A Nordic holiday celebration with live music, handcrafted gifts, traditional foods, and a 21+ beer garden.
Julefest returns to the National Nordic Museum in Ballard from November 20 to 22, 2026. It's a Nordic holiday celebration that's become a local tradition, and this year it's spread across three days.
The outdoor market is the heart of the weekend, with more than 40 local vendors filling the space with handcrafted gifts and cozy Scandinavian apparel. Inside, volunteer bakers turn out thousands of holiday treats like krumkake, rosettes, and princess gems—the kind of things that tend to sell out by mid-afternoon, so you'll want to get there early if you're after the baked goods. Live music runs throughout the weekend, and the 21+ Beer Garden pours glögg, mead, and beer. For those who want to lean into it, the Valhalla Mug Club gives you a limited-edition 20 oz glass mug, two free beers, and two museum tickets.
One thing to keep in mind is the æbleskiver—those fluffy Danish pancake balls served with lingonberry sauce, powdered sugar, and whipped cream. They're a long-standing part of the event, but they only come out on Saturday and Sunday, so if that's what you're after, Friday won't do it.
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The weekend starts Friday night with the 21+ Night Market, open 5 PM to 9 PM. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for members, with onsite prices ticking up to $25 and $20 respectively—and that ticket covers you for the whole weekend. Saturday and Sunday run 10 AM to 5 PM, with tickets at $12 for adults, $5 for youth, and free for children under 12, while members get in free. The museum is at 2655 NW Market Street in Ballard.
