Loosen those belts! A three-day weekend of food sampling and munching at more than 200 food and speciality vendors is underway at the Seattle Center.

Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle® is the original food and beverage event in the city. Sample craft beer and cider, watch a free movie, and sip your favorite suds at the outdoor beer gardens. Watch cooking demonstrations and cook-off battles. Listen to live music. More than 70 bands are performing on three stages.

New activities this year include the Gladiator of the Grill BBQ Competition and MUNCHIES @ The Mural, where you’ll find unusual treats like Dragon’s Breath (a dessert made from liquid nitrogen), foot-long French fries, chicken waffle cones, and cotton candy animals.

Admission is free, except for The Alley Six Course ‘Multi-Bite’ experience benefiting Food Lifeline. Tickets for The Alley range from $20 to $30, depending on the donation you select for Food Lifeline, and includes a plate of six large bites—one from each participating local restaurant—and a bottle of water. Buy tickets for The Alley.

Hours for The Bite of Seattle are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, July 21. The Alley is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. each day.

The Seattle Center’s address is 305 Harrison Street. Parking in fee lots and garages are nearby, but taking public transit is the best option because of the traffic congestion in this neighborhood. Hop the Monorail from Westlake Center, or ride a Metro bus. Several  buses stop at or near the Seattle Center. Plan your trip on the Monorail and Metro.

Get more information at biteofseattle.com.

Photo credit: Bite of Seattle