(WSB photo from Alki’s first-ever “car-free day” in September 2008)

Last month, we reported that the city’s “car-free day” events – now called Seattle Summer Parkways – would include a West Seattle date this year, after skipping our area last year. At the time, the date hadn’t been set. Now, it has, according to the official webpage: Sunday, September 25th. That’s a long way off, so details are all but nonexistent, except that the city has posted that it’ll be happening on Alki. Just telling you now so you can get it on your calendar!

(BACKSTORY: The first such event, called “Car-Free Day,” was in September 2008; then for six years, it was scheduled on the same May day as the West Seattle 5K run/walk.)

(Summer Fest ’14 from the air, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen)

Four months until West Seattle Summer Fest – and it’s time NOW for this invitation to artists, businesses, and organizations:

The West Seattle Junction Association is happy to announce opportunities for West Seattle Summer Fest, July 8-9-10, 2016.

Summer Fest is a well-loved community event with shopping, live music, sidewalk cafes, kids’ area, a beer garden, and more. But what makes this event exceptional is the opportunity to connect with our community.

While Junction businesses are well-represented at the event, we invite the greater West Seattle artist, business, and non-profit community to join the event and help showcase what’s special about our neighborhood. Their participation will help give the neighborhood what they want – strong West Seattle representation at Summer Fest.

We are now accepting vendor applications for Summer Fest, and the application deadline is April 1. We are also seeking sponsorship to help us produce the best event possible. Information on both can be found at westseattlefestival.com.

Another big part of Sunday’s West Seattle Harvest Festival success – the biggest Costume Parade yet! How do you get a parade through a crowded festival? Ken Iverson from the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club reveals a big part of the secret:

(Photos courtesy WSARC)
The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club was proud to have 9 of its members provide radio communication and coordination for the 2015 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival Parade. Members included Jon, KG7WSN, Brian, KG7WRK, Tom, N7OEP, Adeline, KG7EUL, Meredith, KG7EUM [youngest WSARC member but holding a full General Class license], Dave, AF7CW, Jim, WS7JIM, Ken, AB7X and all coordinated by Tammy, WA7TZ who was our ‘net control.’

Members with hand-held radios positioned themselves at the beginning, middle and end of the parade, and reported the progress of the parade.

You can see our parade video in our as-it-happened Harvest Festival coverage.

P.S. If you’re a local amateur radio operator – you’re welcome to join WSARC’s weekly check-in, tonight and every Monday night at 6:30 pm.

(WSB photo from Sunday, with 4 of the chili contenders, L-R: Todd from Elliott Bay, Amber from Freshy’s, Dave from West 5, Matt from Easy Street)

First of two followups this afternoon on Sunday’s mega-successful West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB): Full results, including fundraising, from the festival’s chili competition. We reported the winner in our as-it-happened coverage – here are the full results, from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:

Thank you so much (to the participants) in our very successful 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off. The West Seattle Food Bank and the clients we serve are most appreciative. We raised an incredible $2,025 in tastings and single serving sales and $357 in straight donations, for a total of $2582! Now for all of the voting results! Congratulations to Jeremy at Shadowland for taking home the beautiful trophy and bragging rights for a year with 41 votes. Here’s how the rest of the votes came in:

Elliott Bay Brewery with 36
The Westy with 26
Easy Street Café with 20
Husky Deli and West Seattle Brewery with 17 each
Freshy’s with 13
West 5 with 6

Everybody who bought a flight for a $10 WSFB donation got a vote; the participants all donated a huge vat of custom-cooked chili plus somebody to serve it, so it was a big contribution, and everyone was a winner, really, with the competition’s popularity – “where’s the chili?” was the most frequently asked question in the info booth.

(FESTIVAL INFO/SCHEDULE HERE)

10:16 AM: We’re in the heart of The Junction – middle of Walk All Ways at California/Alaska – and the West Seattle Harvest Festival is under way! From our spot, if you look north, it’s the Farmers Market (above), and if you look south, it’s harvest activities (cast a line at Emerald Water Anglers [WSB sponsor], below):

The activities continue all the way until 2 pm, as does the market; at 11 am, you can buy a flight of chili ($10, goes to the West Seattle Food Bank) and vote for your favorite; at 11:30 am, it’s the Costume Parade from Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska; at noon, you can trick-or-treat at Junction businesses! In the meantime, stop by our booth for our Halloween stickers, while they last:

In the costumes we’re seeing so far, “Star Wars“ wins the day. We’ve seen new costumes – Kylo Ren from Episode 7) mingled with the classics – Princess Leia in her Episode 4 gown:

And pint-size Wookiees like this one:

Queen Amidala (Episode 1) showed up too:

Finally, a Jedi!

Plus – space, not so long ago and not so far away:

11:02 AM: The chili competition is under way! Get to the KeyBank corner of California and Alaska, donate $10 (all goes to the WS Food Bank), and get samples of the contenders – here’s who made, donated, and is serving chili for the occasion:

Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
Freshy’s
Husky Deli
Shadowland
The Westy Sports and Spirits
West 5
West Seattle Brewing Company

Vote for your fave, and we’ll find out later who won! Activities are continuing, on Alaska and on California south of the Farmers’ Market … and the Harvest Festival Costume Parade is coming up at 11:30, starting from Junction Plaza Park, with the West Seattle High School Marching Band in the lead – it’ll wind through the market and festival. Lots of kids and grownups in costume here from the start:

Check out this ensemble costume:

And luchadores!

(Later – an entire luchador family:)

Business trick-or-treating starts at noon. More to come – we’re reporting live for the duration – but first, stay tuned for parade coverage.

11:39 AM: This is the biggest Harvest Festival Costume Parade we’ve ever seen – by far! – and it’s still winding its way through the market and festival, now heading southbound on the west side of the street. Video:

Longer version, iPhone video via YT:

11:50 AM: Now it’s almost time to trick or treat, as the parade turns the corner eastward onto Alaska and back to the park. Be sure to go see the businesses north of the closed-street zone, too! We still have stickers to give away, and on the other side of our booth is the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association team (don’t tell them we told you, but THEY have candy). Speaking of merchants – this is the first Harvest Festival since Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) moved to The Junction, and look who’s at their storefront on the east side of California between Alaska and Edmunds:

And just when we thought we’d seen it all today … we’ve just seen Santa Claus.

12:37 PM: We are in the heart of trick-or-treating.

The “harvest activities” continue too – art projects, like this one at the booth for Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):

West Seattle Nursery had a DIY photo booth with harvest/autumn greenery:

“Plinko” was the game in the Westside School (WSB sponsor) booth:

And more costumes!

All around us, we’re seeing friends and neighbors greeting each other – same vibe as West Seattle Summer Fest here in The Junction – glad the weather has held, after an early morning shower.

1:00 PM: Last hour for the festival and the market – if you haven’t been here yet, hurry! We found some street art:

Also just announced: The chili competition winner – Shadowland got the most votes!

In 2nd and 3rd, Elliott Bay and The Westy. They’re still tallying how much money the chili raised for the WS Food Bank. We can verify it was a hit – not only did we get a steady stream of people asking us where to find it, we’re told they sold out of sample flights long before they ran out of would-be voters.

1:29 PM: Half an hour to go. Rabbit Stew is playing old-time Americana right here at California/Alaska, drawing some dancers and toe-tappers now and then:

Many of the market vendors got into the spirit too. Thanks to the folks who pointed out Whistling Train Farm’s themed signs:

2 PM: The festival flew by! Market’s wrapping up too. Thanks to everyone who came to The Junction, everyone who offered activities and treats, everyone in the parade … Adding more photos when we’re back at HQ.

4:32 PM: Just finished adding more photos, above. Here’s the last costumed child we photographed before the end of the festival, with her non-costumed dad:

Sabrina, daughter of County Executive and lifelong West Seattleite Dow Constantine and wife Shirley Carlson, is just two weeks shy of a year and a half old.

(WSB photo from the first Harvest Festival in 2012)
You ARE going to the fourth annual West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival on Sunday, we hope? It’s not just kid stuff. Everybody’s welcome to join the costume parade, vote in the chili contest, shop the Farmers’ Market … the festival is about 37 hours away (not that we’re counting)! Here are your essential festival facts. First, the schedule:

*Early morning-late afternoon: California closed between Oregon and Edmunds, Alaska closed between 44th and 42nd
*10 am-2 pm: Farmers’ Market
*10 am-2 pm: Harvest activities (most booths south of Alaska)
*11 am: Chili competition (fundraiser for West Seattle Food Bank, buy your “flight” – which entitles you to vote – at SW corner of California/Alaska)
*11:30 am: Costume parade from Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), led by West Seattle High School Marching Band, directed by Ethan Thomas
*Noon: Trick-or-treating at Junction businesses

Next, some of the activities (all free), presented at booths on and south of Alaska:

*Putt-putt golf – West Seattle Eagles
*Spooky tree photo-op – West Seattle Nursery
*Giant Tic-Tac-Toe and hay bales to play in – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and EQ Fitness
*Cotton-candy maker – Eastridge Church
*Origami and puppies – West Seattle See Dogs
*Scary-face photo ops – WSB

And now, from the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association:

Full list of activity providers: Alki Art Fair, Bitter Cherry Tree, City Mouse Store, Cupcake Royale, Dream Dinners, Eastridge Church, Emerald Water Anglers, Endolyne Children’s Choir, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Holy Rosary School, Hotwire Coffee and EQ Fitness, Infinite B Canvas Creations, Pagliacci Pizza, PCC Natural Foods, School of Rock, Snooter Doots, SSC Coop Preschools, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, The Little Gym of West Seattle, The Office Junction, West Seattle Art Nest, West Seattle Blog, West Seattle Calvary Chapel, West Seattle Hi-Yu, West Seattle Kiwanis, West Seattle Nursery, West Seattle See Dogs, WestSide Baby, Westside School

And thank you, sponsors, for helping to produce this event: Bakery Nouveau, West Seattle Blog, Westside School, Curious Kidstuff, Pagliacci, Eastridge Church, Easy Street Records, Elliott Bay Brewery, Swanson & Seepersad Chiropractic & Massage Therapy, WestSide Baby

Forecast so far – cloudy but dry. See you in The Junction on Sunday!

Just nine days until the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – four fun-filled hours, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, October 25th, including activity booths (all four hours), a costume parade (11:30 am), business trick-or-treating (noon), and the chili competition benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – you buy a flight of samples and vote for your favorite! The West Seattle Junction Association has just announced the competitor lineup:

Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
Freshy’s
Husky Deli
Shadowland
The Westy Sports and Spirits
West 5
West Seattle Brewing Company
Each competitor is bringing and donating 2 1/2 gallons of chili, and it goes fast, so don’t miss it at 11 am during the festival – one week from Sunday! – on the southwest corner of California/Alaska. (WSB is among the festival co-sponsors again this year, and we’ll be among the activity providers again too – see you there!)

(WSB photo: Serving up Harvest Festival chili tastes for judges – that means you! – during 2014 festival)
Which West Seattle restaurant will win this year’s Harvest Festival chili competition, delighting tastebuds and raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank? Just announced – the field is open for entries:

The West Seattle Junction Association is sponsoring a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank at our 4th Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 25th. Our neighborhood restaurants will bring their best pot of chili and compete for bragging rights of Best Chili at Harvest Festival – 2015. It’s free for restaurants to enter. The West Seattle public will vote by buying a flight of chili and choosing their favorite! 100% of the donations collected will go to the West Seattle Food Bank to help our community. In the past two years, this competition has raised over $4500 for the food bank!

Some logistics and rules to enter. Participants must:

* Be a West Seattle business.
* Bring 2.5 gallons of hot chili made in commercial kitchen. We’ll have chafing dishes but bring it hot!!
* Provide a chili server who has a current Food Handlers Card. Restaurant owner, lead chef, or manager preferred.
* Be ready to serve at 11 am! With 2.5 gallons of chili, we’ll be able to serve over 100 flights and the competition will be done by 1 pm.
* We have room for only 9 competitors. First come, first serve, don’t delay.

We’ll provide everything else. To register, please e-mail susan@wsjunction.org with your business name, contact person, and agreement that rules will be followed. Deadline Friday, October 16th.

Last year, West Seattle caterer Deano’s was the winner; the year before that, Husky Deli.

P.S. Along with chili, trick-or-treating (at noon and not a second sooner) is part of the Harvest Festival, as is the costume parade (now confirmed – West Seattle High School Marching Band will lead the way again!), harvest activities, and the Farmers’ Market, all happening in the street in the heart of The Junction, 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 25th.

(WSB photo from 2014 WestFest)

Just announced – the schedule for Holy Rosary School‘s WestFest next Friday and Saturday:

WestFest is almost here and it’s going to be FABULOUS! Come and join us at Holy Rosary School (4142 42ND AVE SW) from 6 pm-10 pm on Friday 9/18 and 10 am-10 pm on Saturday 9/19!

· Last call for discounted wristbands! If you haven’t yet purchased yours yet, stop by the Holy Rosary School office (at the above address). Prices do go up at the event, so get yours now!

· BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: TODDLER TIME!
Bring your preschoolers to Toddler Time at WestFest! Holy Rosary is bringing the Carnival of Community to our younger West Seattle residents this year! From 10 am-12 pm on Saturday, they can enjoy a discount on 3 rides exclusively for them! We are also featuring a clown who will twist up creative balloon animals. There are a lot of food options to add fuel to all this activity, so stick around for lunch and treats too! At 3:00, enjoy Raymond the Magician!

· We brought the book sale back, so bring your family and friends to WestFest to browse! You can “Fill A Bag For $2, Or A Donation” during the last 2 hours of the sale (4 p-6 p) on Saturday.

· We are proud to announce our 2015 Stage Lineup:

FRIDAY
6:30 PM Comerford Dancers – Celtic Arts Northwest
7:30 PM Ruby-Seattle U Redhawk
8:30 PM Inner Voices

SATURDAY
10:30 AM Toddler Time Tunes w/Friendly Clown
12:00 PM Mode Music Studio- Student Performances
2 :00 PM lo: Eclectic Mix Live Music
3:00 PM Raymond The Magician
4:00 PM Cavalcade of Pets! – Step right up and introduce your animal on center stage
5:00 PM Intermission
6:00 PM West Seattle’s Got Talent – Who’ll take the prize?
7:00 PM Mode Music Studio- Rock Bank
8:15 PM Raffle Winners Announced!
9:00 PM Acid Tounge

· You can also play some bingo, try many delicious food options and treats, proudly wear a WestFest shirt, try your luck at the Cakewalk, play games and enjoy the rides—there are too many activities and choices to name them all! Come and experience all the Carnival of Community has to offer your family!

That’s one of dozens of short poems on cards lining a path into Camp Long as you enter this weekend’s Arts In Nature Festival, presented by the Nature Consortium. It’s on until 9 tonight and again from 11 am-6 pm tomorrow, and it’s a chance to immerse yourself in art experiences of many kinds, from words to music to ethereal creations woven between tree branches:

You might find performance artists wandering the grounds, like this otherworldly duo:

We first encountered them by a work in progress that’s unfolding all weekend long:

The painting started between two trees and will grow, we were told, to show how the built environment is obscuring nature and greenspaces; go see for yourself by the cabin between the north end of the meadow and the south side of the pond. Some of the comforts of civilization, though, are lining the central meadow – food trucks including the vegan Luchador Taco Company:

There’s a beer garden behind Camp Long’s historic lodge, too. Wander the grounds and you’ll find something to see, do, or hear, almost everywhere – at the small amphitheater on the south side of the meadow, we found these musicians:

Be sure to take several turns around the festival grounds – you might miss something behind a curtain or around the bend, first time you pass. Here’s the full schedule; ticket information is here – online sales are over but you can pay at the tent just past the gates of the park, which is at 5200 35th SW.

(Owl puppet from 2011 Arts in Nature Festival Species Parade)

Music, dance, art, nature, a beer garden, food trucks, and the Species Parade — it’s all in the works for Camp Long next weekend, as West Seattle’s own Nature Consortium brings back the Arts in Nature Festival, 11 am-9 pm Saturday and 11 am-6 pm Sunday (August 22-23). After taking a year off while the organization changed leadership, with Merica Whitehall succeeding founder Nancy Whitlock as executive director, NC invites you to explore the festival’s big slate of activities, which you can preview here – be sure to follow all four tabs, Saturday, Sunday, all weekend (where you’ll find the food trucks listed, including Full Tilt Ice Cream and FT’s new venture, vegan Luchador Taco Co., plus Thai-U-Up, a frequent sight at Roxbury/30th, and Highland Park-founded Athena’s), and “around the next corner.” Arts in Nature is a festival where you can participate and experience, as well as watch and listen. Proceeds support the nonprofit Nature Consortium’s work, restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt as well as offering arts education to youth; you can buy tickets in advance online.

P.S. Want to enjoy the festival for free? Volunteer!

With today’s warm weather, it’s not much of a stretch to feel positively Mediterranean at Hiawatha Community Center‘s park. Of course, the annual Mediterranean Fantasy Festival‘s dancing, costumes, music, and backdrops all help. We stopped by briefly after the West Seattle Grand Parade for a few photos – there’s so much going on, even a short visit will immerse you in the exotic ambience. That includes a lawn full of vendors:

Along with dancing on the outdoor stage, it’s happening in the gym, too – here’s the lineup of continuous appearances. And inbetween applauding the artistry of the dancers, you can browse and buy all manner of adornment:

The festival – MedFest for short – is on until 7 pm today, and continues 11 am-5 pm tomorrow, no charge for admission. It’s in its 28th year and is presented by the Babylonian Ensemble, whose members explain here how it was created 28 years ago.

11:56 AM: The sun’s out and so are hundreds of people, already here at West Seattle Summer Fest in hour 1 of day 3! Above, that’s the view from our side of the Information Booth in the center of the California/Alaska intersection, looking north. Here’s the map of the festival grounds, on California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to traffic, so please use the crosswalks and lights there), and on Alaska between 44th and 42nd:

Up by the stage, on the north end of the festival zone, east side of California north of Oregon, you’ll find the official Summer Fest Beer Garden – where it’s Happy Hour all day today, $1 off. Here’s the music lineup:

1 pm – The Solvents
2 pm – Memphis Radio Kings
3 pm – Stereo Embers
4 pm – Sick Sad World

Here’s who you’ll find in the Community Tent (along the south side of Easy Street, on Alaska west of California) today:

11 am – 2 pm
South Seattle College Parent Cooperative Preschools
See Dogs

2 pm – 5 pm
Seal Sitters
Empower Mentoring Program

Also a full slate at GreenLife today – next up, Chef Doug from Salty’s (WSB sponsor) is making desserts from fresh Farmers’ Market produce, 12:15 pm.

And here in the Info Booth – besides answering your questions – our boothmates today are from the Junction Association – buy your Summer Fest T-shirt! (east side of the booth) – browsers and shoppers are stopping by (tweeted photo added):

Also, from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – guess how many Lincoln Logs are in their jar! (west side of the booth) – and from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, offering free copies of the new West Seattle business guide (west side of the booth). We also still have free buttons and schedule cards for West Seattle Outdoor Movies, the six-Saturday-night series that starts next weekend (“Zoolander,” July 18th, dusk, in the courtyard at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]).

Hot question so far remains, “Where’s the Farmers’ Market?” Answer – where it used to be, 44th/Alaska:

It’s on until 2 pm as usual. And next week, it’s back here in the street, on California between Alaska and Oregon.

12:16 PM: Somebody just tried to steal a food vendor’s money bag – and didn’t get far:

Police are questioning the suspect right now in the breezeway north of 4730 California. Lt. Ron Smith says it’s the first incident of that type that he recalls at the festival in recent years. (Added: The suspect, a West Seattle man, was arrested and will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony theft robbery, according to Lt. Smith.)

12:55 PM: Music’s about to start up – see the schedule above. (added – Instagram clip of band #1, The Solvents):

Meantime, even if you’ve already been to the festival, you’ll likely find something new today, and deals too; for example, right across from where we are, north of the Info Booth, the QFC booth has discounted its coconuts – $3 today. A few storefronts north, on the east side of California, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) is continuing its sale – all kids’ goods are 30 percent off, including colorable placemats.

Along with shopping, all around the festival, you can spend a few dollars to help local nonprofits and get a chance at cool raffle prizes – from the Orca Network (booth #26), to the West Seattle Food Bank (booth #111) and the West Seattle Helpline next door (booth #109).

Visit HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) at booth #144 and enter to win a Seahawks piggy bank:

At HomeStreet’s Junction branch, 41st/Alaska, it’s WestSide Baby Stuff the Bus time one week from today (July 19th) – if you can’t stop by next Sunday to donate diapers, visit the branch any time this week and drop your donation off.

3:35 PM: This is the point where the rest of the festival roars by. An hour and a half of fun remains – last band, Sick Sad World, is up at 4 pm (as mentioned earlier, Happy Hour at the Beer Garden by the stage – $1 off). And with the sun finally out today, it’s been perfect for features such as the dog pools up at Pet Junction.

You might find just the perfect thing for your house/apartment/garden … a guy just walked by with metal yard art, a fish made from rusted horseshoes.

Earlier, we mentioned some of the raffles – this one, we previewed before the festival, and here’s one more reminder about your chance to try for this outside the Senior Center:

Or – no need to take a chance at the MaxMobile – just take a new friend home!

Still throngs of people, with and without pets, here. Sidewalk sales continue outside the year-round stores:

3:58 PM: Here is the vendor we’ve been asked about most often:

The airplants seem to have a lot of fans.

4:09 PM: Final hour! Things you can do right now –

-Come to the Info Booth and get a free West Seattle Community Resource Guide from Chamber reps
-Watch street performers
-Have an early dinner at the many Junction venues with festival-only outdoor seating, and people-watch until the end
-Last call for fair food – elephant ears, deep-fried PB&J, chocolate-dipped cheesecake…
-Shop! Easy Street has tons of music on sale
-Go see Seal Sitters in the Community Tent and find out about caring for local wildlife

Though an election is coming up – ballots go in the mail this Wednesday – we haven’t seen much campaigning today. We did get an Info Booth visit (our longstanding offer: We’ll photograph candidates who stop by) from School Board incumbent Marty McLaren:

And the folks from the Chamber, next to us in the Info Booth, will also be glad to tell you about the City Council District 1 candidates’ forum they’re presenting at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) this Wednesday night (5:30 pm July 15th)

4:45 PM: Quick Instagram clip from the final band, Sick Sad World:

Sure sign this is wrapping up: The QFC booth has run out of coconuts. Looks like a few fruit kabobs are left. Elsewhere, signs of cleanup and packing up – the festival breakdown takes several hours, so don’t expect the streets to reopen until relatively late tonight (we’ll publish an update when we find out). By our informal observation, Summer Fest has been VERY well-attended! Some who have stopped by the Info Booth have asked how to apply for a booth next year – the West Seattle Junction Association presents the festival, and usually puts out the call in winter, so watch wsjunction.org.

5:05 PM: It’s a wrap! Thanks so much to everyone who came to Summer Fest (which we co-sponsored again this year) to shop, browse, wander, explore, dine, drink, dance … and thanks to everyone who stopped by the Info Booth to say hi. Stay tuned to WSB for info on all the summer fun yet to come.

MIDNIGHT NOTE: Traffic cameras show Junction streets still closed as cleanup continues.