Since 1982 when short shorts and big hair ruled at the first Bite of Seattle at Green Lake Park with 75,000 people celebrating food and summer fun, to 38 years later at Seattle Center, 300,000 guests, three live music stages, over 200 vendors, chef battles, and craft beer and cider tasting, the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle has remained one of the great iconic free-to-attend community festivals in the Northwest.
People from all walks of life coming together to celebrate summer, with three days of festivities, great food, entertainment, chef demonstrations, Bite Movie Night, kids activities, and so much more, all made possible by invaluable partnerships with sponsors like Albert Lee Appliance, BECU, Emerald Queen Casino, NW Beverages, Xfinity, and, many more.
Festivals Inc. the event production company behind the Bite of Seattle, had been trying to reschedule the Bite for a later date, and, had successfully secured a tentative date in late August, however most recently had been notified that the City of Seattle Special Events Committee voted and approved the following:
“The City of Seattle is not issuing permits for major events until further notice – adhering to guidance from the State of Washington and Public Health – Seattle & King County. These include major cultural events, run/walk events, street events, festivals, and vendor fairs.” This lasts in a best-case scenario through Labor Day.
Furthermore, recently the State Public Health Department and Governor Inslee issued the following guidance which states in part:
“The changes between Phase 3 and Phase 4, especially with regards to gathering size and occupancy rates, could further increase the spread of COVID-19 in our state, even in communities that have very low rates of disease. The progress we’ve made thus far is at risk, therefore we are making the prudent choice to slow down our phased approach to reopening.”
The vote by the City of Seattle Special Events Committee, in addition to Public Health mandates, and the Governor’s continued restrictions on gatherings into the unforeseeable and unpredictable future, and, for the safety of all involved, the 2020 Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle will be forced to cancel.
“Despite this devastating news, not only for the Bite of Seattle, but for the hundreds of thousands of guests who attend the Bite each year, our top priority remains the health and safety of our guests, vendors, employees, bands, chefs, and all who help make the Bite of Seattle the summer festival of the year,” said Brett Gorrell, President of Festivals Inc.
Behind the scenes, the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle takes months of planning including securing sponsors, media partners, food and craft vendors, chefs, craft breweries, cider houses, over 90 entertainment acts, in addition to the extensive onsite infrastructure that sprawls across the Seattle Center campus.
The Bite of Seattle has become “the” free-to-attend community food and entertainment festival of the summer, and recently featured as part of the Food Paradise “Best of the Fests” across America series, on The Cooking Channel.
In its 38-year history, the Bite of Seattle has won numerous ‘best of’ awards, and in 2019, founder Alan Silverman was inducted into the Washington Festival and Events Association Hall of Fame.
The Bite of Seattle has secured itself as one of the best food festivals in the world; a long way since 75,000 people attended the first Bite of Seattle at Green Lake Park in 1982.
Seattle’s ‘Original Foodie Festival’ the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle, would like to thank all who have supported the Bite over the years, and although will miss celebrating this year, look forward to the day when live festivals and events can be celebrated again.
The Family FunZone: Presented by 106.1 KISS FM, this area is located inside the Bite of Seattle®, surrounding the Artists at Play playground structure near the MoPOP, which features an imaginative outdoor play area with a huge climbing structure, musical instruments & a roundabout merry-go-round. Family-friendly vendors include face-painting, bubble wands, plus enjoy fun food ranging from cookie dough and cupcakes to tacos and mini donuts, and so much more.
The Bite Cooks! is also thrilled to welcome Thai Select featured chefs, who will bring the flavors and aromas of Thai cuisine into their cooking demonstration dish, and, also infuse them into mystery ingredient cook-off challenges. Thai Select chefs featured include Jutamas Kanjanamai (Bai Tong), Aratana Nualkhar and Jindanat Nualkhair (Araya’s Place), plus Kasem Saengsawang (Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine).
Ezell’s Famous Chicken is a household name to metro Seattle and suburbs across the state. Ezell’s Famous chicken celebration of their 35th-anniversary gala on 2/23/2019 at the Space Needle will be a historic night in Seattle’s history books.
Since February 3rd, 1984 Ezell’s has been a part of employing inner-city youth in the Central district and now throughout the Puget Sound Region. Lewis said he and Co-Founders still has relationships with many of the teens that worked for them in the early years and are mentors to some. They have been inspirational in some starting their own businesses.
The awardees are local young emerging leaders.: Kendrick Glover (GEMS) and Dominque Davis
About Ezell’s Famous Chicken:
Weight loss is a good thing for most of us, but it can be especially helpful for women who are trying to get pregnant. Reducing their weight to a normal range after being overweight has been shown to balance their insulin levels, which can positively impact fertility and conception.
Although historic preservation is often perceived as merely a matter of protecting buildings, it is also about honoring Seattle’s history, its myriad cultures, and the people whose lives are entwined with historic districts and buildings. It is no secret that Seattle’s rapid growth and redevelopment has put pressure on communities across the city. This three-part series examines how community members are working within the 
