The Great Soccer Ball Hunt!
The Great Soccer Ball Hunt is a celebration of the world's big soccer game -- for summer 2026... and beyond! "Collect" all five buoy soccer balls, scattered in parks around Snohomish County. Use the map below and download the passport. And you're on your way!
Meet the artists!
FAQ
Why buoys?
These steel buoys are 58" in diameter and weigh in at about 800 lbs. each. They're a nod to Snohomish County's industrial maritime history. Also they are spherical shapes--"soccer balls" if you will--commissioned to appear throughout the county in conjunction with World Cup festivities in the Pacific Northwest.
Why these artists?
The Arts Commission put out a "call for art" for this project. We received almost two dozen proposals. The Arts Commission scored these applicants based on quality, locality, and themes. The top five artists were selected. They all reside in the Snohomish County or nearby.
How did you pick the location?
Each of the buoys are place on County property, with the exception of the Strawberry Fields buoy. Each of our council districts has a buoy because we believe in distributing public art in an equitable way (sometimes rural areas are overlooked or underserved). We think you will enjoy visiting the locations -- each is special and open to the public.
How were they made?
We ordered five 58" steel buoys from an industrial maritime distributor. The buoys were welded onto custom cylindrical bases. Then they were sanded and two coats of primer were applied. The artists painted them. Then we applied a coat of UV protectant sealant as well as an anti-graffiti sealant. The buoys were loaded onto a crane truck with a boom arm. They were placed in situ and bolted into concrete with industrial bolts.
Disclaimer: Minor edits were made to the first edition of our passports using generative AI. As a matter of general practice going forward, Arts Commission projects will use traditional editing methods rather than AI-assisted image editing.