This Friday, May 17 is the annual Syttende Mai parade in Ballard. Each year, thousands of people flock to Ballard for the Scandinavian festivities, which includes a huge parade through the neighborhood.
The festivities start in the morning at the Nordic Heritage Museum with free museum admission all day, plenty of kid’s activities (including the opportunity to pet the fjord horses), a special lunch at the Leif Erikson Lodge, music at Bergen Place Park, and (of course) the parade straight through our ‘hood.
Schedule of Events
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Kids games at Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 68th St). Free admission to the NHM all day; Nordic Cafe will be selling Scandinavian treats, and fjord horses will be on site.
Noon – 2 p.m.: Luncheon at Leif Erikson Hall (2245 NW 57th St.) Tickets $30, call (206) 783-1274
2 – 5 p.m.: On-going live, free entertainment at Bergen Place Park:
- 2:00—Adams Elementary School Choir
- 2:30—Klem og Kram, featuring accordion and vocal works
- 3:00—Matt Jorgensen of Ballard Jazz Festival, featuring jazz
- 3:30—Norwegian Male Chorus, with piano or a capella
- 4:00—Leikarringen of Leif Erikson Lodge #1, featuring song, music and dance
- 4:30—Bonnie Birch, featuring accordion
3 – 5 p.m.: Open House and Cafe at Leif Erickson Hall. Food, beverages, wine and beer available for purchase. Local Scandinavian organizations will have promotional material about their groups.
6 – 8 p.m: Parade – starts at NW 62nd and 24th Ave NW, goes south to Market Street, east to Bergen Place Park, turns down 22nd Ave NW and continues south on Ballard Ave NW to Dock Street. This year’s emcees are local radio personalities Tim Hunter and MJ McDermott.
