MARCH 6, 2026

CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WITH THE MAYOR, MUSUEM AND ICELAND

The Seattle community is invited to celebrate International Women's Month with an evening Honoring Empowerment, Leadership, and the Icelandic Spirit on Thursday, March 19 at the National Nordic Museum.

The event kicks off with a welcome at 6 p.m., immediately followed by a film screening of The Day Iceland Stood Still, a documentary about the day in

1975 when nearly all of the women in Iceland went on strike for equality. The film screening will be followed by a fireside chat featuring leaders from Seattle and Iceland.

"This inspiring evening brings together two civic leaders — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and the newly elected leader of Iceland's Progressive Party, Lilja D. Alfreðsdóttir — to honor women’s empowerment, reflect on Iceland’s extraordinary progress, and foster meaningful dialogue about leadership, equity, and collective action." - National Nordic Museum.

The evening will be capped off with beer, wine and light bites at the Icelandic American Chamber Reception. If this is something you or a young person in your life would enjoy, please get your tickets before they sell out.

National Nordic Museum is located at 2655 NW Market Street.

MORE NEWS, EVENTS & STORIES...

BUSINESS RESOURCE NEWS

Did you know that some of the many resources SCORE provides through their website are free to low-cost live and recorded webinars to help small business owners with everything from tax saving tips to marketing to management?

The pre-recorded webinars are great for busy business owners who want to learn more but on their own timeline and schedule. Check out the catalogue of resource-filled live and recorded webinars here.

SCORE also offers several online courses from a range of topics to help small business owners achieve success. Click here for a list of their online courses.

NEW BALLARD ALLIANCE MEMBER ALERT

Welcome Soft Goods Vintage to the Ballard Alliance! Soft Goods specializes in a curated selection of some of the coolest and hard to find vintage clothing and accessories.

They moved into their brick-and-mortar shop at 4905 Leary Ave NW, Unit A back in May and have quickly grown a following among the savvy Seattle vintage shoppers.

Go check them out any day of the week. They are open Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 7 PM and Sunday from 10 AM - 6 PM.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Matt Pryor w/Small Uncle and Carl Christensen @ The Sunset Tavern on March 7 | 8:30 PM

Drag & Burlesque Cabaret @ Obec Brewing on March 8 | 6:30 - 9 PM

Ballard ArtWalk @ Ballard on March 14 | 6 - 9 PM

Mead the Maker: Mead Tasting Class @ Skal Beer Hall on March 19 | 7 - 8:30 PM

Book Release Party @ Swoon City on March 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Disco Rainbow Bingo @ Ballard NW Senior Center on March 20 | 7 - 9 PM

Spring Dance @ ARC Performance Space on March 21 & 22 | 4 PM

Pét-Nat Pop-Up @ Cathedral on March 22 | 1:30 - 4:30 PM

March Book Club: "I Who Have Never Known Men" @ Secret Garden Books on March 26 | 7:15 PM

Leif to Leif 5k Fun Run @ Leif Erikson Lodge on March 28 | 9 AM

Ballard Wine Walk @ Ballard on March 28 | 5 - 8 PM

Norwegian Heritage Day @ Leif Erikson Lodge on March 28 | 9:30 AM - 3 PM

PNW Regional Golden Gloves @ NOMAD Skyway Gym & Fremont Studios on April 10 & 11

Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K to Restore Forests on April 18 - 26

BALLARD WINE WALK TICKETS ARE SELLING QUICKLY

Get your Ballard Wine Walk tickets today before they sell out! This is one of our favorite spring celebrations featuring welcoming boutiques turned into wine tasting pop-ups, PNW flavors, spring buds everywhere, live music filling the air and our neighbors out and about.

Tickets are $40 for ten tastings, and an additional three tastings for $10. We have new commemorative drinkware as your tasting vessel that we are excited to share. They light up! You may purchase your $10 tasting glass with your ticket or bring your own drinkware.

This event has sold out in advance every time. As we have a set capacity of attendees, tickets will not be available at the door. Please purchase you tickets in advance online before they sell out. For more information go to visitballard.com/winewalk or purchase your tickets directly here.

LEIF ERIKSON LODGE HOSTS NORWEGIAN HERITAGE DAY

Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, will present its annual spring celebration of Norwegian Heritage for one special day. The event will feature live music, cultural demonstrations and delicious Norwegian foods.

If you are new to Ballard, this is the perfect preparation for the 17th of May celebrations.

Also, the Leif to Leif 5k fun run/walk will take place that morning with registration starting at 8 a.m. and race at 9 a.m. Work up an appetite then nibble your way through the Tastes of Norway afterward.

Norwegian Heritage Day festivities are free to attend but registration is required for the Leif to Leif 5k and is $20 for adults, $10 for 13-17 year old and kids 12 and under are free! To register for the family-friendly run, click here.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SAVE LIVES IN BALLARD

The Ballard community is known for its generosity and willingness to help others. As part of our ongoing commitment to support those in need, we invite all neighbors who are able to participate in donating life-saving blood at an upcoming Ballard blood drive.

Our dedicated partners at Bloodworks Northwest have arranged several blood drives at conveniently located venues throughout the next month. Please consider making a donation appointment at one of the following locations and dates.

Thurs. March 19 at Providence Swedish Ballard | Bloodmobile | 9 AM – 3 PM

Mon. March 23 at Ballard Elks Lodge 827 | Upstairs Hall | 10 AM - 4 PM

Thurs. April 2 at Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063 | VFW Hall | 11 AM - 5 PM

Schedule your preferred Ballard location, date and time here and become a true lifesaver!

GRACIA TURNS 10!

My how time flies by! Gracia is celebrating 10 years of business. Gracia is tucked in the heart of Ballard Avenue and serves up fresh flavors from Mexico.

They have indoor and heated patio seating available. Our favorite spot is the cozy front window nook.

It is the perfect place to celebrate a Sunday brunch with family or Happy Hour with friends. Be sure to wish them a HAPPY #10 and find out why they have been a local favorite for a decade! Gracia is located at 5313 Ballard Avenue NW.

WELCOME CAFFE LADRO TO BALLARD

The much anticipated Caffe Ladro's 11th Seattle cafe just opened in the ground-floor space of The Ballard Independent at 2240 NW Market Street.

The coffee shop is in good company with The Suit Shop open next door, as well as Exit 5 Korean BBQ (scheduled to open late spring/early summer).

Stop by and wish them a warm Ballard welcome and warm up with a one of their delicious coffee drinks! They are open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

NEW SEASON - NEW NORDIC KITSBALLARD & SALMON BAY FC 2026 SEASON ANNOUNCED

Ballard FC kicks off the new season with a new look - "The Nordic Kits". The 2026 Away and Goalkeeper kits are the first new releases in partnership with iconic Danish manufacturer hummel®.

The Nordic Kits were designed with intention and draw inspiration from Ballard's Nordic roots and the home of the National Nordic Museum.

Ballard FC emphasized, "The away kit features patterns from traditional Nordic warriors, with a prominent breast plate across the chest. The badge itself is shining gold, shimmering like the halls of Valhalla.

Then to top it off, the black collar provides a classy touch that complements the black goalkeeper kit."

"Ballard FC stressed the details with this kit and added small easter eggs throughout. For example, the head of a Viking warrior can be found in the bottom corner of the jersey."

This design will be reserved for their 2026 "away kits", with the exception of their home Nordic Night.

If you would like your own Nordic Kit, you can swing by the Team Shop inside Smål Market at 2206 NW Market Street or through their website.

Also, Ballard FC season tickets are still available click here to purchase and make some noise at Interbay Stadium in 2026!

ARC DANCE ANNOUNCES SPRING DANCE PERFORMANCES

ARC Dance presents its annual Spring Dance performances featuring early dances from the 17th and 18th century re-created by Dance Historian, Anna Mansbridge. The program will also include excerpts from the classic La fille mal gardée, a charming comedic ballet choreographed by Artistic Director Marie Chong. The complete ballet will premiere on May 30, 2026 at Shorewood Performing Arts Center.

This family-friendly performance takes the audience on a beautiful progression through dance history, from early court dances to one of the oldest story ballets still performed today.

ARC Dance presents Spring Dance; March 21 and 22 at 4 p.m. All performances are held at the ARC Performance Space in Ballard/Crown Hill, 9250 14th Ave NW, Tickets are now on sale - $28 for adults, $18 for children 10 yrs and younger and available online at www.arcdance.org.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE SPU SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY PROJECT CONSTRUCTION ZONES

Local businesses surrounding construction zones in Ballard need the help of dedicated customers to survive.

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.

UPLIFT NW - CLEAN TEAM BY THE NUMBERS

BALLARD ALLIANCE | www.ballardalliance.com