Every year we invite the Ballard community and local green organizations to help create this unique and joyful celebration. Your support helps us to keep this extraordinary event free to the public.
Volunteering is a great way to take a stand for a healthier planet and meet new people who share your passion. Volunteers get other great benefits too: a free festival t-shirt, access to the hospitality booth, gift bags and snacks. You won’t have more fun volunteering this year!
Please check out our volunteer sign-up to find out how you can help. We still have a variety of fun tasks from festival set-up, greeter, crafts table, parachute games, green team and more. Come join the fun!
We’re going to have some delicious food for you to purchase from two great local food trucks! BlackStar Kebabs serves up traditional Ghanaian family recipes including: kebabs, joloff rice, and a vegan combo meal with sweet red plantains. Healthy, high-quality, organic food is their passion. This is some of the best food in the Northwest. Perfect for a picnic in the park!
We also have Foody Moody joining us with their tasty Indian & Pakistani cuisine. Thoughtfully 100% halal prepared food including vegetarian dishes, burgers, paratha rolls, appetizers and more! These mouth watering dishes are sure to delight your taste buds!
Come check out this talented local musician from 2pm-3pm on the main stage at Loyal Heights Community Center next Saturday September 24th! We’re so pleased to have Stucky Jackson at the Festival sharing his delightful crooning and swooning guitar with us.
Gary Kanter & Greg Deer will be playing the 12:45-1:45pm set. Gary and Greg will be entertaining us with their unique social justice and politically progressive folk music. Their topics range from climate change awareness (“Tropic of the Puget Sound”) to labor anthems (“Don’t Mourn–Organize!”) and political action calls (“We’ve Got the Right To Choose!”).
To get our Festival day started musically, we’ll have 3 Bourbon Sean playing some Americana from 11:30am-12:30pm. In between, we’ll offer some short workshops. See you soon!
As part of our “Green Steps” themed Sustainable Ballard Festival (Sept 24, 11am-3pm) this year we will have the opportunity to view some awesome electric vehicles from the members of Seattle Electric Vehicle Association (“SEVA”). SEVA was founded over 30 years ago mostly as a car-conversion hobbyists’ club. They still have members that convert conventional vehicles to electric.
Many of you are probably aware that last month, California regulators passed rules banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, a move hailed as a significant victory in the fight against climate change. We’re certain that this will influence other states to move forward with more earth friendly commuting regulations/options.
There will be a 2017 Chevrolet Volt (this model, a plug-in hybrid, is now out of production) on display. Also, the converted Honda nicknamed O’ Sparky; and a Toyota RAV-4. Come check out these models and ask questions of the SEVA members on hand. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about electric vehicles.
Show off your sustainable practices at the Festival – Deadline Extended!
Are you a local Ballard business that strives to become more sustainable? Sometimes it can seem overwhelming to run a small business and make a big difference. Yet we have all seen how tiny green steps can make a lasting positive impact on our community and planet.
Consider joining other like minded businesses by becoming a sponsor for this year’s Sustainable Ballard Festival on Saturday, September 24th from 11 am – 3 pm. Besides being a great way to support local sustainability efforts in your community it can provide an opportunity for you to share what your business is doing to be more climate friendly. Together we can create lasting change while having some fun. We hope to see you there!
We got a late start this year trying to secure an outdoor venue, so we’re still seeking sponsors/exhibitors and have extended the application deadline.
ECOSS is hosting its annual fundraiser at Jellyfish Brewing Co. on September 15. Come learn about plans for the organization’s future in promoting environmental equity, meet our new Executive Director, Chiyo Crawford, and connect with community members. There will be food, drinks, entertainment, and much more! For tickets and more info ECOSS Community Happy Hour 2022
Help educate our community about the costs – financial, environmental, and health – of unnecessary vehicle idling. You can spread the word to neighborhood businesses, churches, schools, community groups, and more with our idle free cards or posters – we will deliver. Or let us know if you’d like us to come speak to your group! Every day in the U.S., 16 million gallons of fuel are wasted by unnecessary idling! We’d love to have your help and your ideas. To learn more, visit Idle Free Ballard. Remember, idling gets you nowhere!!
PNA is hiring a part time Village Volunteer Coordinator. This is a great community based organization located in the heart of Northwest Seattle. If you or someone you know would make a good addition to their team checkout the link for more details. After all it takes a village to create a thriving sustainable community!
Come on out to Ballard this Sunday afternoon, Aug. 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to support the efforts of Ballard Food Bank keeping food on the plates of our neighbors most impacted by inflation. The event will take place adjacent to the food bank at 14th Ave NW between NW 49th and 50th Streets. The festival is 21+ and will feature live music, tastings from 15 Ballard and Fremont breweries/cideries, and food from local restaurants including Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Veraci Pizza, Mainstay Provisions, Frelard Tamales, Plenty of Clouds, Lagana Foods, and Community Loaves. All proceeds from the event will benefit the food bank. Tickets are $75 and are available online and at the door the day of the event.
If you’re interested in supporting Ballard Food Bank throughout the year join our awesome Ballard Farmers Market gleaners! Summer produce is in full swing, and the Ballard Farmers Market gleaners are regularly gleaning 400-plus pounds of produce every Sunday for the Ballard Food Bank! We’re always looking for new volunteers to help. Volunteers can expect to help by collecting produce from the vendors, carrying boxes and sorting the collected food into containers at the Food Bank. Gleaning takes place from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and we’re flexible with how often you volunteer – even giving your time once a month makes an impact in our community.
To learn more, email Olivia at gleanballard@gmail.com with the subject line “New Gleaning Volunteer.”
