White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Jubilee Days carnival setup on Tuesday; photo by Deanie Schwarz for WCN/WSB)
Big day, and night, in White Center! Jubilee Days events get into full swing. The carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park opens at 3 pm and continues till 10; somewhere around that time – dusk – is when the second annual fireworks show will fill the sky over the park. If you want to get ticket books, with discounts, before you go to the carnival, they’re available at Full Tilt Ice Cream and Proletariat Pizza, as well as Albertsons on 16th SW, according to WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz.

Just in from White Center Jubilee Days – the official news release outlining this month’s events!

White Center Jubilee Days is a Seafair-Sanctioned Community Event. The street fair and parade will celebrate it’s 89th year in White Center in 2011. The festival continues to grow. In 2010 a Garden Tour was revived, Fireworks, an Auto Show and Shine, and a Gala Auction were added. This year new events include the Spring Fling & Pinewood Derby, Rock ~n~ Bowl, and a Retro Roller Skating Party.

July 9, 2011
The McLendon Hardware Garden Tour
This year’s Garden Tour will again start in the parking lot of McLendon Hardware,
10210 16th Avenue SW
The tour will feature 10 distinctive gardens in the White Center area and then end back at McLendon’s.
9:00 am – 6:00 pm

July 13, 2011
The second annual Jubilee Days Fireworks Show.
Steve Cox Memorial Park
15th SW & 102nd
This spectacular show consists of 500 shells spanning 20 minutes Starts at dusk.

July 13 – 16, 2011
Davis Shows Carnival
Steve Cox Memorial Park
15th SW & 102nd
Wednesday 3:00pm -10:00pm
Thursday 12:00pm -10:00pm
Friday 12:00pm -11:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm -11:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm -10:00pm

July 14, 2011
Rock and Bowl
Magic Lanes
10612 15th Ave SW
8:00pm – 11:00pm

July 15, 2011
Retro Roller Skating Party
Southgate Roller Rink
9646 16th Ave SW
7:30pm – 11:00pm

July 16, 2011
Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
Holy Family Church
9622 20th Ave SW
7:30 am to 12:00 pm

July 16 – 17, 2011
White Center Jubilee Days Street Fair
17th Avenue SW,
Between 98th and 102nd

July 16, 2011
Auto Show and Shine
SW White Center Cutoff
(16th Ave SW & SW 100th St)
8:00am – 4:00pm
Last year there were tricked-out and souped-up cars from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s through today and this year is bound to be better than ever! We will have Rat Rods, Hot Rods, Lowriders, Customs, Lead Sleds and Classics. There will be pin striping the day of the event and show casing by Renegade Bikes.

July 17, 2011
White Center Jubilee Days Parade
16th Avenue from 112th, North to 100th Street
11:00 am

December 3, 2011
Autumn Auction
Time & Location TBA

2011 will mark the 23rd year that White Center has participated in a Seafair-sanctioned community event. An event planned for the local businesses to participate and support the community and its resources and talent.

It is an opportunity for neighbors to get to know their neighbors, community service providers and local business members.

For more information visit www.jubileedays.org

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Organizers met at Big Al Brewing Wednesday evening, working hard to pull together their “to do” lists for the 88th year of the Jubilee Days celebration in White Center, expected to draw 25,000 people.

Organizers told WCN that as they continue to dial in the remaining details, posters and the official program (with discounts and coupons for local businesses, by the way) have been distributed around the business district and beyond. Keep an eye out and pick one up for the event-by-event and daily schedules you’ll want to have to plan.

The next upcoming event is the Garden Tour, on Saturday, July 9. It begins in the parking lot at McLendon Hardware (10210 16th SW) at 9 am. There will be tour packets to be picked up for the free, 10-garden tour. McLendon is the sponsor for the event and a popular Treasure Hunt will be held again: Find items from a list at each garden, identify them all, and win a $25 McLendon gift card. If folks have questions about the garden tour, the person to contact is Heather at gardenwalk@jubileedays.org or call 206-920-4144.

The members told WCN that the funding and operating of Jubilee Days is dependent on business sponsorship and while many have already taken the opportunity to promote civic pride and positive marketing for their businesses, sponsorship, support opportunities remain.

There are a multitude of sponsorship levels to participate at, but we were also told they are still seeking sponsorship for the much-anticipated July 13 fireworks display at Steve Cox Memorial Park . They say it is 20-minutes of solid spectacle, so if you have an interest in getting a lot of bang for your sponsorship buck, this might be the event for your business or organization! The Jubilee point person to answer any questions you might have if you are interested in getting in on the annual sponsorship tradition at any level is Peter Mort, peterjmort@gmail.com or 204-0661.

White Center Jubilee Days Officers and Board Members for 2011 are President Michael McGrath, Vice President Julie Hiatt, Secretary Karen Paden and Treasurer Stephen Lamphear. Lots of festival information can be found at jubileedays.org.

Just a week till the 4th of July – and we noticed fireworks stands are up and waiting in the unincorporated areas (White Center, Top Hat, etc.). So it’s a good time to remind you: In the unincorporated areas, fireworks can be sold starting noon-11 pm Tuesday, and then 9 am-11 pm daily through July 4th – but even though you can BUY them before the holiday, you can only USE them on the 4th, 9 am-midnight.

As for official professional fireworks displays – there’s the Seattle show over Lake Union, visible from north-facing West Seattle, and Three Tree Point, offshore. But you might just decide to wait for the sure-to-be-spectacular-again Jubilee Days fireworks at Steve Cox Memorial Park on July 13th.

At Big Al Brewing (9832 14th SW), the White Center Jubilee Days Spring Fling and Pinewood Derby is happening this afternoon, all the way till 7 – go support WCJD! Also in White Center:

Till 3 pm, at West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy, the halls are lined with plants and gift items for today’s annual sale – and it’s not just a shopping opportunity; edible-gardening expert and author Amy Pennington is speaking and signing books till 3 pm. 11215 15th SW.

If you remember “Seinfeld” – or maybe even if you don’t – you know about the spoofy holiday “Festivus, for the rest of us.” This Saturday in White Center, you can join in a Festivus celebration for real – an auction, dinner, and dance, 5 pm at White Center Eagles, 10452 15th SW. See the official flyer on Facebook, where you can RSVP through the page for White Center Jubilee Days, which benefits from this Saturday’s celebration.

A bit chilly – but spirited all the same – as the White Center Jubilee Days 2010 parade rolled on down the boulevard. Or trotted. Many of the horseback entries were truly resplendent, as that clip and this next photo, both shared by Deanie, show:

Gill shared this photo of a very young rider in the parade:

Lots of marchers, too. Here’s Deanie’s video of the famous Seattle Schools All-City Band:

And a photo of the Dolls drill team:

Deanie got another drill team, the Electronettes, in fine form:

And what local parade would be complete without the legendary Seafair Pirates? Gill’s photo catches the cannon smoke, too:

You don’t have to wait long for the next local parade – the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade is next Saturday, down California SW in West Seattle from the Admiral District to The Junction business district, starting at 11 am.

Sure, the White Center Jubilee Days street fair is a place for fun. But it’s also a great place to meet the neighbors who keep your community running, often from behind the scenes. The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has a booth (where they were gathering messages of appreciation for former White Center storefront King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock):

If you saw the annexation-related sign in the background – that wasn’t part of the NHUAC booth, but instead belonged to the one nearby where we found Liz Giba:

Lots more familiar faces at the fair – including at the White Center Food Bank booth (that’s executive director Rick Jump at right) – looking ahead to its big Harvest Dinner and Auction fundraiser on October 16th (5:30 pm, Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College):

Did you notice the little girl checking out the motorcycle in the back of that shot? Mark Elliott told us that if you come to the WC Food Bank booth and make a donation – you can get your photo taken on it too:

Also on hand – Sean Healy from White Center Community Development Association:

Sean also leads the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition, which has its next meeting at 6 pm Thursday (WC DSHS office), great place to be if you have neighborhood crime/safety concerns and want to bring them up not just with neighbors, but with law-enforcement authorities, who are always represented. Back to who’s at Jubilee Days – we photographed Mark Ufkes in the White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s booth:

The North Highline Fire District, of course, is there – with personnel, fire trucks, and more:

And if you’re interested in talking about politics – say hi to our area’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats:

Businesses are represented at the street fair too – Kirk Mead was there on behalf of Alaska USA Credit Union, which is just over the West Seattle line at Westwood Village QFC:

And yes, fun stuff too. Especially for the little ones – look at the great signage for the kids’ zone:

Inside, a shady place to create:

If you missed it on Saturday, it all gets going again on Sunday – but first, a parade! That starts at 10 am. All the Jubilee Days info you could possibly need is here.

Find the schedule online in the sidebar here – vendors are scheduled to open at 10 today, the beer garden at 11. The parade, by the way, is tomorrow, 10 am. And if you see this before noon today, the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is on now at Holy Family School!

Lions – TIGERS! – anybody seen bears? Just one scene from opening night at the White Center Jubilee Days Carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park. The carnival’s open 5 pm-midnight again tonight …

…then Saturday and Sunday are when the big fun happens, starting at 7:30 am Saturday with the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. The schedule of events is on the right sidebar on the Jubilee Days website.

Not set up yet, but tonight, the rides have arrived at Steve Cox Memorial Park … and tomorrow night, the carnival opens, as White Center Jubilee Days festivities near. Tomorrow night also brings fireworks to the park, at dusk. Advance discount carnival tickets are on sale at locations including Full Tilt Ice Cream; a full schedule of events is on the Jubilee Days website.

Noon-5 pm. We’re told it should be sunny by then! Here’s our original preview. Pick up your map at McLendon Hardware any time after noon and start walking!

Just posted on the White Center Jubilee Days Facebook page:

7/17/ SAT Entertainment Main Stage
11:00 12:30 Perfect Weather
1:00-2:15 The Middle Age Crisis Band
3:00-3:45 Gadzooks
4:30-5:15 Blue Ribbon Boys
5:15-6:00 Rat City Ruckus
6:45-7:45 20 Riverside
8:15-9:15 Khingz
9:45 Gabriel Teodros

7/18 SUN Entertainment Main Stage
11 am -12 pm Gary Allen May
12:30 pm -1:30 pm Wrecked Chords
2 pm – 3pm Amateur Radio Operator
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Rat City Brass
5pm – 6 pm the Dusty 45’s

Also:

SAT.7/10 27th Annual Golf Tournament Foster Links Tukwila
12PM Scramble Start

SUN. 7/11 Garden Tour
Time TBD
WED. 7/14 – Carnival Opens
7 PM -12PM
WED 7/14 Ambassador Appoitnment
Eve. PM Precedes Fireworks At Steve Cox Mem Park
WED. 7/14 – Fireworks Ceremony
Dusk Steve Cox Memorial Park

THUR. 7/15 – Carnival
Time TBD

FRI. 7/16 – Carnival
Time TBD

SAT. 7/17 – White Center Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
7:30 am – Noon 9615 20th SW, Holy Family School
Tickets on Sale Now see your Kiwanis Member

SAT. 7/17 – Street Fair opens 10am

SAT. 7/17 – Food Vendors Open 10 am

SAT. 7/17 – Beer Garden Open

SAT. 7/17 – Carnival
Time TBD

SAT. 7/17 – Car Show 10am

SUN. 7/18 – Parade
Staging at 9am
Parade starts 10 AM-11AM

SUN. 7/18 – Street Fair 10 am
SUN. 7/18 – Food Vendors 10 am
SUN. 7/18 – Beer Garden Opens
SUN. 7/18 – Carnival Opens

Now that July is here, it’s time for an avalanche of events. Jubilee Days is bigger than ever this year – and part of it will be the White Center Jubilee Days Garden Walk. Here’s the latest:

The White Center Jubilee Days Garden Walk is back this 2010 with generous support from this year’s Title Sponsor – McLendon Hardware, White Center. The walk will be held on Sunday, July 11th from 12 noon to 5:00pm. The event will start in White Center McLendon Hardware parking lot, where tour maps will be provided.

This will be a FREE Jubilee Days and Seafair sanctioned event that will be open to all ages. There will also be a vote for the favorite garden as well as prizes for those participating in the treasure hunt.

With the help of Garden Walk veteran Peggy Weiss, co-chair volunteers Donnie McDermott and Heather Huling will do their best to make this year as great as years previous.
~
For those interested in joining the fun just meet us at McLendon’s at 12 noon on Sunday, July 11th. For questions or more information, please visit us at: http://www.jubileedays.org/garden/gardenwalk.html
Hope to see you there!

Two notes from Vera at Village Green Perennial Nursery – first, she’s looking for anyone interested in a White Center Garden Tour – second (we think these are separate – if they’re not, we know Vera will correct us!) she points out the White Center Jubilee Days Garden Walk on July 11th – full details here. (Village Green, by the way, is at 10223 26th SW.)

While looking around for more information about Rat City Brass, whose Friday performance in West Seattle is now featured here, we noticed they’re playing during Jubilee Days – and then found that the WCJD schedule is taking shape in a big way. There’ll even be a fireworks show! Find out a lot more by checking out the WCJD website.

White Center Jubilee Days has its 2010 theme – “Come Together, Embrace Our Differences” – chosen in mid-December, and planning for next summer is roaring ahead. Next meeting for people who want to help is at 6:30 pm January 6th (next Wednesday), Big Al Brewing (then the group will meet every two weeks till they go into weekly-meeting mode). According to the WCJD Facebook page, another decision that’s been made is to have the parade on Sunday this year, probably at 10 am.

If you haven’t become a fan of White Center Jubilee Days on Facebook already, now’s a good time – that’s where they are asking people to post suggested themes for this year. The contest is open for another week. One nominated theme posted today – “Embrace Our Differences.” (Last year’s theme was “Living the Dream.”)

3 pm today, The Not-Its play Full Tilt Ice Cream on 16th SW. Here’s the – pardon the pun – scoop. (But first, of course, it’s parade time, 1 pm!)

You won’t be able to miss White Center for the Arts during White Center Jubilee Days this weekend – they’re planning to be everywhere, according to this update from Shelli:

White Center for the Arts (www.whitecenterforthearts.org) will be heavily represented at Jubilee Days (www.jubileedays.org) this year. For both days of the event, July 18th and 19th, White Center for the Arts will have a booth in the community area where everyone can participate in a future public art project. This will be the first of many community art projects that we will host. It will be a clay mosaic. Do what you want with your piece of clay, sign your name or initials, and we will make sure that your piece is placed in the finished mosaic. Fun for one and all. And you’ll be a famous artist!

White Center for the Arts will also have a float in the parade, which starts at the McDonalds on 16th Ave SW near 114th. The float starts at 1:00 PM. We will be handing out candy and flyers. We will float towards downtown White Center on 16th Ave SW with the rest of the crew. You’ve got to see what we are making this time!

White Center for the Arts is hosting another Art Event this coming weekend in conjunction with Jubilee Days. We will be in the parking lot of the Skate Building on 17th Ave SW. We will be active for our regular hours of 5 PM to 10 PM. Enjoy the nearby Beer Gardens, and the music flowing from the stage while you watch art in action!