Seattle Center Festál: Tet Festival – Vietnamese Lunar New Year marks the New Year with lucky money, martial arts and Children of the Dragon, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Feb. 21 – 22, in Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion. Revisit one thousand years of Vietnamese history at this festive celebration and experience the dance and visual arts of Vietnam.
The Festival opens with a traditional lion dance, accompanied by a live drum ensemble and firecrackers in a ritual designed to ward off bad luck and ensure a prosperous New Year. This excitement extends throughout the festival with a performance by accomplished Vietnamese singer Y Lan and the Miss Vietnam Washington Pageant.
Festival-goers may explore the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Vietnam through a special cooking competition, free arts and crafts classes, and offerings from over 20 food and crafts vendors. Children’s New Year activities, a health fair, a lion dance workshop and Li Xi (Lucky Money) giveaways offer delights for all ages.
In 2015, Seattle Center Festál explores the “art of culture” in 23 celebrations on weekends throughout the year. The events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, make use of indoor and outdoor spaces on the grounds and offer wide-ranging entertainment, food, visual displays and exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. The annual series forms the bedrock of public programming at Seattle Center, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.
Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on Tet Festival and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com/Festal or call 206 684-7200.
