Families in Interbay and Ballard can spend a free Saturday dockside when the Fishermen's Fall Festival returns to Fishermen's Terminal on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The annual festival, which celebrates the return of the North Pacific fishing fleet, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1900 W Nickerson St. Proceeds from food and activities benefit the Seattle Fishermen's Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships and support to families of commercial fishers lost at sea.

Admission is free.

The foundation maintains a bronze and stone memorial at the terminal honoring more than 675 local commercial fishermen and women who have lost their lives at sea since the turn of the century, according to the foundation's website.

The festival has been held at the Port of Seattle-operated terminal since the late 1980s, according to My Ballard. It took a three-year hiatus during the COVID pandemic and returned in 2023. An all-volunteer committee organizes the event with more than 200 volunteers.

What to see and do

Survival suit races, described as a big draw for spectators, start at 3 p.m. at Dock 9. Ship Canal tours depart at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The main stage opens at 11 a.m. with Inochi Taiko Drummers, a Seattle-based taiko ensemble founded in 2003. Zoologist and educator Scott Petersen, known as The Reptile Man, brings live snakes, lizards and turtles to the stage at noon.

Sea shanty group Strikes A Bell performs at 1 p.m. The Wayside plays at 2 p.m. Knut Bell, a country performer from Skagit County, closes out the stage at 4 p.m.

Kids' activities include fish prints, face painting, shell art, wooden boat building and a Kraken bouncy house.

Food and drink

Salmon barbecue, Alaska scallops, wild Alaskan cod and a beer garden are available for purchase.

How to help

Volunteers are needed for setup, cleanup, children's activities, wooden boat building and food service. Registration and the full schedule are available at fishermensfallfestival.godaddysites.com.