park, north of the food vendors – we stopped by while Nathan Shafi was playing:

Among the bands scheduled for that stage in the next few hours – local faves The Potholes are playing at 6 pm. Up at the Main Stage north of Oregon (which is also where you’ll find the Beer Garden – featuring non-alcoholic specialties too), it’s Bexley right now.

Music on that stage runs until 11 tonight; vendors are open until 8 pm-ish. Some are bringing a taste of other parts of the city – like Pike Place Nuts, on the south block, with sweet and savory nuts:

5:25 PM: Summer Fest is powered by volunteers – among them, the school communities that are running the Kid Zone. Explorer West Middle School is there today – we said hi to Dawn:

Explorer West is a WSB sponsor, as are the two schools you’ll find in the Kids’ Zone this weekend, Tilden School and Hope Lutheran.

Meantime, we’ve talked a lot about music – but you can immerse yourself in books at the festival too! Not just by visiting Pegasus Book Exchange, but also via the Author Event Network‘s festival booth – they’re back this year to spotlight independent authors and their books. Among them, West Seattle’s own Susan Kemp, who has just published “The Time Philosopher,” sequel to her previous book “Climate Machine” – she’s in the network booth all three days of the festival (here’s the full list of who’s there):

5:51 PM: As usual for the first day of the festival, evening’s arrival brings a bigger crowd. The food zone, where you’ll find festival faves like elephant ears and cotton candy as well as dinner fare, is developing lines. The music is about to heat up too – we’ll be at the West Side Stage at 6 for The Potholes; Mikey Moo takes the Main Stage right about then. And if you haven’t been to The Junction yet, the temperature has been perfect all day – 15-plus degrees cooler than earlier this week, just a bit breezy.

6:19 PM: Some video from the start of The Potholes’ set:

They’re performing again at noon Sunday, also at the West Side Stage in Junction Plaza Park (just northeast of the food vendors).

7:02 PM: Vendors are here until 8, so you still have time to scope everything out in the mellow evening air. Here’s the evening view from the Info Booth:

Continuing to wander the vendor rows, we said hi to Vanessa at WSB sponsor Camp Crockett:

Camp Crockett’s places for your pups include spaces from Upper Morgan to North Delridge – but you can find out about them right here in The Junction during the festival, another bonus of visiting Summer Fest – learning about dozens of local businesses (including the year-round Junction merchants) all in one place. Another WSB sponsor, Mode Music Studios, is here – Lindsey‘s in the house this evening talking with people about their lessons and camps:

And if you still haven’t tried Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce – a Farmers’ Market fixture – Tony himself is here:

8 PM: The vendors are wrapping up (food booths usually stay longer, and of course the year-round restaurants/bars are open too) since it’s official closing time (except for main-stage music, which continues until 11ish). We’re rolling up the info booth too, but continuous coverage will continue Saturday – back tomorrow at 10 to start Saturday!

ADDED SATURDAY: WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen sent this photo of Easy Street’s Matt Vaughan introducing The Long Winters‘ closing set:

Jason says Matt declared Roderick “the Mark Twain of Seattle.”

(P.S. – if your business, organization, performing group, etc. is doing something this weekend at Summer Fest – tell us about it, via text at 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)

(WSB photo from 2023 Admiral Funktion)

The Admiral Neighborhood Association wants to be sure potential vendors – both businesses and nonprofits – know that the deadline is coming up for registering for space at this year’s Admiral Funktion Block Party. It’s happening on California SW north of Admiral Way on Saturday, August 24, 11 am-10 pm. ANA says limited spaces are left, so go here to save your spot before July 25!

Notes tonight as West Seattle Summer Fest gets ever closer:

CLOSURES START THURSDAY: One more reminder, the barricades are standing by and street closures in the heart of The Junction will start kicking in Thursday morning – California between Genesee and Oregon, and between Oregon and Edmunds; SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th. If you’re parked somewhere tonight that will become a no-parking area tomorrow, be sure to move your car before the restrictions kick in, or you really will risk getting towed.

BUS REROUTES START THURSDAY: Check your route’s status via the Metro advisories page – Route 128 will be rerouted starting at 7 am, while other routes’ changes kick in at 3 pm.

FESTIVAL NOTES: The festival officially starts at 1 pm Friday; music starts at 3 pm on the main stage, 4 pm on the West Side Stage in Junction Plaza Park. When you get thirsty, the Beer Garden (near the main stage north of SW Oregon) has a new vendor this year – the NA Sommelier:

The NA Sommelier, founded and operated by Juanita Unger, offers a carefully curated selection of non-alcoholic adult beverages through a pop-up kiosk, a mobile non-alcoholic bar, and a wealth of information and resources on all things booze-free.

Juanita’s mission is to help people discover delicious, complex, and enchanting flavor experiences, ensuring that everyone feels welcome to the party!

Check out other food and drink purveyors here. And come enjoy year-round Junction faves Thursday night during Summer Fest Eve (as well as throughout the festival). See you in The Junction!

The no-parking signs are up, for restrictions kicking in Thursday morning, which is when setup starts for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in the areas shown on this official map:

We’ve already previewed much of what’s new, such as additions to the Kid Zone and vendors serving with reusables; this year also brings back a second music stage (in Junction Plaza Park) – see both stages’ lineups here (remember the main stage breaks down after Saturday night, to make space for the temporarily relocated Farmers’ Market on Sunday. WSB is a Summer Fest co-sponsor again this year – we’ll see you in The Junction! (P.S. Don’t forget to visit on Summer Fest Eve …)

West Seattle’s biggest party of the year is just a week and a half away: West Seattle Summer Fest, Friday-Sunday, July 12-14, in the heart of The Junction. We’ve already previewed one brand-new festival feature – food and drink vendors will be serving you reusably! Tonight, more of what’ll be new at this year’s Summer Fest – extra fun at the festival Kids’ Zone. Lots of it will be free. That includes a “foam party,” a special area with big foam machines enabling everybody to get bubbly (and misting to get those bubbles off if need be). Speaking of bubbles, the legendary Bubbleman will be performing at Summer Fest, on Saturday. That’s also the day that Gary “The Balloon Guy” will be making balloon creations. Little ones also will be able to romp for free in a fenced area with grass and large toys, guided by volunteers from local schools. For slightly older kids, West Seattle Arcade will bring some free games to Summer Fest, including pinball and Dance Dance Revolution. And there’s science/tech fun too – robotics on Friday and Saturday, hands-on engineering with Pacific Science Center on Sunday. Sports get spotlighted too – soccer, basketball, and volleyball in particular, with Kid Zone sponsors Junction FC and West Seattle Reign. Then there’s the perennially popular question we always get in the Summer Fest Info Booth: “Where’s the face painter?” Two vendors will be offering face painting throughout the festival on The Junction’s midblock raised crosswalks. And last but by no means least, the inflatables – five will be available, including an obstacle course and slide; you can even buy your $20 day pass in advance online (you can do that here), with an option for a $40 day pass/festival T-shirt package), or pay $5 for each individual inflatable use at the festival. More previews to come – and we’ll see you at Summer Fest!

Happening until 8 pm on the north end of Alki Playfield, it’s the first-ever Alki Community Summer Celebration, presented by the Alki Community Council, whose vice president Lindsay Pearsall and president Charlotte Starck were on stage between bands when we stopped by.

Community groups and city departments are there with information and more – Seal Sitters provides an opportunity to learn about sea life:

And don’t miss the chance to comment on the design of the play area at the south end of the playground, which will be overhauled with the future school-construction project. We’ll add a few more photos later.

Along with everything else they’ve taken on, the new leadership of the Alki Community Council has organized a summer mini-festival – and it’s now just three days away!

Thursday night (June 20), 5-8 pm, be at Whale Tail Park/Alki Playfield (58th/Lander) for the first-ever ACC-presented Alki Community Summer Celebration. Free fun, plus food for sale. The plan (updated) includes:

Performances from:

Mixed Meta4
Billy from Billy and the Dreamboats
Dylan Yuste
Michael Pearsall
Abbigale
Hayward Sun

Food for sale from Fire Tacos & Cantina

Also present will be:

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Seattle Parks and Rec
A Cleaner Alki
Alki History Project
West Seattle Arcade
Seal Sitters
Alki Beach Pride
Starbucks free cold brew
SPD’s Courageous Lions and Community Service Officer program
Alki Community Council
Poogooder
Schmitz Park Preserve
Alki Elementary PTA

And you’ll have the chance to see and comment on the in-progress plans for the Alki play area between the playfield and the past-and-present school site. We’re expecting real summer weather that night, so set your calendar for a fun evening.

10:12 AM: Until 2 pm, the Morgan Junction Community Festival is on! The entertainment has just begun with The Bubbleman.

Magic and music is coming up too. … Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit horseback officers have just arrived:

This is all happening in and around Morgan Junction Park, just north of Beveridge Place Pub on the west side of California SW about half a block north of Fauntleroy.

The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association is set up on Beveridge Place between the pub and Whisky West:

They’re there to talk with you about the plan for an all-wheels area in the south part of the park. Take this survey to see the concepts – or better yet, come to the festival and talk about them with MJAWA!

This is NOT just for skaters – they want to hear from everyone.

10:43 AM: Ray the Magician is starting his performance.

He has classic magician props – a hat, magic ropes, magic rings – and stories about getting interested in magic as a kid (now it’s a sideline to his day job as a lawyer).

11:20 AM: The magic show has concluded. Here’s some of what else you can do – the Gatewood Elementary PTA has a “gator launch” activity over in the southernmost area:

Alice Kuder‘s Just In Case (WSB sponsor) makes disaster preparedness fun, and that’s what she’s doing at her table:

Just In Case focuses on personal preparedness – while neighborhood preparedness is what the Emergency Communication Hubs are all about, and Cindi Barker can explain them to you:

In the heart of the park, you and your kids can learn about orcas from The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom:

11:42 AM: Gary Benson, acoustic musician and longtime festival favorite, has just started his performance in the park, introduced by emcee Phil Tavel.

This is all volunteer-powered, and presented by the Morgan Community Association, greeting festivalgoers from their table near the park entrance (we’re nearby).

Back over in the festival expansion zone behind Zeeks (right along Fauntleroy just west of California), more Seattle Police representation – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer and Community Service Officer Dennise:

They have steering-wheel locks if you need one. Over at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society booth, say hi to Elizabeth and Meagan:

12:20 PM: City Councilmember Tanya Woo has just stopped by – she’s currently one of four candidates who’ll be on the August ballot for the citywide seat to which she was appointed:

(We have a longstanding policy that if you’re running for something and you’re at a local festival that we’re at too, come say hi and we’ll take your photo.) District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka is supposed to be here soon too, scheduled to introduce The Potholes, final performers of the festival.

12:57 PM: Councilmember Woo spoke briefly. Shortly thereafter, Councilmember Saka gave a longer speech, mostly riffing off the pothole theme and how he uses the “King of Potholes” nickname as a symbol for attention to governmental basics:

Then emcee Tavel took the mic to talk briefly about two people long active with MoCA who passed away this past year – Eldon Olson and Chas Redmond (who handled the sound system for this festival for many years). As he noted, Chas wasn’t a “moment of silence” kind of person – so instead, there was a “moment of noise.” And The Potholes will be playing shortly.

1:21 PM: They’re performing now!

The festival continues until 2 pm.

2 PM: It’s been a breezy but dry and sunny festival – thanks to everyone who came – and here are the organizers from the Morgan Community Association:

MoCA meets quarterly, with a ton of information about what’s happening in the community – next meeting (likely online and in person) will be July 17 – watch morganjunction.org for info.

Rain or shine, the Morgan Junction Community Festival is on for tomorrow (Saturday, June 15), 10 am-2 pm, in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW).

MEET YOUR COUNCILMEMBER: Late word from Deb Barker, president of the Morgan Community Association – which presents the festival – is that City Councilmember Rob Saka will be there, and in his self-declared role as “King of Potholes,” will introduce the final performers of the festival, West Seattle band The Potholes.

FULL ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE: Four hours, four acts!

10:00 to 10:45 – The Bubbleman: Returning Festival favorite featuring good clean fun. Brought to you by West Seattle Blog

10:50 to 11:40 –Raymond the Magician: Artful, innovative and very, very cool. Brought to you by Mailbox West

11:45 to 12:35 – Gary Benson: Our local folk-rock favorite. Brought to you by Thunder Road Guitars

12:45 to 2:00 – The Potholes: Still slinging funky-fusion, guac and rock right back at ya!! Brought to you by Pet Elements

EXPANDED SITE: While you’re there, remember that the festival has expanded to re-add the lot behind Whisky West and Zeeks Pizza, as in pre-pandemic days – you’ll find community organizations’ activities and resource booths there.

MORGAN JUNCTION ALL-WHEELS ASSOCIATION: On the southwest side of the park, MJAWA will be holding an all-festival-long drop-in community conversation about the plan for an all-wheels area in the park. That includes a chance to comment on the design!

If you’re driving, there’s extra parking at O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) on the northeast corner of California/Graham; however you get there, hope to see you at the park tomorrow!

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(WSB photo, Bubbleman at 2022 Morgan Junction Community Festival)

Saturday’s the day for this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), 10 am-2 pm. This morning, two updates:

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES: This year, the festival expands back into the lot behind Whisky West and Zeeks Pizza, south of the park, where community organizations and businesses will be set up, including these booths/tables promising interactive activities for kids as well as info on what they do:

Poogooders, The Whale Trail, 34th District Democrats, Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Emergency HUBS, Gatewood Elementary School PTA, West Seattle Wonder Dogs, West Seattle Tool Library, Southwest Precinct

Families will want to be at the festival right at the start at 10 am – that’s when the legendary Bubbleman makes his Morgan Junction Community Festival return, followed by Magician Raymond at 10:50 am. (The full entertainment schedule is on the festival webpage.)

FESTIVAL PARKING: If you’re driving to the festival, we got word this morning that O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) is opening their nearby lot to festivalgoers, on the northeast corner of California/Graham. Here’s the plan, from proprietor Tim O’Neill:

A flagger and attendant will assist vehicles to enter on California Ave and exit out onto Graham St. We will have a sandwich board out on display also.

We will be on hand to open @ 9:30 and will be asking drivers to return to their vehicles by 2:30 so we can resecure our lot.

The festival zone is also right on multiple bus routes – including RapidRide C Line, 128, and 22. See you there! (WSB is the festival’s media sponsor.)

Festival season continues one week from today with the Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, 10 am-2 pm Saturday, June 15 – maybe you’ve seen the new posters around:

Post-pandemic, MoCA presented a smaller-scale festival, but this year more of the original features are back, including booths with community organizations and businesses. Free entertainment will fill the festival, starting with the back-from-retirement Bubbleman at 10 am – see the full lineup here. And you can find out more about the plan for an all-wheels area in the park at a design open house hosted by Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association. It’ll all happen in and around Morgan Junction Park – on the west side of California just north of the intersection with Fauntleroy – next Saturday.

West Seattle Summer Fest is coming up July 12-14 – and the official poster (by Horsepower Design) is out now!

The main-stage music lineup has already been announced – here’s what was announced two weeks ago. Again this year, the main stage will be up on Friday and Saturday, on California north of Oregon, but the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will take that space on Sunday. There’ll also be a smaller stage with music in Junction Plaza Park. Festival hours will be 1-8 pm Friday (July 12), 10 am-8 pm Saturday (July 13), 10 am-5 pm Sunday (July 14), with music going later on Friday and Saturday nights, last band starting at 10 pm. (Here’s the official neighborhood-event notice.) More festival info in the weeks ahead!

(WSB photo, Bubbleman at 2022 Morgan Community Festival)

The season of big events has begun – and we have an update on one of June’s biggest events, the Morgan Junction Community Festival. It’s set for 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, June 15 – three weeks from tomorrow – and the entertainment lineup is set, with a big comeback: Bubbleman returns! Here’s the latest festival lineup, from the Morgan Community Association:

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE: Morgan Junction Park

10:00 to 10:45 – The Bubbleman: Returning Festival favorite featuring good clean fun
10:50 to 11:40 – Raymond the Magician: Artful, innovative, and very, very cool
11:45 to 12:35 – Gary Benson: Our local folk-rock favorite
12:45 to 2:00 – The Potholes: Still slinging funky-fusion, guac and rock right back at ya!!

PLUS:

-Community Vendors in the Zeeks/Whisky West parking lot
-First Responders on California
–MJAWA‘s All Wheels meet-up on Beveridge

More details at the MoCA website: morganjunction.org/festival

Questions for the Festival Team – mocacnc@gmail.com

All this will be happening in and around Morgan Junction Park, on the west side of California SW a short distance north of Fauntleroy Way SW. (WSB is media sponsor for the festival.)