West Seattle, Washington
31 Saturday
(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!)
6:16 PM: In the heart of The Junction, the streets are closed and you can truly Walk All Ways, in more areas than usual … it’s Summer Fest Eve, with setup starting for the Friday-Saturday-Sunday festival.
Some signage is hinting at what’s ahead, such as reusable cups, plates, etc., for all festival vendors this year (as previewed here):
As usual, Summer Fest Eve coincides with the July West Seattle Art Walk. That’s happening all over the peninsula, but Junction venues are in an extra spotlight because of Summer Fest Eve. Among tonight’s artists, Bonnie Katz Sailors is showing her work at Fitness Together-West Seattle (4546 California SW, upstairs; WSB sponsor), the studio she used to own:
Preview other artists with shows/receptions tonight by going here. Most Art Walk events are happening at least until 8 pm; here in The Junction, one big event is the “flash mob” DancePowered practice at California/Alaska around 7 pm. The Art of Music – three venues around West Seattle with mini-concerts – has a Junction show at Verity CU (4505 California SW) with Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints until 7:45 pm.
6:46 PM: Artist Billy Kincaid is in the house at West Seattle Windermere (4526 California SW):
7:15 PM: No sign of dancers … Summer Fest Eve does evolve sometimes! The Dip has started their set in Easy Street, though.
UPDATE: 8 pm dancing, we’ve just learned!
9:07 PM: Adding video now that we’re back at HQ. First – the DancePowered megamedley:
Here’s another angle of the first 3 1/2 minutes. DancePowered’s leader Jennifer Cepeda is in the beanie:
As an encore, the dancers brought bystanders into the circle to dance – we even spotted one with a pup:
You can see the official performance at noon Saturday during the second day of West Seattle Summer Fest. The festival runs 1-8 pm Friday (music and beer garden until ~11), 10 am-8 pm Saturday (music and beer garden until ~11), 10 am-5 pm Sunday. We’ll be joining the Info Booth crew for the 15th year; say hi if you’re in the Walk All Ways vicinity!
(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!
Two reasons not to stay home Thursday night!
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH THE ART OF MUSIC: First reason, it’s the first West Seattle Art Walk of summer! From North Admiral to Morgan Junction, dozens of businesses welcome you to stop and see art and/or enjoy food/drink specials.
To find out who’s where and when, browse the venue-by-venue previews on the Art Walk website! Most Art Walk events start at 5 and continue until 8, a few later. In the heart of that, you’ll find three Art of Music mini-concerts this month: Norman Baker @ WEND Jewelry in the Admiral District, Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints @ Verity Credit Union in The Junction, and Marco de Carvalho @ Pine Lake Cellars north of Morgan Junction.
They’re all playing 6 pm-7:45 pm Thursday at their respective venues. Learn more about the musicians – and check out video samples of their work – by going here.
SUMMER FEST EVE: In The Junction, Thursday night is more than Art Walk night – it’s also West Seattle Summer Fest Eve, the night before summer’s biggest party, when you can wander the closed-to-traffic streets as festival setup continues. In addition to the aforementioned Art of Music performance at Verity, Easy Street Records has a 7 pm in-store concert with The Dip, and what’s becoming a Summer Fest Eve tradition – Jennifer Cepeda‘s DancePowered dancers will practice this year’s flash-mob-style performance (we’re still checking on the time for that don’t-miss event). You might find other surprises as you roam The Junction’s streets Thursday evening (like early-setup sidewalk cafés where you can dine out at your favorite Junction spots while enjoying the summer night air).
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 …)
That sign at the north end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market has extra meaning this week – next week, because of West Seattle Summer Fest, the market will be on California Avenue SW north of SW Oregon instead of south. Most if not all of your favorite farmers and other vendors will still be participating, and the hours are the same – 10 am to 2 pm Sunday (July 14) – but the market moves on that one Sunday each year so that festival vendors can continue in their Friday-Sunday spots. (The block north of Oregon is home to the main stage and beer garden on Friday and Saturday – see the music lineup here.) Now that Summer Fest week has arrived, we’ll have daily updates leading up to Summer Fest Eve on Thursday and the festival’s start on Friday (following recent previews of the reusable servingware and the Kids’ Zone additions) – see you there!
One week from tonight, you’ll want to be in The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest Eve – traditionally a chance to wander the streets the night before the huge three-day festival brings in the crowds. This year, West Seattle Junction Association events director Stacie Woods says the street closures are expected to kick in earlier, so there’ll be more setting up and less loading in during the evening. As usual, Summer Fest Eve will coincide with July’s West Seattle Art Walk, which includes venues all over the peninsula, but The Junction is the neighborhood with the most – In addition to festival setup, you’ll get to enjoy art and music. This month’s Art of Music act in The Junction, 6-7:45 pm on Summer Fest Eve, will be Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints, performing at Verity (4505 California SW). Some of the local venues who add temporary sidewalk cafés for the festival get them going early, so plan on dinner when you come. You’ll see some bonus fun too, like Jennifer Cepeda‘s Dance Powered group practicing for their Saturday “flash mob”-style performance. (See video of what they did last year in our Summer Fest Eve 2023 report.)
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!
Two weeks from tomorrow, the peninsula’s biggest party of the year begins – West Seattle Summer Fest. In the days ahead we’ll bring you festival previews with what you need to know about this year’s event, Friday, July 12, through Sunday, July 14, in The Junction. First off – this year is the first time Summer Fest goes big with an all-out “zero-waste” initiative, joining forces with Bold Reuse and Seattle Public Utilities for reusable drinkware, dishware, and serviceware at both festival food booths and at the beer garden. Your most important role in this is to properly return those items after use. Collection bins with explanatory signage will be available throughout the festival zone, and people will be standing by to help you know what goes into which bin – reusable, recyclable, compostable, or garbage. Throughout the days and evenings of the festival, the West Seattle Junction Association tells us, Bold Reuse will check in with vendors to be sure they’re stocked up; the company then will inspect, clean, and replenish items for each day. This will not only be a first for West Seattle Summer Fest, but the first festival-reusables program “at this scale” in the city.
This is happening in connection with the city’s Reuse Seattle initiative, and in addition to doing your part as a West Seattle Summer Fest food/drink consumer, there’s another way to help: Volunteers are being recruited, to help festivalgoers know what goes where (as mentioned above) and to explain the benefits of reusing. If you’re interested, fill out this online form, and program reps will be in touch about the possibilities. More Summer Fest previews ahead!
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 SunFood 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!
(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.)
Another festival this Saturday – but this one lasts all day, so you can get to this as well as the Morgan Junction Community Festival! West Seattle’s environmental-learning center/park Camp Long is inviting you to its 2024 Mountain Fest, 11 am-5 pm Saturday. The park’s famous climbing rock/wall is a major attraction, as is its challenge course:
But you don’t have to climb to have a good time at Mountain Fest – lots of free fun is promised for those who plan to keep both feet on the ground, too. Here’s the map of what they’re planning, and where. (For bird fans, note that The Falconer is scheduled to be there!) Get more Mountain Fest info from this Parkways post. Haven’t been to Camp Long? 5200 35th SW.
(WSB photo – banner on kiosk at Morgan Junction Park)
We’re counting down to the next major summer event in West Seattle – the Morgan Junction Community Festival, 10 am-2 pm Saturday (June 15) in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW). Among the festival features will be your next chance to participate in planning the “all-wheels area” that’s on the drawing board for the southwest side of the soon-to-be-expanded park. The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association has sent their official announcement of what they’re planning as part of the festival:
The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association (MJAWA) is excited to announce our second community meeting for the Morgan Junction Park expansion.
Hosted at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the three skate spot design options from legendary West Seattle-based skatepark builder Grindline, participate in the interactive Skate Like a Girl “MJ Ramp-age,” and be entered to win a skate prize from By and By skate shop or project t-shirt. All community members are invited to vote for their favorite design on-site on Saturday, June 15.
“We are excited to present these design options to the Morgan Junction community,” said Matt Fluegge, CEO of Grindline. “Our goal is to create a space that not only meets the needs of local kids, but also enhances the overall park experience for everyone. The feedback we’ve received has been invaluable, and we’re committed to building a park that the community will be proud of.”
Grindline has incorporated feedback from the first community meeting on April 27, as well as a Seattle Parks and Recreation survey at last year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival.
In addition to the design presentations, Skate Like a Girl will be sponsoring the “MJ Ramp-age” feature. This interactive area will allow attendees to move real ramps around a 1,500 sq ft space, providing a hands-on experience to explore how different park features might feel and flow together.
Kristin Ebeling, executive director of Skate Like a Girl, added, “Skateboarding has the power to transform lives. It is both a physical and creative outlet with the power to build intergenerational community. We are proud to be part of a project that will create an accessible entry point for emerging skaters and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the Morgan Junction neighborhood.”
“Skateboarding teaches perseverance, creativity, and resilience,” said Jason Glover, Chief Sealth International High School teacher and local skateboarder. “I’ve seen firsthand how students who skateboard develop a strong sense of self-confidence and community. It’s more than just a sport; it’s a way for kids to express themselves and build essential life skills.”
Look for MJAWA in Morgan Junction Park during the festival, 10 am-2 pm Saturday. As the week continues, we’ll preview other festival features – entertainment, vendors, activities. (WSB is media sponsor for the festival, which is presented by the Morgan Community Association.)
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 BeveridgeMore 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.)
(Thanks to Lora for the photos)
10:58 AM: If ever you’ve wanted to find out more about the West Seattle Bee Garden, today is THE day. The West Seattle Bee Festival is under way all day in and around High Point Commons Park (Lanham/Graham). The morning is devoted to walking and running activities, with the help of Emerald City Wanderers:
Then from noon to 4 pm, booths will be set up along Lanham Place, with a variety of organizations and vendors to visit, and you can check out activities and demonstrations – to learn about the bees, be at the Bee Garden at 1 pm for a hive demonstration. The full schedule of events is in this preview.
12:26 PM: Thanks to Lora for more photos – you can meet beekeepers and buy honey, of course, at the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association booth:
The Seattle Public Library hopes you’ll be abuzz about reading:
Seattle Police sent four-legged ambassadors from the Mounted Patrol:
The festival is on until 4 pm!
First big event of a lively West Seattle weekend starts at 9 am tomorrow – the West Seattle Bee Festival! Here’s how the day will unfold:
Commons Park runs north behind Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW; map) and the West Seattle Bee Garden is at its north end (corner of Lanham and Graham); Lanham is where you’ll find most of the booths during the community activities between noon and 4 pm (that street will be closed to traffic much of the day). It’s all free! The first Bee Festival was back in 2013, celebrating the launch of the Bee Garden itself.
(2023 photo by Paul Weatherman, Summer Fest stage/beer garden area on California north of Oregon)
Now just under two months until the biggest West Seattle party of the year – Summer Fest! It’s presented by the West Seattle Junction Association, Friday-Sunday, July 12-14 this year, and WSJA has just released the main-stage music schedule. Again this year, the main stage will be on California north of Oregon, with performances Friday and Saturday (Sunday, that’s where you’ll find the Farmers’ Market). Here’s the lineup!
FRIDAY
3:00 Quid Quo
4:00 Bexley
5:00 Low Hums
6:00 Angry Blackmen
7:00 The Little Lies
8:00 La Fonda
9:00 Girl Trouble
10:00 The Long WintersSATURDAY
11:00 Mode Music Studios Showcase
12:00 School of Rock
1:00 NOVACHROME
2:00 Bouquets
3:00 Society of the Silver Cross
4:00 Frond
5:00 Johnny Nails
6:00 Chimurenga Renaissance
7:00 M.Krebs
8:00 Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army
9:00 Walking Papers
10:00 Sonny & the Sunsets
The festival also will include a smaller stage, plus vendors, food/drink, an expanded kids’ area, and more – we’ll bring you more updates in the weeks ahead!
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