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Ballard is a waterfront neighborhood in the northwestern area of Seattle. In 1971, the first Ballard SeafoodFest was held with the goal of promoting the fishing industry and the area’s Scandinavian heritage. It began as a two hour barbecue to raise money for a financially strapped Chamber of Commerce. The festival officially began in 1974.
Today, the SeafoodFest is a 3 day event that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Over the decades, entertainment has been added along with other activities and food vendors cater to a much larger audience. However, the core of the festival is Ballard’s seafood offerings and celebrating the community’s cultural heritage.
SeafoodFest Hours
- Friday, July 14 – 5 pm to 11 pm
- Saturday, July 15 – 11 am to 11 pm
- Sunday, July 16 – 11 am to 8 pm
Enjoy a three day celebration of free outdoor live music on the MainStage courtesy of Gravity Payments and other sponsors.
Music Schedule
Friday, July 14
- 6 pm to 7 pm – DJ
- 7 pm to 7:30 pm – #All4Doras
- 7:45 pm to 10 pm – Nite Wave
Saturday, July 15
- 1 pm to 2 pm – Peyote Ugly
- 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm – Linda From Work
- 4 pm to 5 pm – La Fonda
- 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm – Smoker Dad
- 7 pm to 8 pm – Smokey Brights
- 8:30 to 10 pm – The Black Tones
Sunday, July 16
- 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm – Seattle School of Rock
- 2 pm to 3 pm – Breaks & Swells
- 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm – Wild Rumours
- 5 pm to 6 pm – Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme
- 6:30 pm to 8 pm – Shaina Shepherd
The heart of the festival is the Salmon BBQ and it’s located in the heart of the festival area at 22nd Avenue and Market Street. Trident Seafoods’ Applewood Smoked Salmon are prepared by festival workers and grilled to perfection. Accompanying the salmon is cole slaw and a roll. Your mouth will thank you!
All proceeds from the Salmon BBQ will go to Ballard Alliance, a non profit organization dedicated to the growth and vitality of the neighborhood.
The Ballard SeafoodFest will have a Beer + Cocktail Garden. It has an extensive selection of Ballard brewed beers, handcrafted cocktails, cider, hard seltzer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
This year, SeafoodFest are using r.Cups, reusable cups. By using these cups, you’re joining in the global effort to reduce waste, CO2 emissions and overall climate impact.
The Kids Deck is the ultimate festival destination for children. It has the infamous purple slide, arts & crafts, storytelling and much more.
Kids Deck Schedule
Saturday, July 15
- 10 am – Spanish Storytime with May van Dyk
- 10:30 am – Music & Games with Jump on Languages
- 11 am to 12 pm – George A Magician
- 12 pm – Drumming Workshop with Seattle Percussion Works
- 12:30 pm – Youth Improv Workshop with Miss Taylor of Illumination Learning Studio
- 1 pm – Dana Freemont
- 1:30 pm – United Indians of All Tribes performance with Q&A
- 2:15 pm – Bahia In Motion
Sunday, July 16
- 10 am – Toddler Music & Movement
- 10:30 am – Storytime
- 11 am – Yo-yo skills with Jen of Clover Toys
- 11:30 am – Movement Storytime with Once Upon A Dance
- 12 pm – Saber Guild of the Kamino Temple
- 12:30 pm – Drumming Workshop
- 1 pm – Saber Guild of the Kamino Temple
- 1:30 pm – Baby & Me Dance with Formless Studio
- 2 pm – Improv Performance & Workshop with Bandit Studio
It should be noted that children in the Kids Deck area should always be accompanied by an adult.
Festi-Bowl
Festi-Bowl is an all ages, all abilities skateboard event that will be happening on Saturday, July 15, 2023. This event is inclusive of all. Whether you’re learning the first turns or mastering bowl tricks, all are welcome.
Festi-Bowl elements include
- Youth Bowl Event
- Women’s Event
- The Sonic Boom – Spin to Win 360 Contest
- All new “No Push” Race
- Open Contest
This year’s Festi-Bowl bands include
- 2 pm – Seattle School of Rock
- 3:30 pm – Conehenge
- 5 pm – Balcony Bridge
- 6:30 pm – The Fakies
Vendor Market
The Vendor Market at SeafoodFest is huge!
Food & Beverage Vendors include
- Alaska Weathervans Scallops Food Truck
- Zieglers Bratwurst House
- The Pancake Girl
- BBQ Oysters
- Character Cotton Candy
- Tuk Tuk Mobile Feast
- Sweetlees Ice Cream
- Beamae’s Seafood Gumbo
- Luke’s Lobster
- Truly Mediterranean
- Sucha Slush
- Island Blends – Acai and Poke
- Lemonade Guy
- Tapas/Langostino – Sushi Burrito
- Oyster Bay
- Hot Dog del sur
- Captain’s Cod Company
- Seacharrones
- Sam’s Crab Mac & Cheese
- Off The Rez
and more.
Arts & Crafts Vendors include
- Bedrock Rose Jewelry
- Howl at the Spoon
- Native Creations
- OddGoods
- The Black Frog
- Barnacle Foods
- Bumbershoot
- Porto-Pies
- Sasquatch Botanicals
- Spir Candle Co.
and many, many more.
So enjoy fish, fun and more at the fabulous free festival!
Ballard
While you’re in Ballard, check out the National Nordic Museum and Woodland Park Zoo, Book your combined tickets here and you can save $2.35 on each ticket.
Seafood
If you enjoyed the seafood at the festival and would like to learn more about cooking seafood, try these cookbooks. And use our links to see how you can save on them.
- “For The Love Of Seafood, 100 Flawless, Flavorful Recipes That Anyone Can Cook” by Karista Bennett
- “The Pacific Northwest Seafood Cookbook: Salmon, Crab, Oysters and More” by Naomi Tomky
- “Foolproof Fish: Modern Recipes” by America’s Test Kitchen
Or you can enjoy seafood at the 15 Best Seafood Restaurants in Seattle as chosen by the users of TripAdvisor.
- Rockcreek Seafood & Spirits
- Chinook’s
- Shucker’s Oyster Bar
- Market Grill
- Pike Place Chowder
- All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar
- Duke’s Seafood & Chowder
- Salty’s on Aiki Beach
- Ivar’s Fish Bar
- AQUA by El Gaucho
- Shaker + Spear
- Ivar’s Acre of Clams
- Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar
- Rays
- The Walrus & the Carpenter
If you love seafood but can’t get to those restaurants one night, you can get seafood from Pike Place Chowder delivered by DoorDash. Check out their menu.
Seattle Hotels
If you’d lik8e to visit Seattle for the SeafoodFest in Ballard, you should consider the following hotels. They are offering discounted rates which will save you money on your stay.
- Staypineapple, the Maxwell Hotel, Seattle Center 26% Discount
- Staypineapple, Hotel FIVE, Downtown Seattle 25% Discount
- Staypibeapple, Watertown, University District Seattle 25% Discount
- Mediterranean Inn 21% Discount
- Travelodge by Wyndham Seattle by The Space Needle 15% Discount
- citizenM Seattle South Lake Union 15% Discount
- Econo Lodge Edmonds North Seattle 15% Discount
- Mayflower Park Hotel 15% Discount
- Fairmont Olympic Hotel 10% Discount
- Hotel Max 8% Discount
- Hotel Theodore 5% Discount
- Hotel 116, A Coast Hotel 5% Discount