Northwest Folklife Returns May 26 - May 29, 2023

The 52nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival returns to Seattle Center on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 - May 29, 2023, online and in person. Historically the festival attracts up to a quarter million visitors, offering a multisensory arts and culture celebration of the Pacific Northwest.

Northwest Folklife believes that celebrating arts and culture is a great way for people to share their cultural heritage with the public. Cultural exchange is an opportunity to dissolve misunderstandings, break down stereotypes, and increase respect for one another. It also helps revitalize people and communities. And because culture is always evolving, we facilitate a platform to celebrate the new arts and traditions that communities want to share. As a nonprofit arts and culture organization, our ticketless entry model for the festival includes a suggested donation, which illustrates our commitment to access.

Speaking to the inspiration behind the cultural focus, Benjamin Hunter, the Artistic Director of Northwest Folklife, remarks, “As we reflect on last year’s theme of Metamorphosis and embrace this year's theme of Lagom, we are heartened to find equilibrium, composure, and presence of mind in an evolving world. Balance is how we survive.”

Go to the Festival to discover a wide variety of music, dance, arts, food, traditions, and heritage that thrive in our region. At the Festival you are likely to hear new kinds of music and discover a variety of food, try out a new type of dance, and experience fresh perspectives on the cultures in this area. Join festival goers from all over the world! The Northwest Folklife Festival is one of the largest of its kind–a community-powered, multi-day event, providing multiple opportunities to celebrate all forms of cultural expression.

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MORE ABOUT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE

Northwest Folklife is an independent 501(c)(3) arts organization that celebrates the global Pacific Northwest's multigenerational arts, cultures, and traditions. For over 50 years, Northwest Folklife has been deeply committed to celebrating the diversity of our Northwest communities and de-mystifying our differences under one roof. Northwest Folklife believes that arts and culture strengthen communities and should be accessible to all. Our year-round programming features an abundance of cultural partners powered by contributions from the community, corporations, foundations, and the public sector. We are for the people, by the people.