SeaFeast 2025: Step Aboard Catalyst for a Weekend of Flavor, History, and Adventure

This September, the Bellingham waterfront comes alive for SeaFeast 2025 — a celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s maritime heritage and the incredible seafood pulled from its waters. And this year, you can go beyond the festival grounds and step aboard the historic wooden ship Catalyst for a weekend of dining, discovery, and rare small-ship cruising.

You’ll taste flavors inspired by the working waterfront, meet the people who harvest and prepare them, and if you want, explore the San Juan Islands aboard a vessel with a story as rich as its surroundings.

The Small Ship Dining Series: Exclusive Pop-Up Experiences

We are excited to be launching our Small Ship Dining Series at this year’s SeaFeast, where Catalyst transforms into an intimate dockside venue for just 12 guests per seating.

Friday, Sept 26 – SeaFeast Dinner aboard Catalyst
Start off the SeaFeast weekend in style. Board Catalyst for a multi-course chef-prepared dinner that celebrates the best of the season’s harvest from local fishers and growers. You’ll dine in the warm glow of the ship’s saloon, surrounded by polished wood, brass, and the hum of maritime history.

Saturday, Sept 27 – Chef’s Festival Walk & Dinner aboard Catalyst
Join our chef onboard for afternoon refreshment followed by a stroll through the festival’s working waterfront, meeting local fishers as the chef selects the freshest ingredients of the day. Return aboard for a multi-course meal that reflects the day’s discoveries, crafted right in the ship’s galley.

Saturday & Sunday Brunches
Savor a chef-prepared brunch featuring fresh ingredients from Bellingham’s working waterfront and regional growers. Served dockside in an intimate 12-guest setting, this unique meal pairs Pacific Northwest flavors with the charm and history of a classic wooden ship.

Tap Here to check out the Small Ship Dining Series

Step Aboard for Dockside Small Ship Tours

On Saturday morning, Catalyst will be open for dockside tours. You’ll hear her original 1932 Washington-Estep diesel engine start up — a sound few vessels of her era still make — and explore the onboard naturalist library. Breathe in the fresh sea air as it flows across Bellingham Bay, thumb through books on the region’s marine life, and stand where scientists once launched groundbreaking research.

Extend the Experience: SeaFeast to San Juans Cruise

As the festival begins to wind down, you can keep the adventure going. SeaFeast to San Juans is our first ever, 4-day cruise that departs directly from the festival. Sail with just 11 guests to quiet fall anchorages, enjoy chef-led meals with ingredients gathered at SeaFeast, and discover the San Juan Islands when the summer crowds are gone.