Join us for Seattle Center Festál: A Glimpse of China-Chinese Culture and Arts Festival, 10am-6pm, Saturday, May 20, in Seattle Center Armory. Over the years, this annual celebration has grown into an important platform for local community artists. In 2017, it offers tasty Chinese foods, artwork, crafts and tea tastings, along with traditional dance, painting and calligraphy to invite visitors of all ages to engage directly with this ancient culture.
A centerpiece of the Festival this year, Master Helen Liang, an award-winning artist originally from China, will perform a sophisticated form of internal kung fu call water boxing. More than 15 Chinese ensembles will present dance, music, wushu (a form of kung fu) and tai chi. This all-day event also offers interactive workshops on tai chi, Chinese dance, calligraphy, language and painting; and festival-goers will find sustenance in a variety of food trucks selling traditional Chinese foods including Roujiamo or meat sandwiches. This immensely popular street food in China dates to 221 BC during China’s Qin Dynasty, and its concept and execution remain largely the same.
Now through the Festival, Armory visitors may pose for a selfie/photograph next to a life-sized terracotta warrior, on loan from Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor, an enlightening, expansive exhibit at Pacific Science Center, now through Sept. 4.
Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on A Glimpse of China-Chinese Culture and Arts Festival, visit www.chinaartandculture.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.
