Seattle Center Festál: Seattle Arab Festival, Aug. 12-15, features traditional Arabic music, storytelling, food demonstrations, dancing and other performances that showcase the traditions, talents and accomplishments of Arabs and Arab Americans. Link to the virtual festival on Facebook.
Each year, Seattle Arab Festival seeks to strengthen the ties among Arab people and our broader community, while highlighting the history and diversity of 22 countries that comprise the Arab world. Here is the complete festival line-up:
5 p.m.-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12
- Welcome by Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative, State of Washington
- Greeting by City of Seattle mayor Jenny A. Durkan
- Welcome by Seattle Arab Festival co-director Amani AbouAmmo
- Interview with Seattle Center director Robert Nellams
- Kids’ section, Listen from our Kids
- Learn Arabic with Storytelling, presented by Laila Taji
- Live cooking demonstration with Nadia Tommalieh
5 p.m.-7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 13
- Welcome by Seattle Arab Festival Board member Rita Zawaideh,
- Performance by singer Marwa Almasri
- Fashion Show Part 1 with Oraib Khalifeh
- Performance by singer Fadwa Nassif
- Performance by Dr. Morhaf Al Achkar
- Ali Baba & Forty Thieves, storytelling and illustration by Highline College
- Interview with Mohammed Sabaaneh, political cartoonist from Gaza
- Music of Islam
4 p.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14
- Welcome by Seattle Arab Festival Board member Beth Mahmoud-Howell
- Performance by singer Marwa Almasri
- Fashion Show Part 2 with Oraib Khalifeh
- House Party singing
- Discussion on women’s literacy and education reform in the Arab World with Kuwaiti-born Palestinian photographer Laura Boushnak
- Cake & Paint with Sonia Zaher
- Essential Oils & Aroma Jewelry with Emmila founder Amani AbouAmmo
1 p.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 15
- Welcome by Seattle Arab Festival co-director Oussama Alkhalili
- Live cooking demonstration with Khalil Akl
- History of Dance, presented by Zualika (Patricia Auch)
- Performance by singer Dr. Morhaf Al Achkar
View festival program details click here.
Seattle Center Festál highlights the culturally rich communities who help shape the character and course of our region. The series, presented virtually in 2021, provides a forum for cultural groups to come together and share their stories with the greater community. The series began in 1997 to offer a central place for festivals to invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression.
Seattle Center presents Seattle Center Festál: Seattle Arab Festival in partnership with the Seattle Arab Festival and its volunteers. Streaming is free of charge. For more information, visit www.seattlecenter.com/festal or call 206-684-7200.
About Seattle Center Festál:
Seattle Center Festál, Where the World Gathers, presents 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year, virtually in 2021, to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.
