At noon, Mayor McGinn and other local dignitaries will be there for the American Planning Association Great Places Award ceremony, honoring Beacon Hill as one of the APA’s “Great Places in America.”
The day will also include live performances from local schools and artists; a silent auction; 40 vendors, food including hot dogs, teriyaki, and burgers; bouncy houses, Frisbee demos, and we are also promised the chance to “play catch with a robot from Franklin HS Xbot Team!”
A ton of photos came in to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr this week. Here are a few — please visit the pool to see even more great photos of Hill life and events. Thanks to the great photographers who contributed!
The sun came out on Saturday for the Beacon Hill Festival at Jefferson Park—though, unfortunately, so did the wind. Neighbors enjoyed music, food, art, and games throughout the day. We hope you enjoy these photos of the festivities. (Photos are by Wendi Dunlap unless otherwise noted; all are from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Your photos are welcome in the pool as well.) 
The Beacon Food Forest team invite the community to visit the Food Forest site during the Beacon Hill Festival this Saturday, June 2, to imagine what will soon be.
Christina Olson tells us: “The Food Foresters will have their site ‘planted’ with over 40 varieties of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, compost bins, beehives, and everything else needed to realize a great community gathering spot and food resource.”
There will be signs in the ground to show what will eventually be planted or built in each location. Olson says, “You stroll along the path, you see a sign that says ‘#1: Apple’ then you look at the handout and see that #1 is the Chehalis Apple, which is large, yellow and sweet; it ripens in September. You stroll further and see #40 and read that that is the location of the beehives. And on and on. There are over 45 trees, berry bushes, or built elements that will be located.”
Grading of the site will begin in July, after which it will be a construction zone for a while as waterlines, retaining walls, paths, and other features are constructed. This weekend is the best opportunity to visit the site and visualize the future Forest before the mess begins.
The Beacon Food Forest is located immediately west and downhill of Jefferson Park, on the big grassy slope along 15th Avenue South between Dakota and Spokane Street. Follow the signs along the Park footpath to the tour starting point.
Early warning! Mark your calendar for a couple of the Hill’s major summer events.
On June 2, the Jefferson Community Center is hosting the 20th Annual Beacon Hill Festival, with entertainment, local food, carnival games, bounce toys, and a silent auction. Proceeds of the event will go to support programs and scholarships offered at the center. All ages are welcome.
Vendors, non-profits, schools, and others: for booth information, contact Doreen Deaver at 206-684-7481 or doreen.deaver@seattle.gov. Registration deadline for vendors is May 4.
On July 21, festival fun comes to South Beacon Hill with the Taste of Van Asselt. There will be food, live music, arts and crafts, face painting, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Event organizers are are looking for local restaurants to participate in this event
as vendors to sell their unique culture foods. Jewelry and craft artists are welcome to sell handmade jewelry and crafts as well. All vendors will be required to have a City of Seattle business license. Musicians are also sought to perform. For more information,
call 206-386-1921.
The Beacon Hill Festival was Saturday, and this year the weather was great! Sunny and warm, but not too hot—it felt like we might actually get a summer this year after all. Here are a few photos of the day. Were you there? We’d love to see your photos, too. Please contribute them to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Thanks to Furchin for contributing some wonderful photos!
Here is the schedule of performers:
Main Stage
Small Stage
As always the event is open to everyone! Jefferson Community Center is located at 3801 Beacon Ave. S.
We heard that some folks showed up to buy heirloom tomato starts on Sunday and were disappointed, because the tomato sellers from Feed were already gone. However, we hear they will be back at 19th and Lander from 2-4 pm this Sunday with more tomatoes, but you should check their website for the latest info.
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This year, Francis Roque, a Franklin alum and ceramicist, has worked with FHS art students to create approximately 100 mugs called Quaker Cups, which we will sell at the festival for just $15 each. And, Principal Dr. Jennifer Wiley’s steel drum band will perform, along with the lion dancers, jazz band and other groups. Habesha, a group of East African students, will present a fashion show.
The National Honor Society will sell heirloom tomato plants (the best deal in town!), and other student clubs will have games, rummage sales, sno cones and so on.
May 14 also is the Orca Plant Sale and the open house for Fire Station 30 just down the street from Franklin – oh, and the Mt. Baker yard sales! Big weekend!
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A quick reminder—save the date of June 4 on your calendar for the Beacon Hill Festival at Jefferson Park, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. As usual, there will be music and other entertainment, food, booths showcasing local groups, and more. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
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You should also save a date for the annual Beacon Hill Piñata Party, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 16 from 12-3 p.m. at Stevens Place Park (sometimes known as Triangle Park). The event will include live entertainment, music, food, dancing, and piñatas. All ages are welcome. The event is free. Please stay tuned for more information as the date approaches.
The event organizers are seeking neighbors to make or donate six piñatas for the event. If you would like to be a part of the planning process or have a donation, please contact Jon Gould at: jon@childrensalliance.org.
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Hello Bicycle at 3067 Beacon Ave. S. has recently remodeled, so they are having a Grand Re-opening sale throughout this week. To celebrate, they are giving out free ice cream on Saturday, May 14 (while it lasts). The folks there also want you to know that the shop’s hours are changing; they will be closed on Mondays instead of Tuesdays, but open every other day from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
