Thousands converged in downtown Ballard last weekend to take the advice of the 2007 Ballard SeafoodFest's slogan, "Feed Your Inner Viking." Almost 100 sponsors, via the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, and over 100 vendors, pulled off the successful event. Saturday's weather was storybook perfect. Sunday got off to a damper start.

Warren Aakervik, of Ballard Oil, held court over 2,000 pounds of salmon fillet, donated by Trident Seafoods, at the Alder-smoked Salmon Barbecue cookout. The cooking and eating area spanned over 300 feet of 22nd Avenue Northwest, north of Market Street. Customers crowded into long tables to chow down on the traditional Ballard dish, as did several of their eager, four-legged companions.

A more offbeat, freshwater offering was sizzling just around the corner, at the New Orleans Cookery. Daring folks lined up and dished out eight bucks for a skewer of fried alligator. These extra-crispy reptiles originated from two farms in Louisiana, and one in Florida, according to vendor Robert Saint Thomas. "But I also buy from a company that supplies 'nuisance gators,'' he says. "The ones they grab from backyard swimming pools and golf courses in places like Texas and Alabama." He lives in Seattle in the summer, but, he says, "I go back home to New Orleans when it starts raining here."

Customer, Jason Ryan, of Ballard, says he is excited to see alligator here. "I had it in Memphis, but this is really good, too. It tastes like chicken, but rougher."

Saturday's lutefisk eating contest on the CommunityStage in Bergen Place Park was again dominated by the man with the iron stomach, Bjarne Varnes. "This was my 12th or 13th win," he recalls. He can't seem to get enough of the stuff. And that's no lye! He was carrying a container of lutefisk to-go. A University of Washington maintenance worker, he was born in Alesund, Norway, 60 years ago, and attended Ballard High School.

Next came the watermelon eating contest. Four winners would be awarded new bicycles, a boy and girl in both the eight-and-under, and in the nine-to-twelve age-groups. There were nearly a dozen in each group.The first to consume a quarter of a melon won.

The first contest was won by twins, Amalie and Andrew Ratliff, of Bothell. It was their 3rd year competing, and Amalie remembers winning a bicycle two years ago. "I don't eat fast at home," says Amalie, whose favorite food is tuna. Andrew's advise to others for next year? "Stick your face in there and dig around!" he declared with authority.

The twins' big sister, Elizabeth, 11, won the girl's bicycle in the second round. She won a bicycle in last year's contest. "I remember getting water up my nose last year, too, and this time it's all over my pants," she says, adding, "I'm very supportive of my brother and sister."

Their proud grandparents, Wayne and Linda Nelson, who live in Ballard, walked with them to the contest. "Now they can peddle home, and I'll have to try to keep up," says Linda.

Before sunset, the solar-powered Family Stage tent in Ballard Commons Park was packed with energetic fans to see their favorite stars, captains of Discovery Channel's "Dangerous Catch" television hit. They call themselves the "Kings of Crab." Three cast members have Ballard roots, Larry Hendricks, Sig Hansen, and Phil Harris. They boasted of their edgy adventures on Alaska's perilous waters, reminding the crowd that it can take great risk to feed their inner viking.

Steve Shay may be reached at bnteditor@robinsonnews.com