Festál
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Festál is a free series of annual
The Festál events range enormously in scope, from smaller festivals to the enormous pan-ethnic Northwest Folklife Festival, which draws an estimated 250,000 visitors on Memorial Day weekend. Typical Festál events draw 5,000 to 30,000 visitors. Some of them (such as Fiestas Patrias) draw crowds that are predominantly of the ethnic group that is the focus of the festival; others draw more of a cross-section of the city.
Festál began in 1996 and as of 2009[update] includes (all of those have been on hiatus on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020):
Têt Festival
The Têt Festival in February is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration welcoming the return of spring. For the Vietnamese community, it is a time to reflect on the last year and prepare for the new. The new year is also the time for clearing debts and setting one's house in order. Kitchens are cleaned and new clothing is given to mark the new year. The festival includes Vietnamese artistic exhibits, music, storytelling, food, and a fashion show.
African American: Festival Sundiata
Festal Sundiata in February is one of the oldest Seattle Center festivals, beginning in 1981. The festival is the most comprehensive
Ireland: The Irish Week Festival
Irish Week Festival is centered on
Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival
In April, the Seattle Cherry Blossom festival is held. The largest Japanese cultural event in the
The cherry tree tradition follows at every year's festival, by bringing cherry tree experts from Japan to Seattle to teach Washingtonians about the proper care and maintenance of cherry trees. The cherry tree experts give instruction during the festival and the week that follows.
The festival's mission is to deepen mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of the Northwest; to exchange ideas and friendship; to promote the culture, arts, and technologies of Japan, including achievements of the
The festival includes dance and music, colorful costumes, martial arts, and tea ceremonies. For children, the festival offers Japanese games, kite making and kimono dress up.
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
May is designated as
West Africa: Spirit of West Africa
In May, the Spirit of West Africa Festival presents the traditions of six West African countries through exhibits, live music, dance performances, and storytelling. Live performances by top local and touring artists from
China: Chinese Culture and Arts Festival
Due to the large Chinese population in Seattle, the Chinese culture and arts festival is one of the best attended festivals. In June, the festival offers a comprehensive look at Chinese Culture through Chinese performing arts, visual arts display and gift/informational booths and interactive activities.
Performances are by artists from the Pacific Northwest and China. Performances have included Chinese Classical dance and Chinese folk dance from Hengda Dance Academy, Chinese music from Seattle Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Wushu from Yijiao Wushu & Taichi Academy, and Chinese music played on Western instruments from Zhenlun Cello studio and Haiying Violin Studio.
Philippines: Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival
In June, the Seattle
France: French Fest
Seattle's French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures is held in March of each year in celebration of the Mois de la Francophonie. The festival is a free, family-friendly event open to the public with the purpose of promoting and raising awareness of Francophone cultures and traditions from around the world to the residents of the Greater Seattle area. During the one-day event, festival-goers will listen to live music, see theater and dance performances, taste international cuisine, learn from informative seminars and demonstrations, play games and enjoy a day full of fun activities.
During its inaugural event on March 24, 2013, French Fest highlighted performances by Te Fare O Tamatoa, Folichon Cajun, the French Immersion School of Washington, Éducation Française Greater Seattle, Théâtre Français de Seattle,
The festival is produced by France Education Northwest in partnership with the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest and the French Consular Agency of the State of Washington.
Iran: Iranian Festival
In June, the Iranian Festival serves as the region's premier Iranian cultural event. Musical and dance performance,
Arab Middle East: Arab Festival
Held in October in 2011, the Arab Festival is of huge importance to
This festival is held every-other year and may move dates based upon Ramadan.[1]
Brazil: BrasilFest
In August, BrasilFest features Brazilian drumbeats and the
BrasilFest's Eduardo Mendonca states that "being a part of this strengthens the visibility of Brazilian artistic expression. It is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a series of festivals that promotes rituals and celebrations from around the world."[This quote needs a citation]
Tibet: TibetFest
In late August, Tibet comes alive once again at Seattle Center. The ancient cultural tradition is preserved and renewed through ritual and tradition by the small Tibetan Community in greater Seattle area. With centuries-old stories, melodies, masks and costumes, modern and ancient combine to form the culture of Tibet. Highlights are a Tibetan bazaar, prayer flags, performers and food.
The Artists use traditional instruments like Dra-nyen, piwang and unique combinations of flutes, horns, drums, bells and cymbals.
Korea: Korean Cultural and Art Festival
The September Korean Festival is one of the most important festivals. Strong ties link trade, culture and family between
On this day, feasts are prepared, families hold memorial services at ancestral gravesites, and full-moon viewing takes place in the evening. This Korean holiday is considered not only the most generous in spirit, but a day of thanksgiving for a good harvest. As on Lunar New Year's Day, families come home from all across the country to celebrate together.
The festival includes folk songs, traditional and modern dance, martial arts like
Hawai`i: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival
In September, the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, new to Festál in 2009, celebrates the culture of Native Hawai`i. Some of the over 50,000 Hawaiian Islanders who now call Washington their home share their homeland's history through live performances of the hula and mele as well as historical exhibits, films, Hawaiian crafts, keiki (children's) activities and ono (delicious) food. The festival features special demonstrations and educational sessions on traditional arts and crafts. Presented by the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival Committee.
Mexico and Latin America: Fiestas Patrias
Held in September, Seattle Fiestas Patrias celebrates Mexican independence and the independence of other Latin American countries. In commemoration of Mexico's September 15 independence day, the festival is decked out in Mexican colors.
Entertainment and cultural displays by artists from countries such as Peru, Honduras, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia offer an authentic look at a culture where countries share language, food and sounds, but have very distinct traditions. Favorites of the festival include the mariachi music, salsa dance, and traditional costumes and food.
Italy: Festa Italiana
Started in 1988, Festa Italiana is presented every September, and along with the Irish and Cherry Blossom Festivals, is one of the most highly attended. The festival celebrates traditional Italian culture, as well as mixing in modern Italian performances, art, cars and food. Highlighted every year are traditional Italian folk groups, Italian opera music by sopranos and pop singers, evening wine tasting, and puppet theater.
Italian celebrity chef
Croatia: CroatiaFest
In the beginning of October, CroatiaFest brings in internationally acclaimed folk dance ensembles, musicians and visiting arts. Back-to-back performances and participatory music and dance define this annual festival, started in 2003. The 2007 festival theme was "Maritime Heritage of Croatians". Many Croatian immigrants had seafaring skills culled on the warm and mild
South Asia: Utsav South Asian Performing Arts Festival
During the second weekend of October, the Ustav festival showcases the ancient traditions of music and dance of the South Asian subcontinent. South Asia includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Artists perform art forms including the Indian lute and the much loved sitar, with vocalists and yogic dance and drama with rhythms of dancing bells and foot beats.
There are more than 1,652 different languages and dialects spoken in India alone. South Asia as a whole constitutes the largest
Turkey: TurkFest
Held in the third weekend of October, TurkFest is a festival of friendship, celebrating the cultural richness and diversity found throughout the vast geographical regions of
Mexico: Día de Muertos
Día de Muertos (
Hmong: Hmong New Year Celebration
A festival well attended by both Hmong and non-Hmong people, this is the largest of the Hmong New Year events in the Pacific Northwest. The November event symbolizes the end of the harvest, this is the time when Hmong relax, prepare special foods, and begin courtships. Most Hmong have been in the United States less than 30 years, and Washington's Hmong population is growing.
The festival was originally conceived to raise awareness about the Hmong people, who aided the U.S. in the
This festival marks the Lunar New Year of this Southeast Asian highland culture originating in the mountains of China, Laos and Thailand. Hmong people preserved their stories and language through intricate storytelling, embroidery, music and unusual communication techniques. Highlights include traditional ball-tossing, dances, children's activities, a fashion show and a Hmong band. Exhibits include the history of the Hmong settlement in King County, along with traditional embroideries.
Festivals
- Naturalization ceremony on U.S. Independence Day
- Northwest Folklife Festival, held in May
See also
- International District, Seattle, Washington
Notes
- ^ Arab Festival 2009, Arab Center of Washington. Accessed online 22 May 2008.
External links
- The official site for Festál at Seattle Center included descriptions of each of these festivals.
- Tet Festival Official Site
- Irish Festival Site
- Chinese Festival Official Site
- Bastille Day Official Site
- Arab Festival Site
- BrasilFest Site
- Festa Italiana Official Site
- CroatiaFest Official Site
- Korean Festival Site
- Live Aloha Festival
- Turkfest Official Site