50th annual Syttende Mai parade to make its way through Ballard next week

The annual Syttende Mai parade is just one week away, happening on Friday, May 17.

May 17 is Norwegian Constitution Day—the official National Day of Norway. It’s known as “Syttende Mai” (17th of May) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day).

Ballard’s 17th of May parade is always a big one: Thousands descend on Ballard for the event, which starts at 6 p.m. at NW 62nd St and 24th Ave NW. It then travels south on 24th Ave NW to NW Market St, then travels east to Bergen Place where it turns right onto 22nd Ave NW, and then continues southeast on Ballard Ave to its end at Ballard Ave and Ione (see map below).

There are several other events happening before the parade:

Bergen Place Music: From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bergen Place Park at 5450 22nd Ave NW, and hosted by emcees Eric Stavney and Holden Tubbs.
National Nordic Museum: Family activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (2655 NW Market St).
17th of May Luncheon: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the National Nordic Museum’s Osberg Great Hall. Tickets must be purchased in advance either online or at Mountain Pacific Bank (2244 NW 56th St).
Leif Erikson Lodge (Sons of Norway) Open House: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Norwegian bites, soda, and coffee (2245 NW 57th St).

Here’s a video of a last year’s Syttende Mai parade, taken by a family that lives on their boat in Seattle.