Kevin Coleman recently was promoted to executive director of Bellingham SeaFeast after a successful 2023 festival and several additions throughout the year.
Bellingham SeaFeast drew an estimated 13,000 people during its free weekend celebration last October on the shores of Squalicum Harbor. Its first Industry Square and Expo Hall drew more than 80 vendors and guests enjoyed more than 1,200 pounds of traditional Lummi barbecued salmon.
“Bellingham SeaFeast is dedicated to honoring our rich maritime culture, showcasing our thriving working waterfront and promoting the enjoyment and conservation of our precious water resources,” said Coleman, who served as the festival program director last year. “We’re celebrating the vitality of our commercial fishing and seafood industries and indulging in the diverse culinary bounty that characterizes our corner of the Pacific Northwest.”
Coleman started three initiatives in 2023. He introduced the Keep It Simple Seafood video series, collaborating with local chefs, restaurants and the fishing community to demonstrate simple and delicious recipes. The Boat to Table program provided free seafood meals to 420 people in need while partnering with other organizations to teach people about seafood, how to prepare it and its nutritional value, especially in lower-income and food desert areas. Also, a monthly radio show, “Love Your Waterfront,” now airs monthly on KMRE 88.3 FM in collaboration with the Working Waterfront of Whatcom County.
Bellingham SeaFeast will return Oct. 5-6 this year.
“We also are looking forward to working with Sustainable Connections for an action-packed Seafood Week from Sept. 21-28,” Coleman said. “And we’re teaming up with hotels this year for package plans to create destination experiences based around seafood and our local maritime culture and waterways.”
For more information, visit bellinghamseafeast.org.
