Festál Explained

Festál is a free series of annual ethnically-related festivals that take place on the grounds of Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington. A major cultural program of Seattle, these festivals aim to celebrate and connect the city to its varied ethnic and international community. Most festivals contain various arts performances (dances, theatre, musical ensembles, films), dances, marketplace and other programs. These have also come to be the annual gathering place for ethnic groups of the community. Both older and younger people attend, especially the dances and musical concerts.

The Festál events range enormously in scope, from smaller festivals to the enormous pan-ethnic Northwest Folklife Festival, which draws an estimated 250,000 visitors on Memorial Day weekend. Typical Festál events draw 5,000 to 30,000 visitors. Some of them (such as Fiestas Patrias) draw crowds that are predominantly of the ethnic group that is the focus of the festival; others draw more of a cross-section of the city.

Festál began in 1996 and includes (all of those have been on hiatus on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020):

Vietnam

Têt Festival

African American

Festival Sundiata

Ireland

The Irish Week Festival

Japan

Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival

In April, the Seattle Cherry Blossom festival is held. The largest Japanese cultural event in the Pacific Northwest commemorates the late Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki's gift of 1,000 cherry trees, as part of the United States Bicentennial, to Seattle in 1976. The trees were planted along Lake Washington Boulevard, Seward Park, Seattle Center, The Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden, University of Washington, and the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple.

The cherry tree tradition follows at every year's festival, by bringing cherry tree experts from Japan to Seattle to teach Washingtonians about the proper care and maintenance of cherry trees. The cherry tree experts give instruction during the festival and the week that follows.

The festival's mission is to deepen mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of the Northwest; to exchange ideas and friendship; to promote the culture, arts, and technologies of Japan, including achievements of the Japanese-American community.

The festival includes dance and music, colorful costumes, martial arts, and tea ceremonies. For children, the festival offers Japanese games, kite making and kimono dress up.

Asia-Pacific

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration

West Africa

Spirit of West Africa

China

Chinese Culture and Arts Festival

Due to the large Chinese population in Seattle, the Chinese culture and arts festival is one of the best attended festivals. In June, the festival offers a comprehensive look at Chinese Culture through Chinese performing arts, visual arts display and gift/informational booths and interactive activities.

Performances are by artists from the Pacific Northwest and China. Performances have included Chinese Classical dance and Chinese folk dance from Hengda Dance Academy, Chinese music from Seattle Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Wushu from Yijiao Wushu & Taichi Academy, and Chinese music played on Western instruments from Zhenlun Cello studio and Haiying Violin Studio.

Philippines

Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival

France

French Fest

Seattle's French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures is held in March of each year in celebration of the Mois de la Francophonie. The festival is a free, family-friendly event open to the public with the purpose of promoting and raising awareness of Francophone cultures and traditions from around the world to the residents of the Greater Seattle area. During the one-day event, festival-goers will listen to live music, see theater and dance performances, taste international cuisine, learn from informative seminars and demonstrations, play games and enjoy a day full of fun activities.

During its inaugural event on March 24, 2013, French Fest highlighted performances by Te Fare O Tamatoa, Folichon Cajun, the French Immersion School of Washington, Éducation Française Greater Seattle, Théâtre Français de Seattle, Podorythmie, the Alliance Française de Seattle Chior, and Pearl Django.

The festival is produced by France Education Northwest in partnership with the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest and the French Consular Agency of the State of Washington.

Iran

Iranian Festival

Arab Middle East: Arab Festival

Held in October in 2011, the Arab Festival is of huge importance to Seattle, as Seattle holds one of the largest Arab American communities in the United States. Began in 1999, the festival includes all 22 of the Arab countries, with a souk marketplace, traditional and modern music, an authentic Arab coffeehouse, an Arabic spelling bee and fashion show. Lectures and workshops explore the rich culture and history of the Arab peoples, one of the world's oldest civilizations. Also of new interest is the Arabic rap concert, including the NW group Sons of Hagar, showcasing the political and creative struggle of Arabic youth.

This festival is held every-other year and may move dates based upon Ramadan.[1]

Brazil

BrasilFest

In August, BrasilFest features Brazilian drumbeats and the samba rhythms of Brazilian Folklore Day, August 22. The festival combines traditional and contemporary cultures of Brazil, and is the only U.S. festival to showcase this large an amount of Brazilian performing arts. The music includes both traditional and contemporary pieces, drawn from African and Portuguese roots. The festival also features the unique Brazilian martial art/dance capoeira, costumes, food and contemporary arts.

BrasilFest's Eduardo Mendonca states that "being a part of this strengthens the visibility of Brazilian artistic expression. It is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a series of festivals that promotes rituals and celebrations from around the world."November 2008.

Tibet

TibetFest

In late August, Tibet comes alive once again at Seattle Center. The ancient cultural tradition is preserved and renewed through ritual and tradition by the small Tibetan Community in greater Seattle area. With centuries-old stories, melodies, masks and costumes, modern and ancient combine to form the culture of Tibet. Highlights are a Tibetan bazaar, prayer flags, performers and food.

The Artists use traditional instruments like Dra-nyen, piwang and unique combinations of flutes, horns, drums, bells and cymbals.

Korea

Korean Cultural and Art Festival

The September Korean Festival is one of the most important festivals. Strong ties link trade, culture and family between Korea and Seattle. Every year, the festival falls on Ch'usok, or Harvest Festival Day, one of the great holidays of the year in Korean culture.

On this day, feasts are prepared, families hold memorial services at ancestral gravesites, and full-moon viewing takes place in the evening. This Korean holiday is considered not only the most generous in spirit, but a day of thanksgiving for a good harvest. As on Lunar New Year's Day, families come home from all across the country to celebrate together.

The festival includes folk songs, traditional and modern dance, martial arts like Tae Kwon Do, films and exhibits that depict a Korean cultural evolution over thousands of years. A highlight is the elaborate student art competition and exhibition. Korean traditional costumes are worn by performers, with rich and elaborate fabrics and designs.

Hawai`i

Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival

Mexico and Latin America: Fiestas Patrias

Held in September, Seattle Fiestas Patrias celebrates Mexican independence and the independence of other Latin American countries. In commemoration of Mexico's September 15 independence day, the festival is decked out in Mexican colors.

Entertainment and cultural displays by artists from countries such as Peru, Honduras, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia offer an authentic look at a culture where countries share language, food and sounds, but have very distinct traditions. Favorites of the festival include the mariachi music, salsa dance, and traditional costumes and food.

Italy

Festa Italiana

Started in 1988, Festa Italiana is presented every September, and along with the Irish and Cherry Blossom Festivals, is one of the most highly attended. The festival celebrates traditional Italian culture, as well as mixing in modern Italian performances, art, cars and food. Highlighted every year are traditional Italian folk groups, Italian opera music by sopranos and pop singers, evening wine tasting, and puppet theater.

Italian celebrity chef Nick Stellino prepares Italian dishes for an audience. Annual favorites are the grape stomp and bocce ball tournament - frequented by renowned local players every year. Italian-American musical group the EuroRhythms are also performers.

Croatia

CroatiaFest

South Asia

Utsav South Asian Performing Arts Festival

During the second weekend of October, the Ustav festival showcases the ancient traditions of music and dance of the South Asian subcontinent. South Asia includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Artists perform art forms including the Indian lute and the much loved sitar, with vocalists and yogic dance and drama with rhythms of dancing bells and foot beats.

There are more than 1,652 different languages and dialects spoken in India alone. South Asia as a whole constitutes the largest Muslim population in the world and is the birthplace of some of the world's largest religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

Turkey

TurkFest

Mexico

Día de Muertos

Hmong

Hmong New Year Celebration

A festival well attended by both Hmong and non-Hmong people, this is the largest of the Hmong New Year events in the Pacific Northwest. The November event symbolizes the end of the harvest, this is the time when Hmong relax, prepare special foods, and begin courtships. Most Hmong have been in the United States less than 30 years, and Washington's Hmong population is growing.

The festival was originally conceived to raise awareness about the Hmong people, who aided the U.S. in the Vietnam War against the Vietcong. Most of their population was killed as a result, and most survivors emigrated to the U.S.

This festival marks the Lunar New Year of this Southeast Asian highland culture originating in the mountains of China, Laos and Thailand. Hmong people preserved their stories and language through intricate storytelling, embroidery, music and unusual communication techniques. Highlights include traditional ball-tossing, dances, children's activities, a fashion show and a Hmong band. Exhibits include the history of the Hmong settlement in King County, along with traditional embroideries.

Festivals

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.arabcenter.net/node/35 Arab Festival 2009