Timmermeister behind the Kurt Farm Shop counter inside Chophouse Row (Image: CHS)

As a leader in the farm to table movement, Kurt Timmermeister is accustomed to small, simple things going big. But he’s not sure Chophouse Row and his tiny Kurt Farm Shop will have room for the more than 12,000 people so far listed as “interested” in his first ever Seattle Ice Cream Festival planned for this May on Capitol Hill:

Sunday, May 22 at 12 PM
Chophouse Row 1424 11th Ave
First annual Seattle Ice Cream Festival located at Chophouse Row on Capitol Hill. A dozen of Seattle’s best ice cream makers sampling and selling their unique ice creams. No admission fee; open to all.

The format will be exceedingly simple. A dozen or so of Seattle’s best ice cream makers set up throughout the preservation-friendly alleyways of 11th Ave’s Chophouse Row development.

A final roster of participants will be announced in the coming weeks but Timmermeister listed off a few you should expect to see including Molly Moon’s, Full Tilt, and Sweet Bumpas — and, of course, Timmermeister’s own ice cream creations from the 300-square-foot Kurt Farm Shop.

There won’t be any contests or awards. Just a chance to buy and taste great ice cream. “It’s not about who’s better or who’s bigger,” Timmermeister said.

The simple format — and timing may be part of the appeal. Though these days are gray, hope for warmer times and sunshine are ahead.

“I think people really love ice cream,” Timmermeister said Wednesday about the event. “I just picked the date as the beginning of ice cream season.”

UPDATE: Here’s the participating roster:

• Sweet Bumpas
• Molly Moon’s
• Bluebird
• Cupcake Royale
• Gelatiamo
• Balleywood Creamery
• Kurt Farm Shop
• Full Tilt
• Parfait
• Half Pint
• Trove
• Pink’s