Hip hip hurra! 50th annual Syttende Mai takes over Ballard

Meghan Walker Ballard

By Isabella Craig

“Hip, Hip, Hurra!” festival-goers chanted as the 50th annual Syttende Mai festival paraded through historic Ballard. 

May 17 is Norwegian Constitution Day, known as Syttende Mai or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day). Thousands of festival-goers dressed in their best Bunads (traditional Norwegian clothing worn for special occasions) attended Ballard’s 50th annual May 17 community parade.

The festivities began early at 10 a.m. at the National Nordic Museum. The 6 p.m. parade is the star of the day, attracting dense crowds onto the sidewalks in hopes of securing a prime viewing spot. The parade winds from NW 62nd St and 24th Ave NW and concludes at Ballard Ave and Ione. The parade began with classic cars adorned with Norwegian flags and “Hip, Hip, Hurras” filled the air on the cloudy Seattle evening. 

“It’s more of a kid’s holiday in Norway,” explained this year’s judges. Dozens of clubs and schools paraded through the streets, proudly displaying their school pride and, of course, waving Norwegian flags to celebrate the National Day. 

With marching band performances from over 10 Seattle schools, little league players, drill teams, and junior football teams, the parade was a massive success in bringing Seattle’s community together for Ballard’s 50th annual Syttende Mai celebration.

Earlier: Get ready for a sea of Scandinavian celebrations in Ballard today: It’s Syttende Mai, or the 17th of May.

Syttende Mai is Norway’s Constitution Day. Ballard has the largest Syttende Mai parade in the U.S., and it’s the third largest 17th of May celebration in the world, behind Oslo and Bergen.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. at NW 62nd St and 24th Ave NW. It then travels south on 24th Ave NW to NW Market St, then travels east to Bergen Place where it turns right onto 22nd Ave NW, and then continues southeast on Ballard Ave to its end at Ballard Ave and Ione (see map below).

The city will close the streets for the parade starting at 3:30 p.m.

Today’s full events are below:

  • Bergen Place Music: From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bergen Place Park at 5450 22nd Ave NW, and hosted by emcees Eric Stavney and Holden Tubbs.
  • National Nordic Museum: Family activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (2655 NW Market St).
  • 17th of May Luncheon: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the National Nordic Museum’s Osberg Great Hall. Tickets must be purchased in advance either online or at Mountain Pacific Bank (2244 NW 56th St).
  • Leif Erikson Lodge (Sons of Norway) Open House: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Norwegian bites, soda, and coffee (2245 NW 57th St).

King County Metro reroutes

Route 17

Route 17 to Sunset Hill will be rerouted off a portion of NW Market Street from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, May 17 during the Norwegian 17th of May Parade.

Affected stops:

  • Stop #18740 NW Market Street & Ballard Avenue NW (Westbound)

Get on/off buses at:

  • Stop #14200 15th Avenue NW & NW Leary Way (Northbound)
  • The temporary stop on Shilshole Avenue NW & 22nd Avenue NW (Northbound)
  • Stop #18760 NW Market Street & 28th Avenue NW (Westbound)

Route 44

Route 44 will be rerouted in both directions off a portion of NW Market Street from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, May 17 during the Norwegian 17th of May Parade.

Affected stops:

  • Stop #29700 NW Market Street & 15th Avenue NW (Westbound)
  • Stop #29720 NW Market Street & 20th Avenue NW (Westbound)
  • Stop #18740 NW Market Street & Ballard Avenue NW (Westbound)
  • Stop #18120 NW Market Street & Ballard Avenue NW (Eastbound)
  • Stop #29213 NW Market Street & 20th Avenue NW (Eastbound)

For Route 44 to Ballard get on/off buses at:

  • Stop #29680 NW Market Street & 11th Avenue NW (Westbound)
  • The temporary stop on 15th Avenue NW just south of NW Market Street (Southbound)
  • The temporary stop on Shilshole Avenue NW & 22nd Avenue NW (Northbound)
  • Stop #18760 NW Market Street & 28th Avenue NW (Westbound)

For Route 44 to UW Medical Center get on/off buses at:

  • Stop #18100 NW Market Street & 28th Avenue NW (Eastbound)
  • The temporary stop on Shilshole Avenue NW & 22nd Avenue NW (Southbound)
  • The temporary stop on Shilshole Avenue NW just north of NW Dock Place (Southbound)
  • The temporary stop on 17th Avenue NW just north of NW 48th Street (Northbound)
  • Stop #29215 NW Market Street & 15th Avenue NW (Eastbound)

Photo: Bruce Johnson / Rowland Studios