Now we’re four days away from Sub Pop Records‘ big SPF30 anniversary celebration at Alki Beach – noon-10 pm Saturday (August 11th), with four stages of music (here’s the schedule as announced last month). This afternoon, the final details of how to get there and back, and how to get around the Alki area even if you’re not going. The map above and info below were just made public by Sub Pop:

At this time, we’d like to share important details regarding street closures, public transportation schedules, parking and more.

Firstly and foremostly, PLEASE limit the number of cars coming in and out of West Seattle, don’t drive unless you really have to, and instead use some form of public transportation to get to SPF30!

BUSES
King County Metro Transit has increased frequency for the Route 50 (Alki Service) to operate every 15 minutes.

In addition, the RapidRide C-Line has a couple of extra buses to assist with any overloaded buses, primarily while event-goers leave the Alki Beach area.

WATER TAXI
The King County Water Taxi between downtown Seattle and West Seattle is adding an extra boat with extra runs and extending hours of service.

In addition to the MV Doc Maynard running its regular Saturday service, the Water Taxi plans on running an extra boat (the MV Sally Fox) on the West Seattle route from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 7:30 p.m. 11:30 p.m. These times are when we expect most people to be traveling to, and returning from, the event.

We strongly encourage you to purchase your Water Taxi tickets in advance. You can do so through the Transit GO app. Or use your ORCA card, for a reduced fare!

SHUTTLES
Three free shuttles will run within West Seattle throughout SPF30.
From…
1. SW Alaska St. & 44th Ave. SW at the Metro stop
2. SW Admiral Way and SW Waite St.
3. Harbor Ave. SW in front of Don Armeni Boat Ramp
…to SPF30 at Alki Beach and back.

There will be at least one accessible shuttle for patrons with disabilities on each of these routes.

BIKES & BIKE SHARES
There will be a Bike Corral located at the tennis courts at Whale Tail Park operated by Bike Works.

There will also be bike shares at some strategic locations as well as staged throughout West Seattle. Look for bikes at these locations:

1. Alaska Junction
2. Admiral Junction
3. Port of Seattle Lot
4. Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
5. Spokane St. Park and Ride
6. Water Taxi

LYFT/UBER
Uber and Lyft will be managing the road closures for the festival in app. It will be best to catch a ride to and from the shuttle stops at the Alaska Junction and in the Admiral Neighborhood

There will be Lyft signage up at the Lyft Pickup/Drop-off zones.

PARKING
Once more, with feeling: please do not drive to SPF30. But, if you must, please carpool, designate a driver and know that we will have a parking lot. The parking fee will be $20. Credit/debit cards and cash are acceptable forms of payment. Location is the 2500 block of Harbor Ave SW across from the 7-11.

From this lot you can either walk approx. 4 min. to Don Armeni Boat Ramp to catch a free shuttle, or rent a bike and ride the Alki Trail to the festival.

The parking lot closes at midnight on the day of the festival (Sat., Aug. 11). Unclaimed vehicles will be towed by noon the next day. Please no Rideshare vehicles.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING
We have accessible parking spots reserved exclusively for patrons with disabilities in two locations. We ask that you display your placard/hang tags when parking. Please note these spots will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

1. On 63rd Ave SW between Admiral Way and Alki Ave SW
2. On Alki Ave SW between 54th Ave SW and 56th Ave SW

Accessible parking hang tags/placards will get you through local access street closures to these parking spots.

ROAD CLOSURES
Alki Ave SW will be closed between 56th Ave SW and 63rd Ave SW.
59th Ave SW will be closed from SW Stevens St. to Alki Ave SW.

There will be a local-access-only closure on Harbor Ave SW at California Way SW. Traffic will be turned back down Harbor Ave SW or diverted up California Way SW.

There will be lots of other local-access-only closures from SW Admiral Way down to Alki Ave SW, as well as a local-access-only closure at Bonair SW and Sunset Ave SW.

There will be festival staff and SPD helping to direct traffic at all of these closures.

You have a little more time to go browse at the beach as the 2018 Alki Art Fair (co-sponsored by WSB) continues until 6 pm. More than 80 artists, plus two stages of music:

That’s COCO, performing on the main stage (east of Alki Bathhouse) when we stopped by earlier this afternoon (trivia from fair staff, we’re told the band members all work for Starbucks). Here’s the full music schedule; here’s our preview from earlier this week with the artist/vendor list; here’s our Saturday coverage. You can still catch the shuttle to/from the fair (which is all along the beach boardwalk, Alki Avenue SW between 59th and 64th) until 6:30 – details on the AAF website.

(WSB file photo)

Here in the heart of summer, waves of big events just keep rolling on … and another one is up next weekend: The 2018 Alki Art Fair! This will be the 21st annual AAF – if you’ve never been, here’s how it’s described by organizers: “Alki Beach will come alive with art booths, children’s art activities, food carts, live music and performances, and the very popular silent auction held in the historic Alki Bathhouse. The Fair features juried art on display and for sale by local Puget Sound artists, while a line-up of talented musicians and performers entertain from four stages, morning till night.” Official Alki Art Fair hours (on the boardwalk by and west of Alki Bathhouse) will be 10 am-6 pm next Saturday and Sunday (July 28-29), with music until 9 pm on Saturday. Bonus for getting there: A free shuttle from the park-and-ride under the bridge, as explained here. We’re proud to be an Alki Art Fair co-sponsor again this year; we’ll have another update with artist and music info as next weekend gets closer!

(West Seattle Summer Fest 2018 photo by Paul Weatherman)

On this third day after West Seattle Summer Fest 2018, the Junction Association – the merchants’ organization that presents the festival – is ready for your feedback and suggestions! The official Summer Fest survey is online (as well as a note about how last year’s feedback shaped changes for this year). There’s an incentive to answer it, too – drawing for a West 5 (WSB sponsor) gift card – or you can be completely anonymous. Just go here!

P.S. If you need a refresher before responding to the survey, you can scroll through all our Summer Fest coverage in the WSB “West Seattle festivals” archive.

(QUICK INFO: Bus reroutes here … Festival music schedule here … festival food options here … kids’ ride hours and pricing here)
(COVERAGE SO FAR: Saturday night music, here … Saturday evening, here … Saturday morning/afternoon, here … Friday night, with music, here … Friday evening, here … Friday morning/afternoon, here)

West Seattle Summer Fest‘s third and final day is officially under way! The question of the day so far – “where’s the Farmers’ Market?” As seen in our top photo, it’s in its old spot in the parking lot behind KeyBank – same hours as every week, 10 am-2 pm – if you’re trying to enter off SW Alaska, just look for the gap between the kids’ rides, on the alley.

Even if you’ve already been to the festival – today’s the day to come back and take another look, or do some things you missed on your first tour. Such as – support local nonprofits! More than a few of them are selling raffle tickets – including the West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Food Bank, and the quilters who are donating raffle proceeds from this creation to the Senior Center of West Seattle:

(WSB photo taken Friday)

The crowd has grown quickly today – maybe because it’s expected to be extra-hot later – so far, though, nice breeze! Mainstage music (California north of Oregon) starts at noon, with Rat City Brass. More coverage to come!

12:19 PM: Another place to find out about, and support, some of your local nonprofits/community groups – GreenLife, headquartered at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), where they have a few T-shirts left:

Sustainable West Seattle presents GreenLife, where you can find out about the West Seattle TimeBank, Metro buses, registering to vote, recycling, using solar power, and more, via these booths along SW Alaska east of California:

Diver Laura‘s virtual-reality look under the Salish Sea is not to be missed, either – get to GreenLife!

Back in other booth rows, it’s a great day to learn about your local businesses (and pick up some swag). HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) is right across from us in the heart of California/Alaska and has several freebies including discs.

Meantime, up at the mainstage, we caught a bit of the zesty Rat City Brass:

At California/Alaska, the Celtic dancers are expected to be back around 1. More coverage to come.

1:37 PM: They were, and it was a lively performance:

Comerford has regular sessions in West Seattle – e-mail celticartsnw@hotmail.com for info. Summer Fest isn’t just about being a spectator – you can participate too! The Giant Games continue up on the north side of California/Oregon, where you can also help paint the community mural. You can also stop by the Info Tent and ask us a question. Minutes ago: “I know Easy Street Records is famous, but WHY is it so famous?” (Our answer was long.)

3 PM: Only two hours left till the festival closes for another year – right now on the SW corner of California/Alaska, it’s the kids’ pie-eating contest.

(Junction Association executive director Lora Swift interviewing the contestants pre-contest)

Passing the Info Tent a few minutes ago, this cool canine:

Don’t miss the chance to contribute to the community mural before the festival ends – on California just north of Oregon:

The West Seattle Junction Association – the local merchants who put this festival on! – will hang the finished mural in a public space. Meantime, many of the sidewalk sales (did you know Summer Fest has its roots in a Junction-wide summer sidewalk sale?) are offering discounts – like the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop (west side of California between Alaska and Oregon), where these potted plant creations were just $4!

Some of the vendor booths are West Seattle merchants visiting from their storefronts. Longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners is based on the east outer side of Jefferson Square, and has a Summer Fest booth on the east side of California south of Alaska:

If you haven’t used Dream Dinners before, you can sign up for their open-house deal, for 6:30 pm Tuesday (July 17th) or August 7th – password dinner – make three dinners for $34.99!

3:25 PM: A bit of video from one of this afternoon’s bands:

Onstage coming up at 4 pm – The Dusty 45s rock Summer Fest 2018 to a close.

4 PM: It’s that time! Co-publisher is up catching the start of The Dusty 45s. Meanwhile, Paul Weatherman sent more great aerials:

That’s the heart of the festival – here’s what it looked like from above the Farmers’ Market and kid zones on the west edge of the festival a bit earlier:

When the festival officially ends at 5, the cleanup/breakdown begins, and the streets generally remain closed to traffic until it’s over hours later – but everything will be back to normal by early Monday morning. Remember that NEXT Saturday, California SW is closed again for the West Seattle Grand Parade, until early afternoon – here’s our most-recent preview.

4:30 PM: A taste of The Dusty 45s:

We don’t start packing up until the top of the hour but right across Walk-All-Ways from us is a sign the festival’s wrapping up – the QFC booth (water, coconuts, fruit skewers all weekend) is in cleanup mode.

Big thanks to everyone who’s been in the Info Tent all weekend – it’s our 11th year of being headquartered here and helping answer questions while covering the festival as it happens – lots of great volunteers have been here, as well as The Junction’s event staff (special shoutout to “Skaty” and producer Oliver Little‘s Monumental Undertaking).

5 PM: It’s a wrap! Thanks also to the thousands who made this a mega-party again this year.

(QUICK LINKS: Bus reroutes here … Festival music schedule here … festival food options here … kids’ ride hours and pricing here)
(COVERAGE SO FAR: Saturday morning/afternoon, here … Friday night, with music, here … Friday evening, here … Friday morning/afternoon, here)

5:04 PM: Another clear, warm night is on the way at West Seattle Summer Fest 2018! Thanks to Paul Weatherman for the view from dusk last night, looking over the beer garden/main stage zone on California north of Oregon. Today’s music slate continues leading up to headliner Shannon And The Clams at 10 pm. In the meantime, some bonus tunes:

They’re popular – several people stopped by the Info Booth/Tent asking for directions (Verity is on the west side of California just south of Oregon). Here at California/Alaska, a flamenco dancer and musicians wrapped up about half an hour ago:

They mentioned an upcoming show – in Wallingford, not West Seattle, but if you’re interested, here’s more info.

5:26 PM: Another SFD call for aid to the festival – this time to help someone who is reported to have had a seizure. If you are here and need help, of course call 911 first – if it’s something minor, we do have band-aids and sunscreen at the Info Booth/Tent (courtesy of WSB sponsor GoodMed).

6:04 PM: So here’s how things go for the next several hours. First, big night for music – we caught Gypsy Temple a little while ago:

Here’s the schedule. The music stage is on California north of SW Oregon, with the official beer garden right next to it. As for the rest of the festival activities – it’s up to vendor booths whether they want to stay open past 6 or not, so some have closed. The kids’ rides go until 8; the visiting food vendors usually go until then too, and of course many of the year-round venues will run later.

Also – GreenLife continues at the Senior Center (California/Oregon), where you can catch up with Diver Laura‘s “Virtual Salish See” goggles AND at 7 pm, the movie “DamNation” – here’s the trailer:

Haven’t been to GreenLife yet? Here’s the schedule of events at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) for tomorrow. Don’t miss the booths, too – West Seattle TimeBank, Resting Waters, King County Metro, among others.

7 PM: We’re folding up the info tent – back later for music!

(QUICK LINKS: Bus reroutes here … Festival music schedule here … festival food options here … kids’ ride hours and pricing here)
(COVERAGE SO FAR: Friday night, with music, here … Friday evening, here … Friday morning/afternoon, here)

11:34 AM: We’re already into hour 2 of West Seattle Summer Fest day 2, and The Junction is full of people – and pets! At Hotwire Coffee (east side of California SW, just south of SW Genesee), Stanley was one of the first participants in the Furry Faces Foundation fundraiser Paws & Paint (explained in our calendar listing), which continues until 5 pm, today only! Meantime, this is happening inside ArtsWest (west side of California, just south of SW Alaska):

Until 2 pm, you are invited to visit the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ instrument petting zoo inside ArtsWest. Just found out about it thanks to a question here at the Info Booth/Tent! Which, by the way, we are sharing again today with community organizations/agencies you should stop by to meet – until 2 pm, Seal Sitters are on the south side of the booth, SR3 Sealife Response, Rehab and Research is on the west side.

For any questions you have at the festival, we are on the north side of the booth, West Seattle Junction Association volunteers are on the east side. (We also have info about other upcoming local events – come get flyers about Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, the West Seattle Car Show, WS Outdoor Movies, Tuesday’s West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park, etc..)

Other highlights as today gets going:
-Until 6 pm, special programming (see the schedule here) celebrating the grand opening of Verity Credit Union (west side of California south of Oregon; WSB sponsor)
-Noon, programming starts at GreenLife in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska (schedule here), with a discussion about saving Southern Resident Killer Whales
-12:30 pm, music starts onstage (California north of Oregon), with a School of Rock showcase
-3 pm, adults’ pie-eating contest at California/Alaska (the kids’ contest is tomorrow)

ADDED 12:33 PM: Even more fun …

Here’s the studio those dancers are from. Also, Celtic Dance at 1 pm and Flamenco at 4 pm. Just be in the California/Alaska vicinity to see the magic happen. Elsewhere at the festival right now… go to VAIN (west side of California just south of Oregon; WSB sponsor) for a photo booth benefiting the Senior Center of West Seattle:

1:21 PM: The Summer Fest sights continue:

And we found the wandering “Star Wars” characters. Not stormtroopers after all:

While you wander, it’s not just about the booths – from sidewalk sales to cafés, The Junction’s year-round businesses are going all-out more than ever this year.

Pegasus Book Exchange‘s $1 sale is a hit. And steps away, Easy Street Records‘ café has extra room because of the temporary sidewalk setup:

Right across California from there, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) has a big sidewalk sale going too – as well as some discounts inside the store:

North of Oregon, the community mural continues to be a work in progress:

And another kind of art continues to be at the heart of the most popular question here at the Info Booth/Tent: “Where’s the face painting?”

Answer: One on each midblock crosswalk hump – plus, you might have noticed on Verity’s grand-opening schedule above, they’re offering facepainting 2-4 pm.

2:45 PM: New group of community organizations here at the Info Booth/Tent:

Endolyne Children’s Choir, West Seattle Be Prepared/Emergency Communication Hubs, and the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club are here now, through 6 pm. On our side of the tent, popular question: Where’s the shaved ice? Answer: By the kids’ rides (same booth as the cotton candy).

3:47 PM: Easy Street changed its marquee this afternoon:

Have we mentioned Easy Street’s huge anniversary sale? Read about it here. Or best of all, just come shop – longtime businesses AND new ones like the one Fleurt (east side of midblock California between SW Oregon and SW Alaska) just launched:

That’s Pili the plant truck aka greenhouse on wheels – part of Inside Wild, launched by Fleurt Collective: “Pili is a mobile plant greenhouse where we offer indoor plants fo sale, plant education, plant matchmaking, and gifts for plant lovers. PILI will be popping up around Seattle throughout the next few months.”

4:26 PM: About to launch the late afternoon/evening coverage. But first – if you’re wondering about an SFD aid response in the ride area, an employee of the company that’s providing rides took ill and is being treated.

Taking the stage to close out the first night of West Seattle Summer Fest 2018 just after 10 pm … The Briefs. They were – briefly – intro’d by one of last year’s Summer Fest headliners, Brent Amaker:

He told the Summer Fest crowd they “deserved” The Briefs. To deliver on that, they jumped right in.

The slate leading up to The Briefs included another Seattle band, Versing:

Both during and between bands, the official Summer Fest beer garden was the place to be:

Canna West Seattle (WSB sponsor) had a merch tent nearby:

Tomorrow the performances start earlier – with Boom Dance on stage at 11:30 am (the festival resumes at 10) – see the full lineup here.

(QUICK LINKS: Bus reroutes here … Festival music schedule here … festival food options here … kids’ ride hours and pricing here)

5:03 PM: Let the music play! Above, that’s Ellie Strauss, part of the Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) showcase that kicked off today’s main-stage schedule. Right now, BRACKETS is performing; here’s the schedule for the rest of the night, through The Briefs at 10 pm. The main stage is on California north of Oregon; along California, booths might close as early as 6 – the kids’ rides are scheduled to close at 8 tonight.

5:22 PM: Most-recent question here at the Info Booth/Tent was about the Farmers’ Market on Sunday. It’ll happen 10 am-2 pm as always – but in its old spot, the parking lot behind KeyBank. Though the market hours are the same, the festival doesn’t officially start until 11 am on Sunday. But tomorrow – Saturday – it’s another 10 am start, like today. But let’s not get too far ahead! More festival people – West Seattle’s two highest-ranking Seattle Police stopped by earlier:

At right, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis, with new Operations Lt. Steve Strand. His predecessor Lt. Ron Smith was a fixture on site at the festival for years – this is the first Summer Fest since his retirement. Also seen from the info booth, a KING 5 News crew:

Our view also includes the QFC booth, which usually sells relatively cheap cool treats during Summer Fest. This year, the menu board features $3 coconuts, $1 water/soda, and $3 fruit kabobs.

6:03 PM: This is official closing time for vendor booths, so the festival is starting to shift to night mode – that means music, outdoor cafés, and at the Beer Garden, the brews include SOL, aka Parking Lot Pale:

The Beer Junction and Elliott Bay (which brewed the special fundraising ale) are pouring it too. Here’s our preview story explaining it. Speaking of beverages … the new bar behind Be’s is open just in time for the festival, as planned:

That’s Tony Larson – whose joint venture with Jade Nguyen and her family, longtime Be’s proprietors, was explained in our June story. You’ll find The Alley off the alley behind Be’s, east side of California just south of Oregon. If you’re here with a too-young-for-bars group … the rides are running until 8:

The rides are open 10 am-8 pm tomorrow too. Meantime, the music rolls on, with Versing set to start at 6:30 pm.

6:38 PM: Speaking of tomorrow – stop by GreenLife in Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska) and check out #VirtualSalishSee with “Diver Laura” James, starting around 2 pm:

GreenLife’s not done for the night tonight, though – you’re invited to a singalong in the park at 7 pm.

8:14 PM: We folded up the last section of the Info Tent about an hour ago to head to HQ for a while – planning to be back for tonight’s music headlines. Meantime, Alex e-mailed to suggest we include one more photo of SPD at Summer Fest – this one tweeted by Meeples Games (which has a booth on the west side of the south block):

Summer Fest is full of characters, so to speak. And thanks to the many people who stopped by to say hi today – as well as those who stopped by just looking for info – this is the 11th year that we’ve been honored to help in the info tent/booth (we’re an official Summer Fest media sponsor, too).

(QUICK LINKS: Bus reroutes here … Festival music schedule here … festival food options here … kids’ ride hours and pricing here)

11:51 AM: We are already approaching the third hour of West Seattle Summer Fest 2018 – and what you see above is part of what’s new this year: Giant games, on the east side of California SW, just north of SW Oregon, free for anyone, any age, to play. If you’re not ready to play, browse the year-round merchants’ sidewalk sales and visiting vendors and see who and what’s here. A couple places that caught our eye during our first stroll:

Those booths are both on the south block of California SW, between Alaska and Edmunds. (The Living Computer Museum itself is in nearby SODO – we are definitely making a note to visit sometime soon!) On the east side of that block, you’ll find these two WSB sponsors next to each other:

Talk to GoodMed about their unique plan for helping you and your loved ones stay healthy; talk to Westside School about the preK-8 programs at their campus in Arbor Heights. We’ve noticed MANY WSB sponsors at the festival and we’ll spotlight more through the weekend. Whether you’re new to West Seattle or a longtime resident, this is a great time to discover and celebrate what’s local. And to just plain celebrate – if you’re doing that with the little ones, note that the ride-ticket booth is on SW Alaska, east of 44th SW:

This is the best time to wander the festival – the scheduled events haven’t yet ramped up – first music on the main stage is a Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) showcase at 3:30 pm – you’ll also see the folks from Mode at the mentioned-above Giant Games zone. More to come!

P.S. Yes, that’s the Guardian One helicopter that just looped over the festival a couple times. Haven’t seen them over here in a while!

12:33 PM: Lots of people here already – including a West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) tour group of sorts:

That’s one corner of the view from our spot in the Info Booth (aka Info Tent), one place where you’ll also find community groups/organizations/agencies – here’s the schedule. Others are scattered throughout the festival – for example, if you have questions about Sound Transit‘s West Seattle light rail, ST is here …

So is the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, aka viaduct-to-tunnel, asking the big question of whether you’re ready for that big closure when the switchover is made, likely this fall. Both those transportation agencies are in the main row of booths on California SW; wander a bit east on SW Alaska toward Junction Plaza Park and you’ll find the GreenLife zone, with even more community organizations, including the West Seattle TimeBank. GreenLife programming (here’s the schedule) starts at 1 pm, with a welcome from the Duwamish Tribe, followed by a discussion of Native issues.

1:12 PM: That’s been delayed. But there are many reasons to visit GreenLife, focused this year on the health of Puget Sound and other Salish Sea waters. Including the orca ride:

(Several people have asked us about PCC [WSB sponsor] – they’ll be at GreenLife tomorrow, we’re told.) Also on the central-east stub of the festival zone – SW Alaska east of California – you’ll find classic fair food, including elephant ears. Roasted corn, too! If you’re looking for cotton candy – a popular question many years – that’s over next to the kid-rides ticket booth on the west side of SW Alaska.

2:43 PM: For everyone who asked – the official festival Beer Garden (up on California by the West Seattle Eagles HQ and the main stage, north of Oregon) is now open. Meantime, Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail – which has a booth this year, west side of California between Oregon and Alaska – tells us that the Southern Resident Killer Whales’ J and K pods have just returned to the San Juans, first K-pod visit there since March.

3:16 PM: Two more WSB sponsors who are here – on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, not far from their bricks-and-mortar studio, Fitness Together West Seattle:

They have a Summer Fest special going on – ten personal training sessions for $500. And in the booths on California, visiting from Delridge (and Burien!), it’s Camp Crockett:

Speaking of dogs, if you bring yours and s/he needs to cool off, check out the Pet Junction zone by Next to Nature along the west side of California just north of Alaska:

We’ve been here six hours now and can attest to the fact that it’s not too hot – nice breeze here in the heart of The Junction (of course, we have some shade). Meantime, music is about to start up at the main stage, and we’ve heard that philanthropist Adah Cruzen is visiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society booth on the east side of California just south of Alaska starting at 4 pm. We’ll be launching our second report – the afternoon-evening edition – shortly!

(For Metro bus reroute info in The Junction through Sunday, look here)

6:40 PM: The streets in the heart of The Junction didn’t close earlier than usual after all … but they’re closed now and West Seattle Summer Fest Eve, combined with the July WS Art Walk, is on!

Impromptu fun is happening in the street as well as planned activities like chalk art:

See our morning preview list for locations where you’ll find chalk art tonight (as well as the WS Art Walk venue map/list and more). Lots of setup under way – from sidewalk cafés to sidewalk sales, including the official farewell banner at Terjung’s Studio of Gifts:

If you missed it when we published it last week, here’s our story about Gregor Terjung‘s decision to retire and close the shop after half a century. Come to The Junction and celebrate your neighborhood, tonight through Sunday! Bubbleman is happening on California south of Alaska right now and a lot more is in store … updates to come.

7:18 PM: If you saw the Junction website mention of a 7 pm surprise on West Seattle Summer Fest Eve – this was it:

(added) This was led by popular local dance-fitness instructor Jennifer Cepeda of DancePowered, who’ll be leading a class on the main stage at Summer Fest Sunday morning at 11 am.

Thanks to Pamela for sending a longer clip:

What next? More music and art! We spotted another chalk creation in progress outside Cupcake Royale:

8:05 PM: Outside West 5 (WSB sponsor), the Yadda Yadda Blues Band is this year’s featured Summer Fest Eve band:

And at California/Alaska, lots more art – both to admire and to co-create, including the community mural that’ll be happening throughout the weekend:

11:14 PM: We’ve added more photos and video above. Remember that the streets are now closed until late Sunday night – the festival ends at 5 pm Sunday but breakdown and cleanup take several more hours. SW Oregon is open for east-west travel, but otherwise California is closed between Genesee and Edmunds, and SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th.

This year’s West Seattle Summer Fest is ever closer, and our previews continue! This time, three reasons to explore the corners of California/Oregon on the north side of the festival zone:

ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER – A RAFFLE! Here’s what you’ll be going for, and the explanation:

Once again, West Seattle Quilters have made a quilt to support the West Seattle Senior Center. Raffle tickets are $1 each and sales begin July 13 at West Seattle Summer Fest outside the Stop ‘n’ Shop. After Summer Fest, you can purchase raffle tickets at the Senior Center reception desk. All the ticket money goes directly to the Senior Center.

The drawing for the winner of this year’s quilt will be held on Friday Sept. 28, 2018, at 8:30 pm during Rainbow Bingo. You don’t need to be present to win.

The handmade quilt is a months-long effort by 28 people. This year’s quilt is titled “Stained Glass,” and the design features fractured squares that shimmer against a modern gray backdrop. This throw-sized quilt is the perfect size for your sofa or a nap!

West Seattle Quilters meet at the Senior Center on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7pm to share quilting ideas and projects. Quilters of all ages, abilities, and quilting styles are welcome to join us!

And right across the street from the Senior Center, just south of the southwest corner of California/Oregon …

VERITY CREDIT UNION GRAND OPENING WEEKEND: The Junction’s new branch of Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its grand opening throughout Summer Fest, and has this schedule of events planned at its new storefront:

Friday, July 13
11:00-1:00 caricature artist
1:30-3:30 face painters
4:00-6:00 Elijah Dhavvan

Saturday, July 14
10:00-12:00 caricature artist
12:00-2:00 Champagne Honeybee
2:00-4:00 face painters
4:00-6:00 The Whole Bolivian Army

Sunday, July 15
11:00-1:00 caricature artist
2:00-4:00 Katie Kuffel

GIANT GAMES: And on the northeast corner of California/Oregon, one of this year’s new Summer Fest features – Giant Games! The festival website has the list of 11 games you’ll be able to play for free. Another reminder that festival hours are 10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday – music and beer garden running later both nights – and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. Still more previews on the way!