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Experience the joy of India Nov. 11 at Seattle Center
SEATTLE – Diwali: Lights of India, closes out the 2023 Seattle Center Festál series on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and diverse culture of India, taking place at the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public and features activities for all ages.
“What makes this festival so special is the joy it brings to attendees in the form of attractions, interactive opportunities, delectable free Indian vegetarian food, and cultural attractions. We are pleased to continue our decade-long association with Festál, in bringing one of Seattle’s best cultural festivals to the community,” said Festival Producer Latha Sambamurti.
Diwali: Lights of India brings to life the rich tapestry of Indian arts and culture, drawing inspiration from India’s most cherished annual festival. This year’s celebration promises an array of diverse arts and culture performances including a live classical violin youth ensemble, classical and folk music, Bollywood dances, plus other youth-produced musical and dance acts. The festival will also offer hands-on activity booths for all ages, including a Flower Mandala, a henna booth, face painting, spice making, cookie decorations, aromatherapy, and flower garland making.
“Our vision of One Seattle aims to bring together everyone from the city’s various communities to celebrate our diversity,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Diwali: Lights of India highlights the unique cultural roots of our Indian community and gives Seattleites a chance to experience their rich traditions through delicious food, lively music and dance, and so much more.”
As a unique highlight, the festival will host Roti-making demonstrations, and an opportunity to savor delicious dishes representing various regions of India. Visitors can participate in a yoga workshop, three visual art galleries supporting new artists, and Kolam floor drawings and workshops. Children can enjoy a puppet show and workshop, along with various other activities.
“We are excited to welcome back Diwali: Lights of India, for a fun-filled afternoon with activities for people of all ages,” said Seattle Center Director Marshall Foster. “Bringing visitors to campus to experience and partake in different cultural festivals as part of the Seattle Center Festál series is what we are all about.”
For a full schedule of festival activities, visit the Seattle Center website.
About Northwest Share
Northwest Share is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Seattle, founded in 2000 to promote arts, culture, tradition, heritage, education, health and humanities. Northwest Share organizes many arts and cultural festivals all around Washington State in partnership with City of Redmond, One Redmond Foundation, City of Bellevue, City of Issaquah, Festál, Seattle Center, Washington State Parks, Northwest Folklife, etc. The organization also runs a free vegetarian food truck and distributes free food to people.
More information on the Diwali: Lights of India festival is available at seattlecenter.com and nwshare.org.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál cultivates a deeper understanding of the cultures and ethnic diversity that contribute to the rich vibrancy of the Pacific Northwest. This unique series links together 24 free festivals presented on weekends from January to November, each with its own cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. Seattle Center Festál is Where the World Gathers to celebrate the people, the places, the stories, and the traditions of the city’s communities. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with 24 different community groups and supported by City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, 4Culture, and KUOW. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts, and family gathering place in the core of our city and region. Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus, centered around the International Fountain, is part of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena; more than 30 cultural, educational, sports, and entertainment organizations; and a broad range of public and community programs. In everything it does, Seattle Center’s mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments which delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities.
Seattle Center has expanded its role to provide maintenance and public safety services for Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, a series of new public spaces on Seattle’s downtown waterfront between Pioneer Square and the Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Center supports managing these new waterfront public spaces in partnership with the non-profit Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which offers the community a range of recreational and cultural programming.
Thanks to the support of Official Seattle Center Partners – Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Premera Blue Cross, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank – Seattle Center is the #1 arts and entertainment destination in the Pacific Northwest with 12 million annual visitors, generating $1.864 billion in business activity and more than $631 million in labor income annually. www.seattlecenter.com
