The Northwest Folklife Festival is the annual free climactic celebration May 22-25, 2009 of ethnic, folk, and traditional arts activities produced by Northwest Folklife. The Folklife Festival is Seattle’s unofficial leap into summer, with four days of jam-packed excitement. Artists from the Pacific Northwest along with special guests from throughout the world create an ethnic extravaganza embracing music and dance performances, visual arts and folklore exhibits, hands-on ethnic children’s activities, symposia, dance and music workshops, crafts, food, imported goods, demonstrations of traditional arts, and more! The exuberant tradition of sharing and participation at the Festival encourages exploration and learning between participants and public alike.
Founded in 1972 and sponsored by Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center, Folklife brings together an estimated 250,000 visitors, 1,000 volunteers and more than 7,000 musicians, dancers, tradition bearers and visual artists who contribute their time, talent, and energy.
