By MATT PATNEAUDE

GREENWOOD PARADE

Wed, July 26th € 6:30 p.m.

"Greenwood Happens."

That is the theme for this year's annual Greenwood Seafair Parade set for Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the popular neighborhood event.

The procession will start at North 95th and Greenwood Avenue N, then head south to North 85th and west to 6th Avenue NW.

The V.I.K. ("Very Important Kids") section of the parade will go first followed by older kids and adults.

As in years past, the parade line-up features many fun and entertaining entries.

This year's Greenwood Seafair Parade will include the shenanigans of groups like the Seafair Pirates and the Western Vigilantes. Drill teams will be well represented by participants such as the Chinese Community Drill Team, Lake City Girls Drill Team, the Highlanders, and the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team.

The Seattle All-City Marching Band will be keeping a steady beat, while groups like the Sultan Twisty Twirlers will display their dazzling coordination. Also set to appear are Ivar's Clem the Clam, the pink Lincoln "Toe" Truck, the Old English Sheep Dog Club, and the S.A.A.S. Art Car Squadron.

Parade participants will be judged in categories such as float, band, comic/novelty, baton, wheeled, and drill teams. The V.I.K.s, those under 12, will be judged separately. Winning V.I.K. entries will be awarded ribbons while all others will receive trophies.

This year's Grand Marshals include legendary clown and children's entertainer J.P. Patches as well as Elisa Jaffe and Cindi Rinehart, hosts of KOMO TV's "Northwest Afternoon" show.

Also joining the Grand Marshals in convertibles from the Corvette Club will be former Miss Greenwoods and Greenwood Princesses who have gotten together in celebration of the 50th annual parade. The Miss Greenwoods and Princesses will be representing five different decades.

Heather Nelson, Miss Spirit of North Seattle, will be riding in the parade as North Seattle's Seafair representative. Other Seafair Princesses will join her.

Parade co-chairs Marcia Brunner and Ruth MacDonald started planning the parade in February. The parade committee included Gerry Brown, David Liatos, Ann Woodward, Ed Medeiros, Bob Couillard, Shauna Zuger, Mike Frizzell, Susan Park, and Vicki Hoyt.

The parade is sponsored by the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce. Corporate sponsors making the community event possible are Bartell Drugs, Pelayo Antiques, Gene Johnson Plumbing and Heating, Safeway, the Greenwood Washington Mutual, Phinney Ridge Starbucks, and the Phinney Neighborhood Association. The Jet City Maven is this year's Greenwood Parade media sponsor. One Stroke Design created the poster.

OTHER EVENTS

Sat, July 22nd € 1-4 p.m

NORTH SEATTLE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CELEBRATION:

The North Seattle Boys and Girls Club will be the place to be on Saturday, July 22. Kids and their families are encouraged to take part in a picnic and barbecue event that will also include games such as the water balloon toss and relays. The festivities run from 1-4 p.m. and will celebrate the new Greenwood Park that is planned for construction directly north of the boys and girls club. The North Seattle Boys and Girls Club is located at 8635 Fremont Ave. N.

Sun. July 23rd € 12 - 5:30 p.m.

ST. JOHN'S COUNTRY FAIR:

St. John's Parish is hosting their annual country fair event on Sunday, July 23. Included will be food, entertainment, pony rides, and games such as the cakewalk. The celebration will take place at the St. John's School playground from noon to 5:30 p.m. St. John's School is at 120 N. 79th.

Wed, July 26th € All day.

SENIOR CLASSIC RAFFLE:

How does winning a car or $5,000 sound? These are just two of the prizes at the Senior Classic Raffle sponsored by the Greenwood Senior Center. The $1 raffle tickets will be sold on July 26 in the Greenwood Market parking lot. Proceeds benefit the senior center. Other prizes include a Caribbean cruise for two and a $500 savings bond.

Wed, July 26th €Before Parade

TOP TEN TOYS BUBBLE BLOWING TABLE:

Worried about the kids getting restless waiting for the parade to start? Stop by the Bubble Blowing Table at Top 10 Toys at 104 N. 85th St to pick up bubble blowing supplies.

Wed, July 26th € 5 p.m.

GREENWOOD MARKET BBQ:

The Greenwood Market parking lot at 8500 3rd Ave N.W. will have a bratwurst barbecue the night of the parade. Starting at 5 p.m., bratwurst, grilled onions, chips, and a soda can be had for $3 or less.

Fri. July 28th

€ 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

PHINNEY RIDGE LUTHERAN ICE CREAM SOCIAL:

What tastes better than ice cream on a hot summer evening? The Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church is sponsoring an ice cream social on Friday, July 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The huge front lawn of the church is the perfect spot for the public to enjoy a free ice cream cone or sundae. Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church is at the corner of North 75th and Greenwood Ave. N.

Sat & Sun, July 29th & 30th

PHINNEY RIDGE/GREENWOOD MERCHANT SIDEWALK SALE:

A Phinney Ridge/Greenwood Sidewalk Sale is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. Participating neighborhood businesses in the Phinney Ridge and Greenwood areas will have items for sale outside during normal business hours.