The annual SeafoodFest is this weekend with 60,000 people expected to converge on downtown Ballard for salmon, arts & crafts and music.
The crowd during the 2009 SeafoodFest.
This year, the Chamber of Commerce is making a few changes. “We’ve heard that the festival goers would like more places to sit and eat—so we listened,” the SeafoodFest website states. Instead of having a stage at Bergen Place Park, there will be tables with umbrellas and chairs for people to sit and enjoy their food.
A new KidsZone will be set up on 22nd Ave NW in front of the Ballard Library. The KidsZone will have a number of carnival-like games including a rock wall, a Velcro wall, spinner art, a troll toss, a clown striker, a ring toss and popcorn. Tickets will be $1, although some of the activities will require more than one ticket. The Center for Wooden Boats will also be on hand with a booth for kids to build their own wooden boat. This activity is free, although donations to the Center will be accepted. Philadelphia Church will still provide the free inflatables on Market Street.
Stan Boreson entertains the crowd during the 2009 SeafoodFest.
Stan Boreson, the King of Scandihoovian humor, kicks off the musical entertainment on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on the main stage, at the intersection of 22nd Ave NW and Ballard Ave. If you miss him on Saturday, he also plays on Sunday at the same time. The main stage lineup can be found here. Family stage entertainment can be found here.
The Lutefisk Eating Contest always draws a crowd. This year it will be held at Bergen Place Park at 1:15 on Saturday afternoon.
The line for salmon during the 2009 SeafoodFest.
You can’t have a SeafoodFest without the seafood. Trident Seafoods is once again donating 2,000 pounds of fresh salmon and Warren Aakervik, Doug Dixon and Cam Hardy will work the grill. For $9 you get alder-smoked salmon, cole slaw and garlic bread.
SeafoodFest runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.
(Disclosure: My Ballard is a member of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce)