Event Fee

Free

Event Information

Northwest Folklife is the largest FREE arts festival in the United States! Now in it’s 41st year, the festival –which takes place Memorial Day Weekend in Seattle Center—features over 800 acts across 25 stages, celebrating all forms of cultural expression practiced in the Northwest.

This year’s event features exciting festival traditions such as contradancing, musical showcases from around the world, craft vendors and our famous international food court.

New events include a cultural focus on Seattle Center’s “Next 50” (which includes new workshops in our Global Classroom—many of which will be live streaming on the web!); a new Bollywood showcase; an all-star Tribute to Harry Smith; and a show highlighting the legacy of improvisational Jazz in the Northwest.

We are excited to bring back the wildly popular Indie Roots stage this year, featuring up-and-coming regional folk artists. We’ll also offer a wide selection of family-friendly shows and hands-on demonstrations. Festival partners this year include K Records, the Bushwick Book Club, Monktail Creative, KBCS FM and many many more.

Check the festival’s website for complete schedule information: www.nwfolklifefestival.org

Northwest Folklife Festival is presented by Northwest Folklife, a year-round nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for the Pacific Northwest to celebrate, share and sustain their traditions for present and future generations. 

Interested disciplines

Arts-Related, Craft, Dance, Folk/Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Multidisciplinary Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Public Art