SeaFeast board hires executive director

The Bellingham SeaFeast board of directors has hired an executive director for the increasingly popular annual event.

In a February 19 press release, the SeaFeast board of directors announced the appointment of Liz Purdy, who helped work on last year’s festival. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University and her master’s degree in sustainable development, Purdy spent time living in Southeast Alaska and commercial fishing in Bristol Bay before returning to the Pacific Northwest.

“Liz Purdy is the ideal candidate to serve as executive director for Bellingham SeaFeast,” said Rob Fix, SeaFeast board of directors’ chair and port executive director. “Liz worked during last year’s festival and proved herself to be a tremendous asset. Liz has the working waterfront background and event planning experience necessary to hit the ground running and continue to grow attendance at this incredible event.”

Bellingham SeaFeast 2019 is scheduled to take place on September 21 and 22, when much of the commercial fishing fleet will return after the summer season.

The weekend festival features music, demonstrations, competitions, entertainers and plenty of seafood. The first Bellingham SeaFeast was held in 2016. The event was created in order to celebrate “Whatcom County’s rich maritime heritage, thriving working waterfront, commercial fishing and seafood industries and the culinary bounty of the Pacific Northwest,” according to the press release.