Weekend Preview: Fests in West Seattle, Green Lake, Ballard and the Chinatown-ID

Weekend Preview: Fests in West Seattle, Green Lake, Ballard and the Chinatown-ID

Around Town

West Seattle Summer Fest: Vendors, music, food, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, West Seattle Junction, California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street, Seattle (wsjunction.org/summerfest/).

Seafair Milk Carton Derby: Milk carton boats compete on Green Lake for prizes, shore activities 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; racing begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Green Lake Park, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N., Seattle; free (seafair.com/">www.seafair.com/).

Ballard SeafoodFest: Barbecued salmon and other seafood and food vendors, music, beer and wine gardens, children's activities, arts and crafts vendors, sidewalk sale, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Market Street and Ballard Avenue, Seattle (206-784-9705 or www.seafoodfest.org).

Seattle Chinatown International District Dragon Fest: Chinese lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and Japanese Taiko drumming, noon-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Hing Hay Park, 409 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle (seafair.com/).

At the movies

"Beasts of the Southern Wild": The tale of a young girl living in an imaginary bayou world. It opens Friday at the Egyptian and Lincoln Square Cinemas.

"Ice Age: Continental Drift": The fourth film in this animated franchise features an all-star voice cast that includes Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Wanda Sykes, Jennifer Lopez and Keke Palmer. It has midnight previews Thursday and opens Friday at several theaters (at many in 3D).

"The Invisible War": Winner of this year's SIFF Golden Space Needle Audience Award for Best Documentary, this film looks at the statistic of sexual assault in the military. It opens Friday at the SIFF Cinema at the Uptown.

"Take This Waltz": The story of a married woman (Michelle Williams) who falls into an affair with a neighbor (Luke Kirby). It opens Friday at the Harvard Exit.

"Paul Williams: Still Alive": A documentary about the 1970s songwriter ("Rainy Days and Mondays," "The Rainbow Connection"). Directed by Stephen Kessler. It opens Friday at SIFF Film Center.

"Elena": This Russian film noir features a score by Philip Glass. It opens Friday at the Varsity.

"Ballplayer: Pelotero": A documentary about the life and times of teen athletes from the Dominican Republic. It opens Friday at the Varsity

For reviews and showtimes, go to seattletimes.com/movies or to Friday's Weekend Plus section.

For more fun this weekend, see Friday's Weekend Plus.

For advance planning, see Sunday's NW Traveler.