(WSB photo from 2024. Hoping for warmer weather this year!)
One month from today – on Saturday, August 23 – California SW will be closed to traffic north of Admiral Way for the Admiral Block Party, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. And this year, the closure will start Friday afternoon, so you might say that in The Junction’s Summer Fest Eve tradition, the Block Party gets an Eve – on Friday, ANA’s Dan Jacobs tells WSB, you’ll see “late afternoon buskers/DJ’s … kids’ chalk art … restaurant extended seating.” Then on Saturday, come wander the all-day-and-into-the-night festival, 10 am-9 pm, with the music lineup just announced:
Justin Kausal-Hayes
Sad Dad Autumn
School of Rock
Michael Pearsall
The Potholes
Baby Crow Flight School
Six Killers
SunKing (Tribute to The Cult)
The vendor lineup will be out soon, but in the meantime, Dan tells us the festival’s vendor row is full, so if you missed the chance to apply this year, you’ll have to wait until next year. One more new feature: “Alki Bike and Board will be putting on an all-ages cycling challenge on the south end of the party.” WSB is an Admiral Block Party co-sponsor, so we’ll see you there!
The peninsula’s biggest party of the year – West Seattle Summer Fest – is over for another year, after three big days (and two nights) in the streets in the heart of The Junction. Organizers at the West Seattle Junction Association want to know what you thought about it – what you did, what could be improved, etc. To collect those opinions, they’ve just launched this short survey. It’s open until August 1.
1:11 PM: Those are some scenes from the Alki Art Fair‘s second day, including singer Monica Ramos of Monamor; Day 3 is happening right now, and today’s live music is under way until around 5 (see the lineup here), and the artists’ booths are open until 6. WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen is there to feature more of the fair beyond what we covered Friday:
Above is sculptor Michelle DeLarme, and her baby (and mascot!) Phoebe, with Happy Yak Creations.
She specializes in miniature polymer-clay animals, and she’s been sculpting since middle school. “I like working on a smaller scale, it helps me keep things fun, and sorta whimsical. For a while I was making them so small they’d fit on the tip of your finger.” Last year Michelle was an “emerging artist” at the fair, so this is her first year with her own booth.
Her favorite item by far is the dragons. “I got on a dragon kick a long time ago, and I’ll probably never get off it.”
ADDED 1:30 PM: Up on the bathhouse stage this past hour, Stargazy Pie.
Vocalist Jack inroduced the Tacoma-based shred-pop band, signing off with “and I am Jack, and I don’t know what I’m doing here. … If you wanna get merchandise, or, if you wanna talk to my dad, you can do that,” pointing to the parentally staffed merchandise stand next to the stage before beginning another song.
ADDED 2:07 PM: Meet Sabella – an artist, writer, and designer living in Seattle who works under the moniker “the monarq.”
“This is my first time doing anything in West Seattle and it’s been great, the crowd has been very supportive.” She works primarily in goauche, acrylic and collage, with the goal to create varying images of Black women.According to her bio, “(Sabella’s) series “Portraits of Black Women I Have Yet to Name” began as a form of art therapy that helped her heal after burning out from work. While creating this series, she found the strength to quit fulltime employment
and pursue a career in the arts.” Sabella can be found seasonally at Pike Place Market, and at shows across Seattle.
ADDED 2:43 PM: It’s Johanna Lindsey‘s 18th year at the Alki Art Fair.
“There’s been a really great turnout this year, lots of out-of-town folks, and it’s gotten a lot more professional.” She’s the artist behind Penguina Designs, weaving together jewelry using beads and specialized thread. “We have our own little traditions at this point, like always getting dinner down here … It’s almost like a family reunion, seeing the same artists and people every year.” Below, she showed off one of her favorite pieces this year. When the fair is over, she’s going to keep experimenting with this orange & teal color combination:
2:59 PM: With a few hours to go for the 2025 Alki Art Fair, the beach is still flooded with people. Evan Hilsenberg-Riley, a Shoreline-based artist, was painting the Puget Sound horizon live for a crowd while chatting with onlookers.
Hilsenberg-Riley has had a tent at the Alki Art Fair since 2018, but she’s been painting with acrylics since she was 12.
“It’s been a fabulous weekend, and I’ve had a lot of practice painting and talking to an audience today.” Today, she’s painting Blake Island. “You won’t find me on top of a mountain or anything, but I love bringing out the easel to paint live, it makes the colors feel so much truer … I also like painting teeny-tiny pieces” She said, showing off a hand-held painting, also of Puget Sound.
“Shipping-container ships,” Hilsenberg-Riley said, “move a lot quicker when you’re trying to paint them.”
You can find her work in coffee and gift shops, including CAPERS (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.
The fair – which is on and around the Alki waterfront promenade west of 2701 Alki SW, with more than 90 booths – continues until 6 pm!
More than 90 booths/tents line the Alki Beach Park promenade for this year’s Alki Art Fair, with the first of three days on until 8 pm. You can shop and nosh/sip – at one of several food/drink booths (Cambodian food, hot dogs, more), or at Alki’s year-round places right across the street. West Seattle creators we saw include Julia Douthwaite Viglione, with a variety of creations including quilts and the story book created by her students in free writing classes for kids:
Want a stylized map of West Seattle or Puget Sound? Or regional mountain peaks? Elizabeth Person is your person:
Many types of art to browse and/or buy – including jewelry and apparel – and quirky items as well as the breathtakingly beautiful. While you’re at the fair, stop by the Info Booth, where you can buy a “vintage” Alki Art Fair T-shirt from last year for just $10, or one of this year’s design for $20:
The silent auction inside Alki Bathhouse isn’t open until tomorrow, which is also when the live music starts up. But a DJ is spinning today, the Kid Zone is open (nothing fancy but we did see bubbles!), and it’s a fine time to visit the beach. Booths are open until 8 tonight, 10 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday (with live music noon-7 pm Saturday and 11 am-5 pm Sunday).
Another three-day festival is right around the corner – the Alki Art Fair, this Friday-Sunday (July 18-20). In case it wasn’t already on your calendar, here’s the official announcement:
Now in its 28th year—this FREE, family-friendly, annual arts and music festival brings Alki to life with over 100 professional artists, craftspeople and emerging artists. There will be live music, children’s activities, live demonstrations, and local artisan food vendors for everyone to enjoy.
Visitors can take in the colorful views while strolling the promenade, as they eat and shop among the expansive lineup of artists, makers and performers. It’s a great opportunity to engage with the local creative community and celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our local arts and culture.
The Alki Art Fair still needs volunteers to help with this year’s festival. Volunteers can assist and mingle with the artists, help with the silent auction, staff the information booth, assist musicians, and more. Visit Volunteer at AAF 2025 for a full list of volunteer opportunities and to sign up today!
Event Highlights:
–100+ local artists & crafters selling works in a variety of media including painting, pottery, glass, textiles, metal, jewelry & more.
–Live music and performances throughout the weekend on the Bathhouse Stage sponsored by Canna West Culture Shop and Live Oak Audio Visual. This year we’re featuring a variety of genres including Latin, Soul, Funk, Pop, Rock and more. See the full lineup and schedule at alkiartfair.org.
–Interactive Kid Zone with creative activities for all ages.
–Silent auction in the historic Alki Bathhouse featuring unique items from local artists and businesses.
–Local food lineup features a range of sweet, savory, spicy and delicious options including Little Jamie’s Mini Donuts, Alpenglow Cocktail Company, Theory Cambodian Foods, The Snack Shop, Oh Dang in a Cup, Road Dawg, and Caribbean Cuisine.
And of course there’s a lineup of year-round food and drink purveyors right across the street!
3:02 PM: This is it – last call to get down to West Seattle Summer Fest, which wraps up at 5 pm. Music ends around 4 – last scheduled act is Massy Ferguson, on the West Side Stage at 3 pm. And Better As Brass(above), founded by West Seattle resident Kevin Freitas, is busking at California/Alaska right now. Kevin says this is their second year at Summer Fest, and that he started it because “I just wanted a brass band in West Seattle!” …Also an unofficial part of the festival, the canvassers – WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen talked to Erin Phillips, volunteering for Washington Bus – an organization that encourages young people to get politically active- drumming up support for Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program.
She’s from Northeast Seattle but told Hayden she’s having a great time learning about West Seattle during her first Summer Fest. (Speaking of politics, mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan remains the only candidate we’ve seen here, but incumbent mayor Bruce Harrell is due at the West Seattle Indivisible meeting in the Center for Active Living at 3:30 pm – we’re planning to be there.)
Meantime, we found a booth with multiple artists exhibiting, from Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights:
That’s one of the artists, Jody Wally.
4:23 PM: A sign that the festival is wrapping… deflation has begun:
The Summer Fest crew’s goal is for breakdown to be done by 9 pm; streets are expected to remain closed until 10.
6:26 PM: The mayor’s appearance lasted more than twice as long as planned; story to come. Your editor got back to the festival in its waning moments. Huge thanks to everyone who hung out with us, contributed content, and/or stopped by to say hi over the three days, and therefore made it possible to get through the first Summer Fest without WSB co-founder Patrick Sand (who usually spent many days ahead of time preparing, from collecting and collating festival info to amassing and packing tabling supplies like tape and tacks – we managed to find all that and brought it along).
9:20 PM: One loose end from this afternoon – we did get some video of Massy Ferguson, last scheduled stage band of the festival, but technical trouble prevented us from a timely upload:
10:27 AM: The West Side IS the best side, as artist Cody Huff‘s painting declares, and West Seattle Summer Fest is a reminder! The third and final day has begun, and we’re again on site to cover it. Here in the Info Booth, the biggest question so far this morning is “where’s the Farmers’ Market?” – answer: North of Oregon, right now, until 2 pm. We’re heading that way right now!
11:12 AM: Just back from the market. What you won’t find this week is many of the fresh-cooked food providers – but produce abounds, berries and greens and more. Among the produce sellers, the Alvarez farm, with both purple and white spring onion bunchesam!
The market’s on until 2; meantime, here in the festival zone, music just started, West Side Stage only today, with this lineup:
11:00 Matt Benham & David Weidig
12:00 WSMA + Sweetiest Sweeties
1:00 Sonny Parker
2:00 Baby Crow Flight School
3:00 Massy Ferguson
And the nonprofits with us in the Info Booth right now are the Seattle Emergency Hubs (learn what to do and where to go in case of catastrophe) and,making an encore, RainWise. Even if you’ve been here once, Sunday is a stellar day to wander one more time.
12:28 PM: The day is flying by. Remember that there’s lots of room to sit in the shade – like by the only music stage operating today, the West Side Stage:
That’s the crowd cheering for West Side Music Academy students on the stage (which is sponsored by the WSMA) this hour. We recorded one of them – great job on piano!
Headed to Summer Fest are the 16 riders who joined in the “Little STP” bike ride in West Seattle this morning – Al sent the photo from the Portland end of the ride (44th SW/SW Portland in Gatewood):
If you have trouble finding bike parking, there’s a corral toward the northwest end side.
12:56 PM: Speaking of transportation, Sound Transit is here, on the south half (south of Alaska) of the booth zone, if you have questions about light rail. And here in the info booth, the 1 pm changeover has brought in the Puget Sound Regional Council – ready to chat about big-picture issues – and SPD civilian staff, with crime prevention the focus (ask about the safety class that’s coming up this week)…. The Trombone King, featured here last night, has started playing again. WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen talked to him briefly:
Hayden reports, “Roy Lancaster, aka Trombone King 504, is a performer from New Orleans. He wished everyone a happy Summer Fest, and said ‘please deposit any complaints on the back of a 100 dollar bill’.”
1:45 PM: Last few hours mean one more chance to connect with vendors. Hayden talked to the local handmade-earring creators at Kellan and Kiera:
Last call for the Farmers’ Market, too, bursting with berries and cherries today as well as our personal favorite, salad greenery – the market closes at 2 as usual; the rest of Summer Fest is carrying on until 5.
6:32 PM: The biggest night of West Seattle Summer Fest is happening now. It’s dinner time from the food court (alongside and behind KeyBank, with reusable serviceware) to the year-round restaurants (many of which have special-for-the-festival sidewalk cafés). If you’re wandering the booth rows on California, we have another nonprofit on the east side of the Info Booth until 8 pm, RainWise. And speaking of water, bring your own container (or buy the Summer Fest edition) to use the free filtered water available this year:
West Side Stage music is wrapping up this hour, but the Main Stage (California between Oregon and Genesee) continues with this lineup for the rest of the night:
7:00 The Alain Johannes Band
8:00 New Constellations
9:00 Monsterwatch
10:00 Reignwolf
7:42 PM: We’re back from checking out Alain Johannes and band, introduced by Matt Vaughan of Easy Street Records:
Johannes started off playing music mostly from his time with the band Eleven:
Though the Main Stage is the only stage that’s active right now, there’s more music – the Trombone King is playing near Walk-All-Ways.
Meantime, AnUngulate was on the Main Stage before Alain Johannes:
More photos to add in a bit – first we’re going to take another spin around the festival grounds – looks like many booths are still open though it’s post-8 pm – somebody asked about this earlier – and that includes food, like the $14 elephant ear:
ADDED: And as we always note, many year-round businesses offer festival-food options too. Every year, Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller is grilling outside:
And whether or not the music brings you to Summer Fest, the music shopping might:
Not only the longtime Junction businesses, but also the newer ones like Rush Hour jump into the Summer Fest spirit too:
10:50 AM: The Junction is jumping! The second, and biggest, day of West Seattle Summer Fest is in its first hour and we’re back with more as-it-happens coverage. First thing we noticed: The ticket booth for the giant inflatables drew a crowd as the day began, with the line at one point stretching across the street:
There’s free fun in the Kids Zone too, but the inflatables are irresistible:
(Friday WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)
Music starts at 11 am on both stages today – the Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) showcase on the main stage, and Country Dave Harmonson on the West Side Stage (by the Wells Fargo drive-thru off the west side of SW Alaska). We’re off to catch at least one if not both!
11:45 AM: The Mode show was quite an extravaganza.
Mode’s founder/leader Erin Rubin took the mic to talk a bit about her business, which has a booth here this weekend, and then introduced 9-year-old keyboardist/singer Ashton, whose set included a Kooks cover.
Erin also explained that two members of THEM – the West Seattle-rooted band that performed last night -had been coaching the summer rock-band camp that would also perform.
Hudson and Thompson talked about what fun they’d been having at camp, forming a band they said they called McSalmon, “an acronym of all their names.”
And it’s almost noon, so the Comerford School of Irish Dance is performing in the intersection south of us – c’mon over if you’re in The Junction!
12:20 PM: Here’s a bit of the dancers:
We’re heading out again shortly to see what else is up. Stop by the Info Booth if you’re at the festival – nonprofits tabling on the east side of the booth today include Ridge 2 River until early afternoon, and then Seal Sitters and The Whale Trail will be here. … And where the dancers have just wrapped up, The Bubbleman will be doing his bubbly thing (last seen at the Morgan Junction Community Festival last month) starting around 1 pm!
12:50 PM: But first… you have until 2 pm to detour into ArtsWest (west side of California just south of California) and visit the “instrument petting zoo” presented by the West Seattle Community Orchestras:
Musicians are performing just outside the ArtsWest doors, too.
1 PM: Seal Sitters and The Whale Trail have arrived so you can come chat with them until 4-ish. We also have some help on the north end of the Info Booth -two volunteers, Mike and Scott from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which has lent a hand in the booth for many years, and WSB’s ad coordinator Annette.
Up on the main stage, Princess Pulpit is playing now, with afternoon highlights including the Dusty 45s at 4 pm. And the Bubbleman is starting to get bubbly in Walk-All-Ways.
1:58 PM: Busy and breezy day! Lots of innovative sun protection too – we’ve seen several parasols, including an elegant black lace one. … Meantime, shoutout to some of the WSB sponsors who are here:
Canna (right on the south side of California/Alaska) STS Construction Services (on the west side of the block between Oregon and Alaska) Fitness Together (on the east side of the same block, short ways up from the Info Booth) Rotary Club of West Seattle (featured yesterday – further up the east side of this block) Mode Music Studios (as mentioned previously and as showcased on the main stage earlier) CAPERS (year-round Junction shop, west side of block between Oregon and Alaska)
Since we’re on the subject … remember that the main stage wlll be broken down after tonight’s last show and the Farmers’ Market will be on that block, Oregon to Genesee, on Sunday, same hours as usual, 10 am-2 pm (while the festival continues 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, south of Oregon, and the West Side Stage will have a Sunday music slate).
2:33 PM: Here’s a full song from Princess Pulpit‘s main-stage set last hour:
3:29 PM: The Everlovers are on the West Side Stage right now, and people are dancing:
(added) Here’s our video of the band:
Steps away, Shug’s Mini is visiting from South Admiral with an ice-cream cart:
(Photo by Dixon Hamby)
And The Missing Piece has a beverage popup in front of their future new location (former Pharmaca, next to the back of KeyBank) –
Proprietor Eric tells us they’re hoping to be open by September 1st, and they will be open even later than their current 35th/Roxbury location – until 11 pm. Meantime, the festival popup is selling lemonade with lavender and “campfire” cold brew – which he tells us has a toasted marshmallow!
4:41 PM: We’re back from the main-stage zone, where the Dusty 45s – led by West Seattle’s own Billy Joe Huels – are rocking a nice-sized crowd:
Evening is arriving and we’re going to start a separate story after at least one non-festival items. Thanks again to everyone who’s stopped by to say hi!
West Seattle Little STP Bike Ride
Sunday, July 13, 2025 – 9:15 am to 1:00 pm
Meet at Hamilton Viewpoint Park
1318 Palm Ave SW
Have you ever wanted to do the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride? And forgot to sign up? Or train for it? Here is your big chance! Do it in 2 hours and end up at a huge finish line party! Same weekend as Cascade’s big STP, so you can brag and post pix like the other one-day riders.
Join West Seattle Bike Connections for a ride starting at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle on a 10.2-mile route at a leisurely 10-12 mph pace! Register at the start. We invite and welcome everyone including people of all ages, languages, ethnicities, genders, races, and abilities. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We will be riding from SW Seattle Street to SW Portland Street, and back north to Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction, for a fabulous finish line party. After some time at the festival, participants can ride home independently, or ride with a leader back to Hamilton Viewpoint.
Our goal will be to stay together as a group. Be prepared for a moderately hilly route. There are a couple of hills that some may wish to walk up. That’s fine! We will regroup at the top of hills.
If you have questions, contact ride leader Nick at westseattlebikeconnections@gmail.com.
Restrooms are not available at the start. Closest public restrooms are at Seacrest Marina Park (the water taxi dock) on Harbor Ave. We will stop along the way for restrooms/water at mile 2.7 at the Alaska Junction.
Check brakes and tires before leaving home. Arrive in time for 9:15 ride description and safety briefing. Must be present at the safety briefing to participate. Helmets required. No ear buds. Steady rain cancels. We will ride if there are just light showers.
We wrapped up our first day/night at West Seattle Summer Fest with the second-to-last concert of the night, THEM, who reminded the crowd that they’re “West Seattle born and raised.” We elbowed our way to within a couple rows of the foot of the stage, where devoted fans sang along even when the band members themselves weren’t singing.
The band’s moving to L.A. soon, according to an interview with WSB, so this was a so-long-for-now show too.
Saturday’s main-stage music starts at 11 am with a showcase of talent from the place where THEM got their start, West Seattle’s own Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor).
You can shop, nosh, sip – and play, at West Seattle Summer Fest. We’re going into the first night of the festival and mainstage music is ramping up too, with Madman Across the Water onstage right now, and these three acts up next:
(added) Here’s some of the Madman set (Elton John music):
The West Side Stage has shut down for the night; it’s by the Wells Fargo drive-thru off the west end of SW Alaska. Vendor booths are open until about 8, on California north and south of SW Alaska:
One of the booths features authors – stop by the Author Event Network booth to learn about writers and their work:
No matter what your age or size, you’re likely to find something of interest:
And year-round businesses have sales and deals too, so stroll the sidewalk while you’re here! Updates to come…
1:35 PM: At the top of the hour, that dynamic duo officially opened West Seattle Summer Fest 2025. They’re Stacie Woods, events director, and Chris Mackay, executive director, both with the West Seattle Junction Association, the nonprofit merchants alliance that presents the festival.
We’re in the Info Booth again this year, and if you’ve been in years past, note that like some other things, it’s in a different location – further north this year, parallel with Easy Street Records‘ big sale tent. Also different this year: The food’s on the west side of Alaska, including seating in the lot behind KeyBank, and the Kids Zone is on the east side of Alaska. The main music stage is in the same place as every year, on California north of Oregon, next to the beverage garden, and music starts at 3 pm, both there and on the smaller West Side Stage. Meantime, we’re on the north side of the Info Booth, with community organizations (SPD Crime Prevention and the Duwamish Solidarity Group) on the east side, and Junction Association volunteers selling festival merch on the south side. The festival’s on until 8 tonight, with music running until about 11 pm!
2:50 PM: Above, that’s a mobile romance bookstore, one of the unique vendors here – they’re close to the north end of the booth zone. Not far beyond, we bumped into our first political-candidate sighting of the festival:
That’s Joe Mallahan, who’s running for mayor – again. (Mike McGinn beat him in 2009.) You’ll find him and seven other candidates on the August 5th primary ballot. (We have a policy of photographing local candidates seen at Summer Fest, so if you’re running for something, stop by the Info Booth.) …
Really important note about the food zone – if you just walk into the section of Alaska west of California, it might look kind of sparse. Don’t stop there! In the parking lot behind KeyBank, LOTS of food tents, and places to sit and eat and drink, first year ever.
Lots of seating by the West Side Stage, which is next to the Wells Fargo drive-thru.
Music has just begun on both stages – so we’re off for some video.
3:42 PM: And there it is, a bit of Mason Lowe, first band on the main stage. Coming up at 4 pm – Mr. Dinkles.
South of Oregon, on the east side of the booth row, you’ll find a couple local nonprofits – the West Seattle Food Bank is still selling its Summer Raffle tickets, and the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which would be happy to talk with you about their community work (upcoming: tree gleaning!):
More coverage to come!
4:48 PM: Rootbeer played this hour on the West Side Stage:
As is typical for Day 1, the crowd continues to grow, but it’s still not mega-crowded.
6:09 PM:Weep Wave took the main stage last hour:
Vendor booths are open until 8 pm but we’re getting to the time when dinner and music take centerstage, literally and figuratively! We’re going to wrap up this report and launch a new one with more scenes from Summer Fest Day 1. Coming up tonight, THEM is onstage at 9 pm, Jenn Champion at 10 pm.
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
From the basement of Mode Music Studios to the top of the Space Needle, West Seattle-rooted band THEM has quickly marked itself as a standout in Seattle’s music scene. The more the band’s popularity grows, though, the more its core members reaffirm that no matter what, they’ll always be a group of friends first and foremost.
At 9 pm tonight, THEM will be performing on the West Seattle Summer Fest main stage. This will be their third performance at Summer Fest, and for the group, a hometown show. All four members of THEM met at West Seattle High School in 2017, “so getting to play five minutes from our stomping grounds is very very special,” said THEM member Hudson.
“It was a bit of a surprise to my family when I asked for a guitar for Christmas,” Hudson told us. “Since then, I’ve tried to learn everything I can get my hands on.” Sticking with the band’s theme of never losing touch with their roots, band members Thompson, Hudson, Ellie, and Lydia are all still working with Mode in some capacity, whether hosting a summer program or working at the front desk.
Since the band’s founding eight years ago, they’ve gone from, as Ellie put it, “Hundreds of shows where maybe our parents were there,” to the top of the Space Needle – broadcast on TV – during the 2024 New Year’s celebration, and the blinding lights of the Paramount Theater, where they all at one point worked as ushers. But according to Ellie, their enthusiasm was always the same, whether the crowd was one or one thousand people.
The spotlight has gotten less scary as time goes on, according to Thompson. “Before every show, we’re backstage talking through our set, and then we have a little chant and do some breathing exercises,” She said, “I think because we’ve played together so long, that stage fright isn’t present. It also helps so much that we’re all together and we’re all friends.”
They’ll be taking the energy back home tonight, in a show that’s more than just a return tour. Soon, the band will be moving to LA, which makes this a bittersweet sendoff. “Of every performance we’ve done,” Lydia said, “I think this is the one I’m the most excited for.” “It’s like a sendoff to our home,” said Thompson, “To get to play at Summer Fest again.
Tonight’s sendoff is just the beginning for a new chapter in THEM’s history. Outside of performing, Lydia enjoys photography and videography, and she’s been working with the rest of the band to produce more music videos, which you can find on their YouTube channel.
“We’ve all spent so much time here, so looking out and seeing all of our favorite people and places is going to be so special,” said Hudson, “The people of West Seattle are the reason we get to go everywhere else and play.” See them at 9 pm tonight on the Summer Fest main stage (California SW north of SW Oregon) – and for more news about where THEM is performing next, check out their Instagram page.
This is a big (three-day) weekend for local businesses, whether or not they’re in the West Seattle Summer Fest zone. Here are four more announcements we’ve received:
FITNESS TOGETHER WEST SEATTLE: This longtime WSB sponsor has a new way for clients to get its services:
Big News, West Seattle!
You asked, we listened. We now accept HSA and FSA payments!
Use your health benefits toward private, one-on-one personal training in our fully equipped suites—no crowds, no distractions, just personalized fitness that fits your life. Interested in learning more? Stop by our booth (#81) this weekend at Summer Fest or contact us via e-mail (westseattle@fitnesstogether.com) or through our website.
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS & ALKI KAYAK TOURS: These sibling businesses are offering sales:
We’re hosting a Splash Sale, offering up to 20% off on our paddle clothing and paddle boards. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to gear up for summer fun on the water! Mountain to Sound (a WSB sponsor) is at 3602 SW Alaska.
Additionally, Alki Kayak Tours is pleased to offer a special discount of 25% off on our West Seattle Sunset Sea Kayak Tour, Elliott Bay Tour, and Alki Lighthouse Tour for West Seattle residents. Just use the code SUMMERFEST25 at checkout to take advantage of this offer.
PAPA TONY’S HOT SAUCE:This West Seattle business will have a booth at Summer Fest – as they do at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market most weeks – and when you see them, congratulate them for this national spotlight! Founder Tony Wilson sent word of it, thinking the community would want to know.
WEST SEATTLE MERCANTILE: North of The Junction but celebrating this weekend too! From proprietor Jennifer Young:
In honor of West Seattle Summer Fest weekend, we are having a huge sidewalk sale on Saturday and Sunday. Crafts for the kids, popcorn, balloons, and more. Come and join the West Seattle Mercantile, which houses your longtime local businesses. THREE LITTLE BIRDS, KID FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR, ALAIR, and DYLAN.
They’re co-housed at 3270 California SW. Got a Summer Fest weekend biznote? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
West Seattle Summer Fest features many visiting vendors, but year-round local businesses are at the heart of the party. The festival began as their summer sidewalk sale, and evolved over the years. Some still have sidewalk sales, or sidewalk cafés, or kiosks/stands outside their businesses. We’ve heard from/talked with a few.
HUSKY DELI: They’ll have a stand outside the Deli with their traditional bratwurst, kosher hot dogs, and Jalapeño cheese dogs, and extra ice cream as usual. Staff told WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen that proprietor Jack Miller is “totally into the festival” and they’re all super excited.
BAKERY NOUVEAU: They’re working hard to prepare for the influx of customers: “We’re always excited for Summer Fest. Every year people hunt down the gelato sandwiches.” (They make their own gelato at BN in Burien and deliver it here.) They’re also working on something special for Summer Fest: A Mango Passionfruit Mousse with a guava glaze. And, “for people with dairy restrictions, an oat milk horchata.” The BN staff says it’s fun to see first-time customers during the festival as well as regulars.
CORNER POCKET: They emailed to ask us to let you know “that we’re open 3:00 pm to 2:00 am throughout the event, and hosting raffles Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at 9:00 pm. Raffle tickets are given out with every purchase, 21 and over.”
ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS: If you haven’t been to The Junction for a while, the festival’s also an opportunity to see who’s new. Above, that’s Sev Sengul, who finally has a permanent storefront for her Angora Rugs and Decor. 4517 California SW, after years of pop-ups off and on (like this). Stop in for live music 6-8 pm Thursday night during Summer Fest Eve/Art Walk!
Just a few – what’s YOUR Junction biz doing for Summer Fest? We’d be happy to add, and we’ll be there all three days/nights too to cover everything we can – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
We call it “the peninsula’s biggest party of the year,” but West Seattle Summer Fest is more than music, shopping, food, and drinks. The Friday-Sunday festival in The Junction is also a place to connect with community groups, nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies, to find out what they do, ask questions, learn about what’s happening in West Seattle. One hub for this will be the Info Booth at California/Alaska – of course you can get festival info there, but it’s also home to tabling throughout the festival (as well as headquarters for WSB’s Summer Fest coverage all three days) – here’s who’s on the schedule:
And in the Kids’ Zone (remember, that’s EAST of California this year), the area with free activities for little visitors will include volunteers from three local schools: Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) on Friday, Hope Lutheran School on Saturday and Tilden School (WSB sponsor) on Sunday. See you at Summer Fest!
That’s the official map for West Seattle Summer Fest, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (July 11-13), the peninsula’s biggest party of the year. Organizers are reminding you today that the push to keep the festival as green as possible – including zero-waste food and beverage service – also includes transportation. The map shows dedicated bicycle and e-scooter/e-bike/e-glider parking areas. The latter are in partnership with Lime, with a discount for rentals too; the former is in partnership with West Seattle Bike Connections. Get full details on the West Seattle Junction Association‘s website!
Before the week gets busy, here’s our annual reminder that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will NOT be in its usual place next Sunday, because pf West Seattle Summer Fest. It’ll be on California north of Oregon (the stretch you can see in our photo above, looking northwestward over the back of the “road closed” sign in place for yesterday’s mega-busy market). Regular time – 10 am-2 pm Sunday – and many of your favorite vendors, but one block north. (That stretch of street holds the main stage for the first two days of the festival, but that’ll be broken down and removed overnight after Saturday night’s shows; there’ll still be music on Sunday, but just on the West Side Stage, off SW Alaska west of California). Lots more festival info all week, and we look forward to seeing you at Summer Fest – brought to you by the West Seattle Junction Association (with community co-sponsors including WSB) – 1 pm-8 pm (music till 11) on Friday, 10 am-8 pm (music till 11) on Saturday, 10 am-5 pm (with the Farmers’ Market!) on Sunday.
West Seattle Summer Fest – next Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 11-13) in the heart of The Junction – is the main event, but Summer Fest Eve (Thursday, July 10) gets bigger all the time. It’s always the same night as July’s West Seattle Art Walk, which this time includes The Art of Music mini-concerts (not just in The Junction). Here’s the announcement from Art of Music coordinator John Redenbaugh:
The next free admission Art of Music performances presented by the West Seattle Junction Association are coming up on Second Thursday Art Walk rvening July 10 (Summer Fest Eve) at seven locations — five of them are in the Alaska Junction (click here to view the Alaska Junction Summer Fest Eve flier featuring all five). Musicians will perform from 6 pm to 7:45 pm (with one 15-minute break at the midpoint).
ALASKA JUNCTION
Steve and Kristi Nebel @ Verity Credit Union Golden Hart @ Great American Diner & Bar
The St. Bees Duo @ John L. Scott Real Estate West Seattle Karin Kajita and Al Shabino @ CAPERS Maggie Laird @ Itto’s Vino
GREATER ADMIRAL DISTRICT
Abby K @ WEND Jewelry
GREATER MORGAN JUNCTION
Marco de Carvalho @ Pine Lake Cellars
The July Art of Music Page is posted on the West Seattle Art Walk website, here. There you will find a description of all July performers and venues and the opportunity to listen to music performed by each musical artist.
Bonus Music in Addition to The Art of Music on Art Walk Evening in the Alaska Junction:
* At Bonjour Vietnam: Westside Jazz Trio
* At VAIN: Honey Bear
* At Angora Rugs and Home Decor: Stephcynie
One week from today, we’ll be in the heart of the second day of West Seattle Summer Fest, the peninsula’s biggest party of the year, and it’ll likely be warm. This year, the festival’s zero-waste aspirations will bring back something that hasn’t been offered in years – free filtered water. The official festival map shows where:
You can support the water stations by buying a West Seattle-branded drinking container made by Seattle’s own MiiR, who’s providing the refill spots – two types of containers available; order yours now and pick it up at the festival! Summer Fest hours are 1-8 pm Friday, July 11, 10 am-8 pm Saturday, July 12, and 10 am-5 pm Sunday, July 13, with main-stage music until 11 pm Friday and Saturday. Preview the music, food/drink, vendor lineups, and more on the Summer Fest website.
For years, it’s been an “if you know, you know” thing – the night before West Seattle Summer Fest begins, when the streets in the heart of The Junction close and the setup begins, locals flock to wander the streets and enjoy entertainment pop-ups as well as the first night of festival-only sidewalk cafés at your favorite year-round restaurants and bars, all coinciding with the July West Seattle Art Walk. The nickname “Summer Fest Eve” has taken hold in recent years and now, that Thursday night is practically opening night for Summer Fest, turning it into a 3 1/2-day festival. Most of the fun next Thursday (July 10) will be 5-9 pm, though setup starts sooner – here are some times to be aware of:
7 am Thursday – “no parking” enforced along California SW, Oregon to Genesee, for stage setup, which starts at 9 am 2 pm Thursday – California SW closed to traffic between Oregon and Genesee 3 pm Thursday – “no parking” enforced on California SW between Edmunds and Genesee, and on SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th 4 pm Thursday – Those stretches of California and Alaska will be closed to traffic so street-fair setup can begin 6 pm Thursday – Food vendor load-in starts – remember this year the food zone is west of California and Alaska, not east
Five of the musical performances are part of The Art of Music – you can preview those here. Watch for the art preview linked here next week. And we’ll have daily festival previews from here on out!
Less than three weeks until the peninsula’s biggest party of the year, West Seattle Summer Fest! This year student artists have a unique chance to be part of it – and just one week left to apply for the opportunity. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Do you have a student who is passionate about art and interested in showcasing their work to the community? We’re excited to invite student artists to participate in the upcoming West Seattle Summer Fest on Saturday, July 12th.
My name is Molly Ryan, and I serve as the Director of the West Seattle Art Walk. One of my primary goals is to foster student engagement in the arts, and I’m thrilled to share that the West Seattle Junction Association is partnering with us to support this initiative.
This year, we’ve received approval to display student artwork along the construction fencing on California Ave SW near SW Oregon St. This unique outdoor gallery will allow student artists to share their creativity with thousands of festival attendees.
We are currently accepting submissions and plan to select 50–70 pieces representing a variety of ages and grade levels. While we wish we could showcase all submissions, please note that not all entries will be selected due to space limitations. We will notify selected participants during the first week of July.
To ensure that artwork is ready to be displayed outdoors, we kindly request photos of the completed pieces with each submission. This helps us confirm that the work is presentation-ready for hanging along the fence.
If you have students who may be interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or submissions.
Thank you for supporting young artists in our community!
| 0 COMMENTS