(2018 WSB photo)

West Seattle’s big summer events continue next weekend with the two-day Alki Art Fair! To help you get there, a shuttle is planned again this year:

As for what you’ll find at the AAF (with WSB among the community sponsors), here’s the announcement with the toplines:

When: Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 (10 am – 6 pm with music until 9 pm on Saturday)
Where: Alki Beach Park

Take in the colorful views while strolling the promenade, as you sip, eat and shop among the expansive lineup of artists, makers, and performers to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our local arts and culture.

Event Highlights:

120+ 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 Main Stage (adjacent to the beach) and busker stage along the promenade. We’ll feature rock, blues, jazz, kids’ music, theatrical performances and more including the award-winning musical collective, Tobias the Owl.

Beer & wine garden near the beach and main stage.

Interactive kid zone & mural cube hosted by Outer Space Seattle (the galactic indoor play space for kids of all abilities).

Live art & demonstrations by internationally recognized chalk artist Naomi Haverland and more.

Silent auction in the historic Alki Bathhouse featuring unique items from local artists and businesses.

Local food line-up features a range of sweet, savory, spicy, and delicious options.

Sunday morning yoga on the beach hosted by Limber Yoga from 9-10 am.

FREE shuttle bus from the West Seattle Park n’ Ride Lot and Admiral Junction to make getting there stress-free.

We”ll continue the countdown through the week.

(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE * 2ND HERE * 3RD HERE * 1ST SUNDAY REPORT HERE)

2:56 PM: What’s more summery than a bright floral backdrop? Victoria is modeling the selfie backdrop outside VAIN (WSB sponsor) on the west side of California south of Oregon – which awaits you before West Seattle Summer Fest wraps up at 5 pm. Also in the floral vein, a fleeting sighting:

It was on the corner of California/Alaska by the Fitness Together (WSB sponsor) booth … and then suddenly it was gone. Meantime, Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) has had visiting goats since about 1, scheduled to depart shortly:

But some festival features continue until the festival ends at 5 … like mural painting, either in Junction Plaza Park with West Seattle Art Nest or in the game zone north of Oregon with Stacey Sterling:

The finished creations will eventually be on display in The Junction.

3:28 PM: Three stages AND the open space here at Walk All Ways, if you’re looking for festival happenings:

The Community Stage just hosted the kids’ pie-eating contest – here are the contenders beforehand:

Speaking of kids and food – simplifying family mealtime is the mission of Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor):

They’re here at Summer Fest to talk with you – but year-round you’ll find them on the lower east side of Jefferson Square. As we’ve been spotlighting, the Summer Fest shopping scene is a massive mix of year-round businesses with special sales, West Seattle businesses from elsewhere on the peninsula visiting (like Dream Dinners), and visiting vendors like this one:

Up at the California (main) Stage, we dropped in during the Fix performance a bit earlier:

The Boss Martians at 4 pm wrap up the main-stage schedule. More to come.

4:17 PM: Final hour. So we wandered up to the main stage:

Here at California/Alaska, we have a balloon artist on the Easy Street Records corner and buskers playing at two other corners. The QFC booth across from us is selling everything for $2 (except the $1 water). Starting to fold up their orange umbrellas, too.

4:45 PM: That reminded us of Oranj, the company that declares it has the coolest T-shirts – local themes like these:

If you haven’t been there yet, they’re midblock on the east side of California between Alaska and Edmunds. Not far from the Wooden Instrument Stage, where Joe Ross was closing things out for an audience enjoying the shade:

Overall, the weather has been outstanding all weekend – not hot, not cold. A little overcast here and there, but ultimately sunshine all three days. … Though breakdown is starting now, it’ll be hours before the Junction streets are fully cleared, so detours and reroutes (linked above) will continue until then.

(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE * 2ND HERE * 3RD HERE)

10:57 AM: That’s the Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park, where our District 1 City Council candidates’ forum kicks off the programming for this final day of West Seattle Summer Fest, at noon, about an hour from now. We’re already almost an hour into the festival finale, and the big question here at the Information Booth (California/Alaska) is “where’s the Farmers’ Market?” Answer:

Right behind the KeyBank building, directly south of the kids’ area. Meantime, if you’ve wondered, no major incidents of note reported so far this weekend – SPD always has a sizable presence; this photo shows two groups of patrol officers gathered just before the festival opened at 10:

As we type, officers are looking for a lost child; we have dealt with about half a dozen lost/found children so far, usually resolved quickly, but if you need help with a situation and don’t find an officer fast, come to the Info Booth. It’s also where you’ll find community groups, festival T-shirts ($27 cash, while they last). And these free neighborhood-pride buttons (east side of the booth):

More coverage to come!

11:43 AM: Also in Junction Plaza Park starting at noon, the third and final day of mural-making with West Seattle Art Nest:

The other community mural in progress is up at the giant-games (free to play!) area north of Oregon on California. And just east of the festival-food zone on SW Alaska, there’s a Seattle Fire crew with an amazing festival view:

We’re headed that way to get ready for the candidate forum, which will go until at least 1 pm. See you after that! (Lots of other cool folks holding down the Info Booth in the meantime.)

1:12 PM: Back in the booth! Thanks to everyone who came to see and hear the candidates – our forum lasted about an hour and included many of the questions asked by readers. We took this pic just before starting:

We’ll have coverage with video on WSB tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, just under four more hours to enjoy Summer Fest! The Community Stage will feature:
2:30 pm – Lavender Lucy
3 pm – Kids’ Pie-Eating Contest
3:15 pm – Sue Quigley
4;15 pm – Big Tooth

On the California Stage:

now – Projections on a Wall
2 pm – Fix
3 pm – Frond
4 pm – Boss Martians

And the Wooden Instrument Stage has acoustic music going until at least 4:30, too.

A spectacular Saturday at West Seattle Summer Fest closed out with the Blondie tribute band Blackie on the main stage, introduced by Troy Nelson and Brent Amaker:

Lead singer is Dejha Colantuono:

On keyboards, Erin Rubin, proprietor of West Seattle’s own Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), part of a big Mode representation/influence at this year’s festival:

One more big day of music-and-more at Summer Fest on Sunday – see the schedule for all three stages here.

(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE)

6:06 PM: Art is part of this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, more than ever. Above, Blue Geisha Tattoo is working on a Hedy Lamarr mural up by the California (main) Stage. That’s where Jeremy Enigk is playing right now:

Back in the booth zone, we found Phoebe from Spa Phoebe (new at Fauntleroy/Edmunds) with her pal Franklin:

We’ve even seen a cat at the festival:

6:25 PM: It’s not too soon to start reminding you that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market IS happening tomorrow – but it’ll be in the KeyBank lot (its old home) since the festival’s at the street. And since the market starts at 10 am, the festival does too (in past years, the official start time on Sunday has been 11 am, but we’ve noticed the wandering starts earlier, so this year the festival does too). Back to the entertainment – Balorico is leading salsa lessons on the Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park right now:

The Community Stage has one more scheduled act tonight – 7 pm, The Spider Ferns. Then tomorrow at noon, we are moderating a Summer Fest candidates’ forum with the City Council District 1 trio, Lisa Herbold, Brendan Kolding, and Phil Tavel. Ballots will be mailed next Wednesday so it’s almost time to start voting! Join us in the park on Sunday. Also tomorrow, note that the pie-eating contest has moved to 3 pm.

7:16 PM: We’re folding up the Info Booth for the night. Here’s a pan from inside earlier today:

Things are a little quieter now, but not by much! #1 question is “where’s the California Stage?” Answer: Up by the post office. It’s where you’ll find Night Beats (7:30), Jenn Champion (8:30), and Blackie (10 pm).

P.S. Thanks to the many people who have stopped to say hi. We’ve heard Summer Fest called the “West Seattle Reunion,” with so many people seeing neighbors and friends old and new, and that happens for us every year too.

(FESTIVAL INFO QUICK LINKS HERE … METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE … 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE)

11:02 AM: More to explore as day 2 of West Seattle Summer Fest gets going in the heart of The Junction! Above, Rob Duisberg of the West Seattle Community Orchestras is inside ArtsWest (west side of California, south of Alaska) with the WSCO Instrument Petting Zoo until 2 pm – thanks to Gina for the tip! Here at the Info Booth, you’ll find various organizations and community groups all day, too (as well as us on the north side and Junction Association volunteers on the east side). Right now on the west side of the booth, lots of crime-prevention and safety info from Seattle Police:

Side note: They have candy. Tons of families here already. On our way in just before 10, we spotted State Sen. Joe Nguyen and his family:

Three stages of entertainment, starting up soon – 11:30 am Rockaroke on the main stage on California at Oregon, noon on the community stage (in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska and the wooden-instrument stage on the west side of California just before Edmunds). And here in Walk-All-Ways, a martial-arts demo is drawing a crowd.

Get here and see what’s up! Also lots of chances to support the people and places that make West Seattle great – here’s one:

That’s the West Seattle Quilters‘ annual fundraising quilt for the Senior Center – buy a ticket for the raffle at the table outside Stop ‘n’ Shop on the east side of California just south of Oregon. Meantime, Summer Fest is also a major freebie zone today – HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) is across from us at California/Alaska and they have free sunglasses, tote bags, pens.

Whole Foods is here today (by the Kids Zone on the west side of Alaska) with free popsicles. In recent years, the business mix here has gotten ever more local – both the year-round merchants with sidewalk sales and the businesses with booths (some “visiting” from other parts of West Seattle), so it’s an excellent place to find out more about the community all in a 2+-block area. Our coverage continues all day and into the night – official festival end time is 8 pm, music continues tonight until about 11.

12:32 PM: All three stages are going now:

Just south of the main stage, it’s the game zone – free to play, all ages! Caitlin from Outer Space Seattle (the playspace opening soon at 2820 Alki SW) sent this photo of astronauts playing Connect 4:

Also up at the game zone on California north of Oregon, Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor, based in North Delridge). On California south of Oregon, another of our sponsors, Verity Credit Union, has fun stuff in their open storefront all weekend long:

We just confirmed they’ll have GOATS there 1-3 pm Sunday. … Since it’s lunch time, we strolled through the festival food zone (remember that 20+ year-round restaurants have sidewalk cafés and/or outdoor stands to serve you too) and you’ll find more variety than ever, from elotes (roasted corn) to elephant ears, Pho Burritos, squash-blossom pupusas, cotton candy, potato “tornadoes,” barbecue (with the truck from WSB sponsor Pecos Pit) Afghan, Kenyan, Mexican, Salvadorean, Thai food. And if you want to sit down after buying something at a booth, check out the tables at Junction Plaza Park!

1:22 PM: If you need someplace to take refuge with your infant or toddler, wander a block west to Nurturing Expressions (4727 44th SW; WSB sponsor), as this handy sign reminds you:

Back along the rows of booths – GoodMed Direct Primary Care (WSB sponsor) is here for the weekend (they’re headquartered in Morgan Junction):

Dr. Ryan Campbell would love to talk with you about their unique, affordable flat-rate health care. … More coverage to come!

3 PM: Warmer than yesterday. If you bring your pup(s) and s/he/they need a break, the Pet Zone is on the west side of California just north of Alaska:

Gabe Cadwell sent that pic of Lilly enjoying the doggie pool. … Another Junction business (based in Jefferson Square) that’s here, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Northwest (WSB sponsor):

In the BHHSBW booth when we stopped by, Debbie Kerns, Alice Kuder, and Nadine Bivins. … UPDATE: Whole Foods is out of free popsicles. Lots of treats here but those have run out. … Here in the Info Booth (heart of Walk All Ways, look for the big INFORMATION banner), new groups at the community tables on the west and south side, including Seal Sitters:

They’re on the south side; on the west side, YearUp and SR3:

As you might notice in our photos, both Seal Sitters and SR3 have show-and-tell items – all ages can touch and explore. The Whale Trail is here too, a few booths north of Walk All Ways. … We’re getting closer to the heart of the music lineup -here’s who’s on the main stage tonight:

4:30 – DYED
5:30 – Jeremy Enigk
6:30 – Spirit Award
7:30 – Night Beats
8:30 – Jenn Champion
9:30 – DJ Mister Moon
10 pm – Blackie (Blondie tribute)

The main stage is on California between Oregon and Genesee; the beer garden is immediately south of it. ….Our coverage continues right after 5 pm with the early-evening report, but first some other stories.

P.S. If you lost your wallet – we just had one turned in at the Info Booth.

(FESTIVAL INFO QUICK LINKS HERE … METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE … FIRST FRIDAY REPORT HERE)

You can kick back at West Seattle Summer Fest. That’s John Smersh, co-proprietor of Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), demo’ing an air chair they’re featuring. Click! has a “garage-sale”-style sidewalk sale too, plus they’re selling cool local baby onesies (whose creator isn’t vending separately this year). So don’t miss your year-round merchants along the sidewalk. We’d have to say “discover and explore” is a big theme this year. Look around every corner – you might find something special, like this:

That’s the community mural that West Seattle Art Nest is leading in Junction Plaza Park– – by the wind sculpture, near the community stage – until 7. They explain that it – and the two they’ll be leading the next two days – are inspired by features in West Seattle parks. That’s the Schmitz Park crocodile; the next two will be the Whale Tail Park whale and the Lincoln Park griffin. Meanwhile, back on the main stage:

All three stages’ programming schedules are here. More coverage to come!

6:07 PM: Festival sights. From Tatooine to West Seattle:

And we’ve gotten enough questions about this poster, we have to say, according to festival organizers – IT’S NOT REAL:

We’ve heard from more than a few Gary Busey fans at the Info Booth who are disappointed to hear that. So who IS here? Still to come tonight on the main stage (California north of Oregon):

6:30 pm – West Seattle Soul
7:30 pm – The Grizzled Mighty
8:30 pm – Common Market
9:30 pm – DJ Kurt Bloch
10 pm – Polyrhythmics

The last community stage act of the day, Tekla Waterfield, is on now; on the Wooden Instrument Stage (west side of California just north of Edmunds), it’s Annie O’Neill now, Cami & Co. at 7.

6:33 PM: First lost/found child of the day, quickly reunited. That’s part of what happens at the Info Booth – if there’s a problem, we summon help. The Info Booth winds down around 7 pm – if you need help after that, look for a festival staffer. … Even more music happening now – Kyle Craft in-store at Easy Street Records (as featured in our daily preview today).

7:06 PM: Though shopping/vending time is winding down, music keeps heating up:

Dinnertime for many festivalgoers:

Common question at the Info Booth is whether the east side of SW Alaska is “all the food.” Remember that many of the year-round restaurants offer something special for Summer Fest too – outdoor cafes, and/or street food, like Husky Deli’s stand:

We’re heading out but will be back later tonight for more music!

(FESTIVAL INFO QUICK LINKS HERE … METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE)

11:44 AM: West Seattle Summer Fest got its start decades ago as the West Seattle Junction’s annual sidewalk sale – and that’s still part of the program, including (outside CAPERS, west side of California between Oregon and Alaska) the world-famous WEST SEATTLE T-shirts shown above. Lots of shopping – at year-round merchants and visiting vendors – and all-ages activities. That includes two types of axe-throwing!

The inflatable “axe-throwing” is in the kids’ zone on Alaska west of California; the actual axe-throwing is in the game zone on California north of Oregon. Now that we’re in hour two, everybody’s starting to settle in. And as lunchtime approaches, you’ll find festival food booths on Alaska east of California, plus lots of outdoor offerings from year-round restaurants – even Bakery Nouveau has a sidewalk café1

12:19 PM: Besides playing, shopping, drinking, noshing, Summer Fest is also a place to learn. Got a question about West Seattle’s light-rail plan? Stop at the Sound Transit booth:

They’re on the east side of California between Alaska and Edmunds. On the other side of the same block, you can talk with WSDOT about Highway 99 Tunnel tolling, which is expected to start this fall:

Speaking of transportation, we just got word that Canna West Seattle is offering a shuttle from Summer Fest to their shop about a half mile south. Canna Culture is here at the festival, too:

That’s Canna Culture shop manager Nina Perceful, just south of the Info Booth (our base during Summer Fest) at California/Alaska. You can stop there to find out about in-store sales happening during the festival. And as for the shuttle:

The rides will be offered every half hour, from 10am-8pm Friday and Saturday, and from 10am-5pm on Sunday. Summer Fest attendees can pick it up at SW Edmunds Street and California Avenue (near the 7-11 store).

Festival attendees should look out for this ride:

As for other transportation to/from the festival – note that we have the bus-stop revisions all linked atop this story. Main-stage music is now just three hours away, starting with Razor Clam at 3:30 pm; more coverage to come!

2:30 PM: Sun’s out and the crowd’s growing. A few things that have come up in comments:

-The kids’ area has a different provider this year. They specialize in inflatables, so there’s no mechanical rides.

-Art-making for all ages is spread throughout the festival, including participation in mural creation with West Seattle Art Nest in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), 3-7 pm today, noon-8 pm Saturday, noon-5 pm Sunday. If you’re looking for face painting, The Hill Team had a free face painter in front of Keller Williams on the east side of California north of Oregon.

-Also on California north of Oregon, giant games for all ages.

3:06 PM: Popular question – where to buy water? Answer:

That’s the QFC booth, just north of our side of the Info Booth at Walk-All-Ways. $1 water plus fruit kabobs and coconuts.

3:51 PM: Main-stage music has begun!

Next up:
4:30 pm – Sweet Jesus
5:30 pm – Stas Thee Boss
6:30 pm – West Seattle Soul
7:30 pm – The Grizzled Mighty
8:30 pm – Common Market
9:30 pm – DJ Kurt Bloch
10 pm – Polyrhythmics

Remember there’s two other stages, too – community stage in Junction Plaza Park, “wooden instrument stage” on the west side of California just north of Edmunds. The schedules for all three stages can be found in this WSB preview.

This year’s West Seattle Summer Fest is just two days away, Friday through Sunday in the heart of The Junction! And this year’s festival has three stages, as the map above shows – the big one at the north end (CA), the Community Stage at Junction Plaza Park (CS), and another stage at the south end (SS), focused on wooden-instrument music. Here’s the list of what performances/presentations are happening where/when:

Events include more than music – on Sunday at noon, for one, we’ll be moderating one of your last looks at the District 1 City Council candidates before primary voting begins next week. Meantime. our Summer Fest previews continue later today and you’ll find lots of info right now on the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association‘s website. Festival hours are 10 am-8 pm Friday and Saturday (with music running later) and 10 am-5 pm Sunday. Remember the streets close tomorrow (Thursday) night around 6 for setup – and that means it’s Summer Fest Eve, with lots of reasons to come down and wander, so watch for that preview this afternoon too!

Three days to go until West Seattle Summer Fest, the year’s biggest party, in the heart of The Junction. Our previews continue. This year, official festival T-shirts are back! Right now – last call for advance T-shirt sales, if you want to show up at the festival (Friday-Sunday, July 12-14) already decked in Summer Fest splendor – or if you just want to be sure you get one; advance sales end at noon tomorrow (Wednesday). After that, they’ll be sold at the Info Booth during the festival (California/Alaska) while they last. Find the order form and lots more info here.

Four days until the biggest party of the year fills the streets in the heart of The Junction – West Seattle Summer Fest. The festival has enough going on that you can go all three days – Friday-Sunday, July 12th-14th – but a little advance planning might be helpful, so we’re continuing previews all week long. First, the booths! Since Summer Fest – presented by the West Seattle Junction Association (with co-sponsors including WSB) – began as the merchants’ summertime sidewalk sale, most year-round businesses will have sales and specials. But you’ll want to browse the visiting booths, too. They’re not all businesses, as you’ll see when you check out the list here – which features booths as well as year-round merchants’ sidewalk sales. Some will include local businesses from outside The Junction. And you will also notice on the list that some agencies and nonprofits will be at Summer Fest again this year. For example, Sound Transit will be there to answer your West Seattle light-rail questions; WSDOT will be there to talk about tunnel tolling starting later this year. And in two areas, including with us in the Info Booth at California/Alaska, you’ll find community organizations:

Friday
10am 2pm INFO Seattle Public Schools Head Start
10am 2pm INFO NAPS Doulas
2pm 6pm INFO Toastmasters of West Seattle
2pm 6pm INFO Kol HaNeshamah
10am 2pm BOOTH Sound Generations
10am 2pm BOOTH Latino Community Fund of Washington State
2pm 6pm BOOTH National Center for Science Education
2pm 6pm BOOTH 981st Bridger BPSA Scouts

Saturday
10am 2pm INFO 34th District Democrats
13-Jul Saturday 10am 2pm INFO Seattle Police Department
13-Jul Saturday 2pm 6pm INFO Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
13-Jul Saturday 2pm 6pm INFO SR3 – SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, Research
13-Jul Saturday 10am 2pm BOOTH Girl Scouts of Western Washington
13-Jul Saturday 10am 2pm BOOTH American Lung Association
13-Jul Saturday 2pm 6pm BOOTH Year Up
13-Jul Saturday 2pm 6pm BOOTH The Whale Trail

Sunday
11am 2pm INFO D1 Community Network
11am 2pm INFO Tenants Union of WA State
2pm 5pm INFO Fostering Together/Olive Crest
2pm 5pm INFO West Seattle Toastmasters Club #832
11am 2pm BOOTH Rainier Roller Girls
11am 2pm BOOTH Southwest Lacrosse Club
2pm 5pm BOOTH Team Gleason/Gleason Initiative Foundation
2pm 5pm BOOTH Be SMART program of Moms Demand Action and Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund

So many reasons to visit Summer Fest, we hope to see you there all three days! Friday and Saturday 10 am-8 pm (with music running later), Sunday 10 am-5 pm. More previews ahead, including Summer Fest Eve – lots happening once the streets close for setup Thursday night.

We are now exactly one week away from the first day of West Seattle Summer Fest, the peninsula’s biggest party of the year, three days and two nights in the streets in the heart of The Junction, Friday, July 12th, through Sunday, July 14th. Today’s preview: Changes in the Kids’ Zone. The festival is presented by the West Seattle Junction Association, whose executive director Lora Radford tells WSB that “the rides are less expensive, we have more inflatables, and we’re donating back a percentage of the proceeds to our fellow nonprofits.” Those nonprofits are in turn helping out at the ticket booth – West Seattle Helpline on Friday, Global Visionaries on Saturday – and WSJA is still looking for volunteers to help on Sunday: A four-hour shift gets you a full day pass to games for any one of the three festival days. Email lora@wsjunction.org if interested. For more about the Kids’ Zone, including pricing and advance wristband purchase, go here.

P.S. Ride hours this year are 10 am-8 pm Friday and Saturday, 10 am-5 pm Sunday.

West Seattle’s biggest party of the year starts in just nine days: West Seattle Summer Fest, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association in the street in the heart of The Junction, Friday, July 12th through Sunday, July 14th. Though those are the official festival dates, locals know it all kicks off the night before with what we’ve come to know as Summer Fest Eve. On Thursday, July 11th, the streets close so festival setup can begin, so you can wander at will (California from Oregon to Edmunds, Alaska from 42nd to 44th) while also enjoying West Seattle Art Walk night. You’ll find performances at several spots in the street – including the kid-delighting Bubbleman – and outdoor cafes set up outside some of the year-round food-and-drink spots. When the festival officially kicks off on Friday morning, if you don’t have to be off-peninsula for, oh, say, work, come enjoy a quiet few hours before the music starts in midafternoon – here’s the lineup, as announced at the end of May. Thats all on the main stage at the north end of the festival grounds, California north of SW Oregon; even more music is planned on the Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska) – that schedule is here. Lots more to preview, from kid stuff to pet stuff, vendors to community groups food and drink … just want to be sure for starters that your calendar is set!

(WSB photo from 2017 Arts in Nature Festival)

As we head into the heart of summer, big events are getting closer – like the 2019 Arts in Nature Festival, just one week away! Here’s the newest preview:

The 20th annual Arts in Nature Festival is right around the corner. Produced by Delridge
Neighborhoods Development Association, this unique FREE Festival on June 29th-30th will feature live musical performances, interactive art installations, creative nature-based activities and more, set in the lush 68-acre landscape of Camp Long, Seattle’s only campground.

Come for an hour, or stay all day, enjoy visual art installations in 8 rustic cabins, and full schedules of performances throughout the park each day, including featured musical acts Hollis Wong-Wear, Thaddillac, Tiffany Wilson, and eclectic performances throughout the weekend from performers like Cherdonna Shinatra, NW Tap Connection, Show Brazil!, AU Collective, Totem Star, and so many more.

Arts in Nature Festival: Harmony
June 29 & 30, 2019
Saturday, 11 am – 8 pm / Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm
Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave SW
FREE!!!

In addition to interactive art activities and games for all ages, there will be local food trucks on site, and adults can wet their whistle at the festival beer garden. There will also be booths from many of DNDA’s local partners. Bring some cash to purchase items and to donate to the Festival if you can.

Activities abound for kids and adults. Become immersed in your local environment and experience the beauty that exists at the intersection of art, nature and neighborhood.

You can learn more about the Arts in Nature Festival on the DNDA website, www.dnda.org/festival.

(WSB June 2018 photo, Thriftway barbecue on festival day)

Now just two days until this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, 10 am-4 pm Saturday (June 22nd) in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW). Today’s preview – the food! From festival organizers:

Food vendors will be located in the Beveridge Place Pub parking lot, on Beveridge Place, and in the vendor area from 10:00 to 4:00.

Very exciting and first time for the festival, four local Food Innovation Network (FIN) entrepreneurs will offer their diverse menus. FIN runs a business “incubator” which enables these entrepreneurs by launching and growing their businesses through its outreach efforts – e.g., placing them at area farmers markets and other venues such as community events and neighborhood festivals. Visit FIN’s website at https://foodinnovationnetwork.org to find out more about the full scope of its activities.

The four vendors participating in the festival are East&West Catering, providing African-inspired samosas, kabobs, and spicy red rice; Boujee Food&Things, featuring soul-food desserts and sandwiches; Mama Tila, preparing authentic Mexican dishes; and Monique’s Hot Kitchen, whose items may include Kenyan roasted corn, fried potatoes, and mendazi (African donuts). Each of these food vendors are highlighted at FIN’s news-stories site at https://foodinnovationnetwork.org/news-stories/

Two food trucks will be at the festival. Tabassum features authentic Central Asian street food, including savory meat and vegetarian hand pies and two types of salads, and popular West Seattle truck Thai-U-Up offers its full complement of Thai dishes.

If you’re looking for that special dessert, Blue Bird Ice Cream, Unsweetened Tooth, and Dolcetta Sweets will have booths in the vendor area behind Zeeks and Whisky West.

And last but not least, West Seattle Thriftway will be grilling burgers from 11:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm in front of the store as a fundraiser to benefit the festival (suggested donation $7 for burger, chips, and a soft drink) as they have so generously done year after year.

The festival schedule and other info can all be found in our calendar listing. WSB is a community co-sponsor again this year – see you there!