JULY 24, 2026

Unless you've been hiding in the mountains with no cell service this summer, you have undoubtedly heard about Jimothy the Raccoon. This short-spined mammalian sensation has taken the internet by storm and put Ballard on the map, in a positive way.

It seems like everyone in Seattle is getting in on the Jimothy trend with funny memes and posts featuring Ballard’s new neighborhood mascot. If this trend continues, we may not be the Ballard Beavers but the Ballard Jimothies. It lacks alliteration so perhaps our local legend will simply remain – Ballard’s beloved icon. Fremont has its troll and we now have a short-spined raccoon. Makes sense.

Many of our local businesses are wisely capitalizing on the growing Jimothy fandom and creating events and specials in Jimothy’s honor. Do an online search of "Jimothy" or "Jimothy the Raccoon" and you will find that Jimothy has quickly become a global sensation. He is changing the narrative from “trash pandas” to lovable creatures that are a little different. Giving many people near and far something they can relate to.

The Seattle City Council is putting forth a summer of 2026 Jimothy proclamation and hosting an art competition in Bergen Place Park on Sunday, July 26 at noon. Deadline to submit your original work that the public will vote on is tomorrow by noon! To submit your work fill out this form or check out Councilmember Rinck’s Instagram video that explains the proclamation and art competition.

Thank you Jimothy for allowing us to celebrate you and the inclusive community of Ballard! 

A heartfelt thank you from the Ballard Alliance team to our generous 2026 sponsors and to those that attended or made a donation!

HIPP HIPP HURRA TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS AND IN-KIND DONORS:

Blundstone Seattle, Trident Seafoods, Delta Air Lines, Town & Country Markets, Mechanics Bank, Veris Law Group, Leone & Vaughn Orthodontics, Lucid Motors, Providence Swedish, Holland Partner Group, Market Street Shoes, WaFd Bank, Chase Bank, Peoples Bank, Columbia Bank, BECU, Aegis Living, Port of Seattle, VI Resorts, Banner Bank, Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group, The Commons at Ballard, Phinney Ridge Painting & Home Services, NOVO Painting and Property Services, Illumination Learning Studio, Secret Garden Books, Sabine Cafe, Studio RA Boutique, Mountain Pacific Bank, Ocean Peace, American Seafoods Company, National Nordic Museum, KEXP, Studio RA, the Stranger, Hattie's Hat, The Ballard Cut, Malone Law Group, The Stoll Group, Axiom Design Build, Ewing & Clark, Annie's Art & Frame, Ballard Health Club, Seafair, Greenwood Ohlund, The Other Coast Cafe, GenCare Lifestyle/Ballard Landmark, Macleod's Scottish Pub, Kayla Boys Insurance Agency, INC., Salmon Bay Eagles Fremont Brewing Company, Stoup Brewing, Reuben's Brews, Lucky Envelope Brewing, Obec Brewing, Fair Isle Brewing, Old Stove Brewing Co., Cloudburst Brewing, The Sunset Tavern, Ballard Smokeshop, Maritime Pacific Brewing, Rooftop Brewing Co., Joel Gott Wines, Seaglass Coastal Wines, San Juan Seltzer Company, Lost Lake Cider, Shilling Cider and Columbia Distributing.

One of these awesome businesses is Swoon City! In addition to their consistent offering of crafty classes and programs, they have a special event coming up that you don't want to miss. Join Swoon City to celebrate Bookstore Romance Day on Saturday, August 15. 

Swoon City, located at 1716 NW Market Street, will have three authors on-site to celebrate:
 

• Penny Reid, Author of The Winston Brothers Series
• Eliana West, Author of Mockingbird Bridge Series
• Cathy Yardly, Author of Role Playing 

In addition to many activities throughout the day in store, they are offering the first 20 people through the door a Swoon City tote, designed by local artist Odette Locke, and a chance to win signed books and gifts. Customers that spend $50 will receive a free ARC or lightly damaged book and you can bedazzle any book purchased that day for free. They will be sharing cupcakes from Baby Cakes Bakery to sweeten the romance with Bookstore Romance Day!

Stick around for a special author event at the Leif Erickson Lodge from 6 - 8 p.m. They are hosting a conversation with Jaysea Lynn, author of For Whom the Belle Tolls and the forthcoming The Belles of Wrath, in conversation with Devrie Brynn Donalson, author of The Art of Burning Heather and You’re Gonna Die Alone (& Other Excellent News). If you can't celebrate with our friends at Swoon City on August 15, be sure to stop in and browse their wide selection of novels or take an arts & crafts class at another date. You can find their upcoming classes on their website or our Visit Ballard community calendar.

However, you are welcome to arrive at 6 p.m. and grab a bite to eat, a drink or order takeout from a local restaurant and meet up with us on the lawn of Ballard Commons Park!

Here are the details: Every Wednesday in August - free Movies in the Park. starting at 7:30 p.m. Please bring low profile beach chairs, blankets, food and beverages and get comfy in the park with your neighbors. The screenings are free and all ages are welcome. Here is this summer's Movies in the Park lineup:

• August 5th - Top Gun Maverick
• August 12th - Galaxy Quest
• August 19th - The Lost Boys
• August 26 - Despicable Me hosted by Sweet Mickey's Candy Shop

Special thanks to Seattle Parks and Recreation for making this event possible and for all your park programming this summer!

Now let's keep the winning streak alive and cheer on Ballard FC at their Western Conference Final today in Michigan. You can join fellow Ballard FC fans at a watch party starting at noon at Stoup Brewing - Ballard! Up the Bridges!

Oh and be sure to stop into the official team store of the Salmon Bay FC and Ballard FC inside Smål Market, located at 2206 NW Market Street, and get your team gear.

Currently, crews are setting up a work area at the intersection of 24th Ave NW and NW 56th St. to support upcoming tunneling operations.

This work area will be in place through spring 2027. As this much needed construction carries on, please help support the businesses in the construction zone. For the next year, businesses such as Salt & Sugar Cafe and Bakery, Peoples Bank, Tumbles Gym, Huntington Learning Center, Aimee Nail Studio and Banfield Pet Hospital will be in the midst of the construction zone and re-routed traffic patterns. If you already frequent these businesses, thank you. If you haven't tried them out, we are asking the community to make an effort to shop, dine, or use the services at these businesses.

Another challenging area is the building construction happening on the corner of NW 56th Street and 20th Ave NW - right next to Spice Waala and Pink Bee Curry & Sandwiches and across from Verve Bowls and Mr. Gyros. Please look past the construction in the area and support these local businesses serving REALLY great food!