Fishermen’s Terminal to host Fishermen’s Fall Festival in Interbay later this month

Meghan Walker Ballard

The annual Fishermen’s Fall Festival is returning to Fishermen’s Terminal (1900 W. Nickerson St.)
on Saturday, Sept. 30.

The Fishermen’s Fall Festival celebrates the return of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet to Seattle. It’s also a fundraiser for Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial, a nonprofit provides essential services to fishermen and their families while also honoring lives lost at sea.

The festival has been on hiatus since 2019 due to the pandemic.

A group of volunteers organizes the festival every year, which also aims to educate the public about the Fishermen’s Terminal, the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, and the commercial seafood industry in Seattle.

There are several events happening throughout the day including a wild salmon barbecue, a Kraken-themed bouncy house, wooden boat building, kids activities, live music and performances, and free ship canal tours.

Here’s a line-up of the performances (from the Fishermen’s Fall Festival website):

11 a.m.  Inochi Taiko-Traditional Japanese Drummer
The Fishermen’s Fall Festival welcomes back Inochi Taiko. Inochi means life force or spirit and embodies the taiko spirit, playing from the heart in a heart-pounding, amazingly choreographed performance with audience participation. An experience not to be missed! 

12 p.m. The Reptile Man
Scott Petersen aka The Reptile Man and his amazing collection of snakes, lizards, and turtles will come to the Fishermen’s Fall Festival main stage for a live show ready to dazzle children and adults alike. A zoologist and educator, Scott presents a collection of live reptiles on stage along with reptile facts and information. This fun and fascinating show teaches all about these amazing reptiles along with hands-on audience participation. 

1 p.m. Louie Foxx, Magician
Louie is the consummate kid who never grew up and it’s evident as you watch him interact with audiences of all ages. He is living his childhood dream of being a magician. He is also a Two Time Guinness World Record Holder and has been on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, The CW Network’s Masters of Illusion, the Emmy award-winning television show How ‘Bout That, Otra Movida TV in Spain, and in London’s Guardian Newspaper 

2-4 p.m. Kyle Nicolas 
Kyle Nicholas blends originals and covers ranging from folk, rock, blues, Americana, and reggae. His strong, sustained, dynamic vocal range and catchy lyrics will get you dancing and leave you with feelings of hope, wanderlust, and positivity. Kyle and his band will be making their Fishermen’s Fall Festival debut.    

4-6 p.m. Knut Bell
The big man from Skagit County with the deep, burly voice performs his unique blend of straight-up blue-collar country with the sound ranging from rockabilly and western swing to outlaw country rock and barroom honky-tonk for a two-hour performance

All day: Fishing and Seafood Trivia
Our emcee will be asking trivia questions throughout the day and those with the correct answers will be awarded great prizes from Fishermen’s Terminal merchants; Bay Café, Fishermen’s Green Grocer, Wild Salmon Seafood Market, Chinook’s, and Constellation and Company.     

The Fishermen’s Fall Festival is Sept. 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo: Fishermen’s Fall Festival in 2019. Photo courtesy Fishermen’s Fall Festival on Instagram