What’s on this weekend in Ballard and beyond

The band My Goodness, which will be playing at the Freakout festival this weekend.

It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, and were starting to see quite a few holiday events submitted to our new Ballard calendar (you can submit your own Ballard-area events here). Here’s our list for the weekend — Old Ballard is going to rocking Friday and Saturday night:

Friday, November 17th

• Theater For Young Children’s Filipino Hansel and Gretel tale, designed for kids ages 2-10, Loyal Heights Community Center at 11:15 a.m. The show is free (or $5 donation).
• Swanson’s Holiday Party with shopping, food, drink, live music and more. A benefit for the Ballard Food Bank, 6-9 p.m., Swanson’s Nursery (9701 15th Avenue NW), $20
• Live music:
• The 5th Annual Freakout!, presented by Freakout Records, featuring Guantanamo Baywatch, Magic Sword, Porter Ray, Roadkill Ghost Choir, My Goodness, Smokey Brights and many more at the Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Conor Byrne, Hattie’s Hat, Cafe Umbria and Filson (Friday and Saturday), 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., tickets $25-60

Saturday, November 18th

• Yulefest is the annual Nordic Christmas celebration at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5 adults, kids 12 and under are free.
• Meet and greet retired racing greyhounds, learn about adoption and volunteer opportunities at Mud Bay Ballard’s new location (5314 15th Ave. NW), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Ballard Performing Arts Dinner and Auction, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., Swedish Club at 1920 Dexter Ave N., this event appears to be sold out
• Live music:
• The 5th Annual Freakout!, presented by Freakout Records, featuring Guantanamo Baywatch, Magic Sword, Porter Ray, Roadkill Ghost Choir, My Goodness, Smokey Brights and many more at the Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Conor Byrne, Hattie’s Hat, Cafe Umbria and Filson (Friday and Saturday), 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., tickets $25-60

Sunday, November 19th

• Ballard Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Old Ballard, usual spot.
• Yulefest is the annual Nordic Christmas celebration at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5 adults, kids 12 and under are free.
• Make your own ugly sweater at the “Tacky Holiday Sweater Workshop” from noon to 4 p.m. at Value Village on Crown Hill, bring your own sweater or buy one there
• Ballard Youth Basketball starts today for boys 7th-8th grades, 12:30 p.m., Ballard Boys & Girls Club
• Sustainable Ballard’s Meaningful Movies presents “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things“, 5:30 p.m. at Royal Drummer Cafe (6420 24th Ave NW), free ($5 suggested donation)

Have a Ballard area event? Submit it to us here.