Northwest Folklife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northwest FolklifeFolklife
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Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center during Northwest Folklife Festival 2007
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| Genre | Music, dance, arts & crafts |
| Begins | Friday before Memorial Day |
| Ends | Memorial Day |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington |
| Years active | 54 |
| Inaugurated | 1971 |
| Most recent | 2023 |
| Participants | 7,800 |
| Patron(s) | 250,000 |
| Website | nwfolklife.org |
Northwest Folklife is a special group that helps people share their art, music, and traditions. They focus on the many cultures found in the Pacific Northwest region.
The Northwest Folklife Festival is a big yearly party in Seattle, Washington. It happens during the Memorial Day weekend at Seattle Center. People come to share and enjoy different kinds of art, crafts, and music from all over the world. Lots of people come to the festival! About 250,000 visitors, 800 helpers (volunteers), and 6,000 performers join in the fun.
It's free to get in! The festival is supported by the community and donations from people who attend. You might see friendly people at the entrances who encourage visitors to donate. They often give out special buttons with new designs each year if you donate.
Northwest Folklife started in 1971. It was created by several groups, including the Seattle Folklore Society and the City of Seattle. Their goal was to let people from the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, show off their crafts and entertainment. The first festival was held in 1972. Since then, it has grown to be one of the biggest festivals of its kind in North America.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was canceled in 2020. It was then held online in 2021.
Contents
What Happens at the Festival?
Exploring Cultures and Traditions
Each year, the festival chooses a special theme or "Cultural Focus." This theme highlights a particular community or tradition. For example, past themes have included maritime culture (things about the sea), Arab-American life, and the passing of traditions from older to younger generations. Recent themes have explored the Traditional Roots of Hip Hop, Echoes of Aztlan and Beyond, and Youth Rising.
Stages and Performances
The festival has more than 20 stages, both big and small. These stages are set up all around the Seattle Center grounds. Most of the performers are local artists from the area. Just like the volunteers, these performers share their talents without getting paid. Many places, like the Armory and Fisher Pavilion, are set up for people to join in and dance.
Music Jams and Buskers
The festival also has lots of open spaces for music jams and drum circles. Many people from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia come every year to play music with their friends.
You will also see street performers (called buskers) at the festival. They come from all over to perform along the walkways at Seattle Center. These buskers include musicians, jugglers, circus performers, and magicians. They are all different ages and styles, and they perform for donations from the crowd. Festival organizers have asked buskers to donate a small part of their earnings to the festival. This is similar to what vendors are asked to do.
Diverse Music and Dance
The performances at the festival show that "folk" music means many things. You can hear traditional folk music from around the world. But you might also hear rockabilly, Balkan brass, folk punk, and other unique styles. Dance performances include international folk dancing, like Morris dancing, as well as swing and blues.
Fun for Everyone
The festival is also a great place to just relax and enjoy the weather. Memorial Day weekend is usually sunny! The big fountain at Seattle Center often becomes a fun water park. Since the festival is open to everyone, many people come to have picnics, sunbathe, or just enjoy being outdoors.
Images for kids
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Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center during Northwest Folklife Festival 2007
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Blackbird Raum busking at the Folklife Festival.
