Seattle Center Festal 2010 offers 22 cultural celebrations filled with art, music, foods, crafts and shopping. Join us as we explore and celebrate the cultural landscape of the region. Seattle Center Festál 2010 highlights the distinct cultures of ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest by presenting arts, music, ethnic foods, youth activities, lectures, workshops and more to explore their unique contributions to the cultural character of the region.
The 2010 Festál series includes 22 world cultural festivals beginning on Feb. 6-7 with Têt Festival celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and concluding with the Hmong New Year Celebration on Nov. 6. In between, festivalgoers will find what have become known as Seattle traditions, such Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival and Italian Festival, as well as relative newcomers such as Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival.
Seattle Center and community organizations work closely to produce Festál, joining together on marketing, sharing best practices and combining knowledge and experience in order to build-up the overall presenting capacity. Seattle Center hosts Festál in campus facilities and provides the technical and production support necessary for each Festál event.
Following is the roster of 2010 Festál events:
Têt Festival – Vietnamese Lunar New Year • tetinseattle.org; Feb. 6 – 7, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion
Irish Festival • irishclub.org; March 13 – 14, 12 noon – 6 p.m., Center House
Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival • seattlecenter.com/festal; April 16 – 18, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion
Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration • seattlecenter.com/festal; May 2, Sat., 12 noon – 5 p.m., Center House
Spirit of West Africa • theionediop.com; May 8, Sat., 12 noon – 8 p.m., Center House
A Glimpse of China – Chinese Culture and Arts Festival • chinaartandculture.com; May 22, Sat., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Center House
Northwest Folklife • nwfolklife.org; May 29 – May 31, various times, multiple Seattle Center campus venues
Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival • philippineseattlefestal.com; June 5 – 6, Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun., 12 noon – 5 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion
Festival Sundiata – African-American Festival • festivalsundiata.org; June 12 – 13, 12 noon – 8 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion (NOTE: NEW DATE)
Iranian Festival • iaca-seattle.org; June 19, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Center House
Bastille Day – A French Celebration! • fenpnw.org; July 10 – 11, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion
BrasilFest • brasilfest.com; Aug. 15, Sun., 12 noon – 5 p.m., Center House and Mural Amphitheatre
Tibet Fest • washingtontibet.org; Aug. 28 – 29, 2 noon – 6 p.m., Center House and Fisher Pavilion
Korean Cultural Celebration • koamartists.org; Sept. 11 (Saturday), 12 noon – 7 p.m., Center House
Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival • seattlelivealohafestival.com; Sept. 12, Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Center House and Mural Amphitheatre
Seattle Fiestas Patrias • seattlecenter.com/festal; Sept. 18 – 19, 12 noon – 6 p.m., Center House, Fisher Pavilion and Seattle Center Pavilion
The Italian Festival • festaseattle.com; Sept. 25 – 26, Sat., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Center House, Fisher Pavilion and Seattle Center Pavilion
CroatiaFest • croatiafest.org; Oct. 3, Sun., 12 noon – 8 p.m., Center House
Utsav – South Asian Performing Arts Festival • regamala.org; Oct. 9 – 10, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Center House
TurkFest • turkfest.org; Oct. 16 – 17, Sat., 12 noon – 8 p.m., Sun., 12 noon – 6 p.m., Center House
Dia de Muertos – A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed • tallermexicano.org; Oct. 30 – 31, Sat., 12 noon – 8 p.m.; Sun., 12 noon – 6 p.m., Center House
Hmong New Year Celebration • hmongassociationofwa.org; Nov. 6, Sat., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Center House
Did you know? In 2010, we will explore the common threads that link the diverse cultures of our region. Our “did you knows” will explore different cultural means of expressing common manifestations such as colors, popular foods, sources of cultural pride and the livelihoods of cultures represented in Seattle Center Festál. For more information on Seattle Center Festal, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684.7200.
