SeaFeast is back in town for its annual celebration of Bellingham's local waterfront. Festivities kicked off at Zuanich Point Park & Fisherman's Pavilion on Saturday, Oct. 5, offering a weekend full of fun to the community.
“The Working Waterfront [Coalition] had all these people doing amazing things, but it was relatively unknown, we wanted to showcase these incredible things and how they contribute to the community,” said Tatiana Stone, operations manager of SeaFeast.
This year will be the eighth annual celebration of SeaFeast. Since its founding in 2016, Seafest has expanded significantly, continuing to expand its reach in paying homage to Bellingham’s Waterfront
“SeaFeast is about highlighting the local bounty that's harvested here in the Pacific Northwest, along with the maritime culture that defines our coastal haven,” said Kevin Colman, executive director of SeaFeast. “We accomplish this through events, performers, merchants and seafood itself.”
Both days are jam-packed with a little bit of everything that makes Bellingham's Waterfront so beloved. Community members can enjoy a wide range of activities, tours, arcade games and merchants, as well as vendors offering everything from food to arts and culture to maritime heritage.
The Working Waterfront is a major component of SeaFeast. It promotes the use of our working waterfronts and the regulations, laws and processes that help our water-dependent businesses and individuals. The well-being of the waterfront is crucial to Bellingham's local markets, grocery shops and economy.
“Our hope for the community is that they see how vital and important that industry is not only for the livelihood of those that fish or process but for the way of life and identity of our region,” said Dan Tucker, program manager at Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County.
The rich maritime culture that has influenced and continues to shape the community is another point of celebration for SeaFeast. The weekend’s events work to highlight the local relationship between people and the sea, that are demonstrated by cultural values and customs.
“It's the maritime culture that truly defines our coastal haven,” Colman said. “We devote efforts to honoring and supporting our Indigenous folks since they were here before us.”
SeaFeast’s events have also in recent years worked to prioritize Indigenous voices, representation and influence throughout its festivities.
One such local voice, Terry Phair, a Lummi member and owner of Lummi Seafood Markets, will be cooking Lummi BBQ salmon for the second year in a row. Phair has also expanded their vendor's menu to include more local delicacies.
“We prepare our local fish in the traditional Lummi way, and there will be Lummi Blackhawk dancers performing, of course acknowledging the land,” Phair said.
In its pursuit of informing and uniting the community, SeaFeast will offer free entry through Oct. 6 for those interested in attending.
“I hope the community takes away the fact that we are trying very hard to get people on our waterfront,” Colman said. “[I hope] for them to experience the waterfront to understand what it's all about.”
This fall, Grace Aukschun-Johnson (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front. Grace is a third-year student studying public relations at Western. If Grace isn't writing stories, she'll be found painting, hanging out with friends or thrifting! The best way to get in touch with Grace is graceaukschun.thefront@gmail.com.
