Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: CroatiaFest, noon – 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7, at Seattle Center Armory. CroatiaFest calls attention to the rich heritage of Croatia and its cultural presence in our region through live entertainment, traditional dance, historical displays, authentic cooking demonstrations and food, and sourvenirs of Croatia.
In its 15th year, the festival seeks to underscore the presence and influence of 40,000 people with Croatian ancestry living in our region with a day of exceptional programming, thoughtful exhibits and illuminating activities. Popular bands such as such as Sinovi Orchestra of Chicago and the festival new-comer, Tamburaški Sastav Ponoć, as well as ensembles hailing from across Canada and the United States perform live traditional Croatian song and dance on the main Armory Stage.
Special guest at the festival is Ambassador of Croatia to the United States, Pjer Šimunović. Most recently, Šimunović served as the director of Croatia’s National Security Council and now serves as the ambassador to Washington D.C.
Cooking demonstrations kick-off with “Peka,” an ancient method of roasting meats and vegetables “under the bell” and the art of barbecuing with a whole lamb on a spit. Traditional food for sale includes: Sarma (meat filled cabbage rolls), Palacinke (made to order Croatian style crepes), Povitica (sweet walnut bread), Cevapcici (grilled meat sausage served on pita bread), Kobasica (Croatian style sausage and roll), Pecena Janjetina (BBQ lamb on the spit) and Burek (meat or cheese filled savory pastry). Complementing the variety of food offerings, wine tastings for guests 21 and over feature Croatian-American vintners including Sunce Winery of Santa Rosa, CA.
For more information, visit: http://www.croatiafest.org/
Seattle Center Festál is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with CroatiaFest. Admission is free of charge. For more information on this festival, visit croatiafest.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.
