Ballard Music & SeafoodFest

Ballard Music & Seafoodfest (formerly Ballard SeafoodFest) is an annual festival held in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The festival’s origins can be traced back to 1971 when leaders from Ballard’s industrial and fishing community joined forces with the Ballard Elks to start Ballard SeafoodFest to promote the neighborhood’s fishing industry and draw attention to the area’s Scandinavian heritage. The event began as a two-hour barbecue to raise money for a financially strapped Chamber of Commerce and officially began in 1974. The festival was a hit and has since grown into a highly anticipated event that draws thousands of visitors yearly. The festival celebrates the community’s Scandinavian and maritime roots and has become a beloved summer tradition for locals and visitors alike. Over the years, Ballard Music & Seafoodfest has evolved and expanded, incorporating more...