Ballard SeafoodFest — Local services in Seattle

Just like the Bite of Seattle & the Pike Place Market's "Sunset Supper, the Seafoodfest started out as limited crowd neighborhood event that has grown so large that the food vendors and craft/information spaces are so packed with people on can easily become closterfobic. The "feature meal" is a piece of low grade salmon served at room temperature, with coleslaw containing cale and unbuttered borchetta bread---"canned water" was the lone beverage option. Everyone's favorite garlic bread was apparently gone the first day. Some of the assembly line food server were pleasant while others were in desperate need of customer service training. The dining tables were not cleaned between waves of diners and trash cans were no where near the dining area itself. One person remarked aloud after touring the festival streets, "I thought this was a seafood festival"! On that note, one vendor was charging $30 plus tax for their plate of another kind of food---which is rediculous for a neighborhood...

went on the last day of the festival at 6pm, to see Pickwick and the Moondoggies! instantly regretted not going earlier- so many vendors, so many great shops and restaurants! and the crowd was so diverse! the live shows were so awesome, and you'd see young people, and retired people, and they were all over the place dancing, and enjoying the music! it was great! I'm not a fan of seafood, I just wanted to see the bands, but there was so much more to do and art to admire, and I will be there next year, to get the whole festival experience! I grew up in Ballard, and I love the growth and development of "old Ballard" I hadn't been there since the late 90s, so it was a real surprise to see what's been done in the historic district! had a blast, and so did everyone else I saw! gotta go back! I have to recommend it to...

Nomnomnom love it every year, but I do miss the bacon WRAPPED scallops not just bacon strips next to the scallops... the roasted corn and peach lemonade is always delicious. The crab cake plates with shrimp caesar salad and garlic bread gets downgraded every year, I will likely avoid it next year as it was pretty disappointing yesterday. Frog legs & alligator are interesting to try, and the garlic shrimp was also tasty. Peak's frozen custard is THE BEST!! My son was sad we couldn't find the dingleberry truck with scewered chocolate covered strawberries... maybe we missed it somewhere is the 5 streets of vendors, but I hope it comes back/we can find...