We have a lot of festivals in the Puget Sound region, some say more than many other places in the country. At Greater Seattle on the Cheap, we provide information for hundreds of festivals and fairs throughout the year, including many cultural heritage festivals. These festivals especially feature Asian, Black American, African, Latino, Native American, and European customs and traditions that showcase the ethnic diversity in the Pacific Northwest.
About cultural diversity in the Puget Sound region
In Washington State, 167 languages besides English are spoken by her residents. Although not every city and neighborhood is diverse, many cultures are represented across the region. Some of the most diverse cities include Seatac, Tukwila, Fife, Kent, Federal Way, Renton, Lakewood, Burien, Des Moines, and Pacific.
The Seattle-Tacoma metro area is rich in ethnic diversity. 143 languages are spoken by the families of Seattle Public Schools. The Rainier Valley in south Seattle supports 66 languages, more than any other zip code in the country.
There are many seasonal festivals including the summer long Seafair festival, Oktoberfest, solstice and lantern festivals, and still other festivals around interests such as music, art, food, cars, maritime events, and state and county harvest fairs.
Woven among all these interests are many festivals featuring the cultural heritage of people who have chosen to make the Evergreen State their home. For the rest of us, it provides wonderful opportunities to enjoy more of the world right from our own backyard.
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Calendar of cultural heritage festivals
Listed below are the upcoming cultural heritage festivals hosted by many different ethnic groups throughout the year around the Puget Sound region.
(If nothing is listed below, there are no ethnic festivals on our calendar. Theoretically, this should never happen. We update festivals on a rolling basis all year long.)
But wait, there’s more!
- There are more festivals of all kinds on our big list of annual festivals, fairs, and parades.
- And here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- Find free and cheap things to do every day on the Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
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Blankets at Chihuly Glass Museum in Seattle 2018 photo by Carole Cancler