Ballard will smell like smoked salmon all weekend long.
The 52nd Annual Ballard Music & Seafoodfest kicks off Friday, July 10, with a free concert on Ballard Avenue NW, then takes over the neighborhood's commercial district Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12. Admission is free. The Ballard Alliance, the nonprofit that organizes the festival, says the event draws more than 75,000 visitors annually.
The weekend starts early. On Friday, July 10, a free, all-ages kickoff party runs from 5 to 10 p.m. at Marvin's Garden, 5400 Ballard Ave NW. DJ Dance Dance spins at 5 p.m., followed by ALL4DORAS and headliner Nite Wave, according to the festival's Instagram page.
The full festival runs Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday hours had not been posted on seafoodfest.org as of July 1. Experiences listed on the festival website include the signature Salmon BBQ, a Beer & Cocktail Garden, a Vendor Market with arts and crafts booths, a Kids Deck and Kids Cove play area, a VIP Lounge, and the Lutefisk Eating Contest. A skateboarding competition called Festi-Bowl rounds out the lineup.
Free activities include street festival admission, live local music on multiple stages, arts and crafts browsing, and contests. Fee-based options include food vendors, the salmon barbecue, beer garden drinks, face painting, a bouncy house, and a slide.
Proceeds from the salmon BBQ support the Ballard Alliance, which manages the festival and advocates for the Ballard business district.
The festival spans multiple blocks of Ballard's commercial district in northwest Seattle. Parking will be limited. King County Metro routes 44, 40, and the D Line all serve the neighborhood, and the Burke-Gilman Trail runs through the area for cyclists.
The festival traces its roots to a neighborhood salmon BBQ picnic in the 1970s, according to the Ballard Alliance. It has grown into a major Seattle summer fixture, filling blocks of Ballard each July for more than 50 years.
The full Saturday and Sunday music lineup had not been announced publicly as of July 1. Visit seafoodfest.org/music for updates and the complete schedule.
