Sunday, June 15, 2025 – Sunday continued what has become an annual tradition with the Mustangs Northwest crew, spending Father’s Day at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (https://ballardlocks.org/index.html), aka the Ballard Locks, with family and friends. Promptly at 10 am, the gates opened to the park and eighteen Mustangs, arranged from oldest to newest, proceeded to enter the pristine National Historic Site.
The Mustangs were given a quick cleaning before being staged for the growing crowds visiting the gardens, visitor center, locks and fish ladder. Throughout the day a continuous stream wandered by the Mustangs to inspect, comment, ask questions and tell stories about their own Mustang memories. The spectators were also given an opportunity to vote for their favorite Mustang.
At 2:00 pm, the Elliott Bay Pipe Band began to play accompanied by a group of Scottish dancers and a drum line. The Pipe Band played for about 45 minutes.
The Father’s Day event came to a close with the presentation of the award for Favorite Mustang. For 2025, the award went to Connie Trine’s black, Mustang convertible.
Thanks to the Park Rangers at the Locks for inviting Mustangs Northwest into the Park. Thanks to William Smallwood III, VP of Mustangs Northwest, for coordinating the Father’s Day event and providing goodie bags with dash plaques for all the participants. Photos courtesy of John Nordin.
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, opened in 1917. The Locks provide a waterway connecting Puget Sound (salt water) to Lakes Union and Washington (fresh water).
