Cod is dead.
The time-honored tradition of the Lutefisk Eating Competition at Seafoodfest in Ballard is over.
When I hadn’t received the call to emcee the championship eating event for this upcoming weekend, I went to the website. Nothing. So I emailed the Ballard Chamber and they confirmed it: the annual Lutefisk Eating Contest had been scrapped.
It may come back next year, it may not.
Yeah, it gave me something to do and kept me off the streets, but I know there exists a die-hard collection of lutefisk eaters who are going to show up on Saturday and be greatly disappointed.
If you’d like to make a comment to the Ballard Chamber about dropping the competition, I’d suggest you go to their Facebook page by clicking here
Since you will be deprived of witnessing a 2015 edition of this northwest tradition, I offer a collection of “Great Moments” that will live on YouTube forever.
Here are the finals of the 2009 contest
Who could forget the father and son finale` of 2010?
2011 was a fun year
There was the 2012 return of a past champion
I’m just not sure I want to be part of a codless society.
“Oh, somewhere down in Ballard, yes, the sun is shining bright;
A band is playing somewhere, while some folks drink Bud Light
And one less cod will soak in lye, no need for fans to shout,
There is no joy in Ballard. The mighty lutefisk is out.”
Tim Hunter
Tim Hunter's Wacky Blog 
It is sad when time honored traditions end. The Minnesota Picnic was a yearly event in Tacoma, held at Pt Defiance park. Barbecue, food, games…and the gossip. “Oh, for cripes sake.” Mother would say, “The Calhoun family wins all the contests. I think this thing is rigged.”
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