SeafoodFest in Ballard started as a two-hour dinner in 1971. Today, it’s an iconic three-day event that draws thousands, who enjoy food vendors, local music, arts and crafts, family entertainment, a beer garden, lutefisk eating (or not), giant fish, skateboarding competition, oceans of seafood, and loads of fun all day.
Free activities include admission to the street festival, playing in the water fountain, live local music, arts & crafts booths, contests, and more. Activities that charge a fee include food (of course)–featuring a traditional salmon barbecue, beer garden, face painting, bouncy house, and slide.
About the Ballard neighborhood
Originally, the area was home to Duwamish peoples settled in villages along Salmon Bay and Shilshole Bay. A large immigration of Norwegians began in the mid-19th century and the City of Ballard grew rapidly due to the lumber mills along its waterfront. The fishing and boat building industries attracted a bustling commercial district. It was annexed to Seattle in 1906. In 1976, the Ballard business district was designated a Historic Landmark District.
Today, the neighborhood’s Scandinavian influence is felt in the Nordic-inspired festivals, the Nordic Heritage Museum, and Norwegian flags gracing signs and buildings. Significant features of the neighborhood include the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks–one of the nation’s busiest (second only to the Panama Canal in boat traffic). A section of the Burke-Gilman Trail ambles through the neighborhood to Golden Gardens Park on Puget Sound. It’s also well known for the bustling year-round farmers market.
About Ballard SeafoodFest
This free community food festival includes internationally and nationally acclaimed music artists, a beer and wine garden, a cocktail and spirits lounge, a children’s area, the skateboarding competition called Festi-Bowl, a lutefisk eating competition, plus food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, all ages game area, pet play area, and more seafood than a whale could swallow.
The smoked salmon BBQ is available on Saturday and Sunday only. It includes a generous portion of succulent smoked salmon, a side of coleslaw, and bread. Purchase Salmon BBQ tokens at the Information Booth. All proceeds from the salmon BBQ go to support the Ballard Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing the Ballard community.
- When: Every July, the weekend following the 4th of July (except the years when 4th of July falls on a Thursday or Friday)
- Where: Ballard neighborhood in northwest Seattle, just north of the ship canal
- Admission: Free and family-friendly
- Website: Ballard SeafoodFest
But wait, there’s more!
- Find more foods festivals in the Puget Sound region.
- There are more festivals of all kinds on our big list of annual festivals, fairs, and parades.
- And here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- Find free and cheap things to do every day on the Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
Event calendar of free and affordable things to do
Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
Find more events and ideas for affordable living at Greater Seattle on the Cheap – Free things to do, cheap fun, discounts and deals in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area
