If you’re looking for a very Seattle way to spend the weekend, head to Ballard for the city’s annual Syttende Mai (aka Norwegian Constitution Day) celebration on Sunday, May 17. The neighborhood throws the largest 17th of May parade outside of Norway, turning Ballard into a full-day street festival packed with music, food, and Scandinavian pride.
The festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with live music and dancing at Bergen Place, right in the heart of Ballard. Throughout the day, locals and visitors can explore Norwegian culture at the Leif Erikson Lodge open house, where there’ll be traditional food and live entertainment.
Skål Beer Hall is also going all out with a special Syttende Mai menu, live music, and parade-friendly to-go drinks and snacks. Over at the National Nordic Museum, families can dive into Nordic history, check out exhibits, and enjoy kid-friendly activities celebrating Ballard’s deep Norwegian roots.
The main event starts at 6 p.m.: the famous 17th of May parade. Marching bands, community groups, and plenty of Norwegian flags will fill Ballard Avenue as the neighborhood celebrates Norwegian Constitution Day in true Seattle fashion. And you don’t need Norwegian heritage to join in; everyone’s welcome to sign up to march with the National Nordic Museum.
After the parade, the celebration keeps going at Tractor Tavern with a ticketed after-party featuring the Icelandic Groove Project (ages 21+ only).
Seattle’s Syttende Mai tradition dates back more than a century. The city’s first recorded celebration happened in 1889, and Ballard’s Norwegian-American community started hosting parades by 1901. Today, the event has grown into one of Seattle’s most beloved neighborhood traditions and the biggest Norwegian Constitution Day celebration outside of Oslo and Bergen.
