The second annual Honk! Fest West, Seattle’s radical marching band festival will be taking place this weekend, Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12 in Ballard.

“This is our second year and it’ll be at four different venues in Ballard,” Grace Kuan, publicity coordinator of Honk! Fest Seattle said. “It has a community vibe and gets bands out and partying on the streets.”

The Honk movement occurs across the country and around the world as a new type of street band.

“Acoustic and mobile, borrowing repertoire and inspiration from a diverse set of folk music traditions-New Orleans, second line brass bands, European Klezmer, Balkan and Romani (Gypsy) music, Brazilian afro Bloc and Frevo traditions, as well as the passion and spirt of Mardi Gras Carnivale-these “honkers” all share a commitment to several core principles,” according to the Honk! Fest West’s Web site.

Honking to rile up the audience, get all ages ages, classes, ethnicities and backgrounds invovled, the Honk movement is a celebration in protest along with performing to celebrate the causes and institutions honkers support.

This year Ballard will be hosting the festival at Mr. Spots Chai House, Conor Byrne’s Pub, Sunset Tavern and Bop Street Records.

“I think it’s just unique in that we aren’t constricted in venues, people will bring in their own instruments and join in and jam and it will have this untraditional party vibe,” Kuan said.

One night passes will be sold at the door for a $10-$20 sliding scale donation.