It’s four days with 6,000 performers of every kind of creative expression under the sun. Or rain.
But in this case, it’s under the Space Needle.
Northwest Folklife Festival over Memorial Day weekend is a tradition that just keeps getting bigger every year.
This year is more of the same — which is why people keep coming back — and the addition of new acts and a new open air stage.
The festival involves year-round outreach into the cultural communities that make up the Pacific Northwest.
The focus this year is “The Power of the Human Voice through Song.”
Work songs, shanties and protest songs. Spirituals and sacred music. Doowop. Barbershop. Glee. Beatboxing. Lullabies, nursery rhymes and play songs.
Chant. Sing along to Mozart. Yodel. Drum. Swing. Sing. Spin vinyl. Make art. Make noise.
Try these for starters:
Yodel: Learn how to sing your ays, eees, and ooos in a yodeling workshop or join in family dances.
Unleash your inner artist: Gage Academy of Art’s “Gage PopUp Drawing Jam” provides free art supplies, costumed models from bunnies to superheroes, easels and still lifes. Plus lots of encouragement.
Spin vinyl: “An Introduction to the Magic of Vinyl Records” lets youngsters get that interactive vinyl experience of holding an album in their hands and putting needle to groove. Immerse yourself in the pages of a record’s sleeve as the music plays.
Float your boat: Center for Wooden Boats’ “Toy Boat Building” lets you grab a hull, a mast, some tools and build your own boat. Decorate it, name it, sail it wherever your imagination takes you.
Bollywood, baby: Learn to dance Bollywood-style using classic facial and hand gestures along with detailed dance steps.
Inner beauty: Northwest African American Museum’s “Posing Beauty: Finding the Beauty Within” explores notions of inner beauty through art. Make art cards using word tiles and images to create miniature collages.
Natural art: Nature Consortium’s “Discover Nature through Art” lets you make jewelry, hats or bird feeders that explore elements of the natural environment while making use of upcycled materials.
Shop: Dozens of booths will features merchandise made by Northwest residents as well as vendors with imported crafts from around the world.
Kiddie kindie: The Kindiependent showcase of kid friendly music includes The Whizpops, Recess Monkey, The Harmonica Pocket and more.
Here are some of the highlights this weekend.
Friday, May 27
North City Rockers, multigenerational hiphop production crew, 5 p.m.
The Lucky Shots, The Gortexans, Johnson Country and The Fentons, 6 to 9 p.m.
Seattle Song Circle, 7 p.m.
Cajun-Zydeco dance lesson, 8:50 p.m.
Saturday, May 28
The Cloves, Lanford Black, The Hollers, Sarah Gerritsen and the Shadow Catchers, 12:30-3:15 p.m.
Jamtown Howdy Band, 2 p.m.
Experimental drumming for fun, 2 p.m.
Seattle sings world lullabies, 2 p.m.
Crow’s Share, Dark Madrona, The Banner Days, The Bruised Hearts Revue, 7 to 9:55 p.m.
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Introduction to the autoharp, 11 a.m.
Seattle Theatre Group’s The Jungle Book Workshop, 2 p.m.
Naomi Wachira, Luz Elena Mendoza, Hurray For The Riff Raff, The Sweet Lowdown, 12:30-3:20 p.m.
Murfitt and Main and Fish and Bird, 2-3:25 p.m.
Jean Rohe and Meghan Yates, 1-2:10 p.m
Familiar Wild, Shelita Burke, Intisaar, Aimee Wilson, 3 to 6 p.m.
Beehived Women’s Parody Choir, 4 p.m.
Caleb and Walter, Dumpster Joe and His Jungle Juice, Country Lips, 6-9 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Mad-lib songwriting, 11 a.m.
Recess Monkey, 11:35 a.m.
The Not-its, 12:10 p.m.
Melody Institute, Chinese folk, 2 p.m.
Total Experience Gospel Choir, 2:10 p.m.
Hillfolk Noir, Rabbit Wilde, Karl Blau; 3:45 -5:45 p.m.
Western swing, 4 p.m.
Mozart Requiem sing-a-long, 4 p.m.
Source: Northwest Folklife
If you go
Northwest Folklife Festival runs Friday through Monday at the Seattle Center.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
The Discovery Zone for kids and families is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily with arts, crafts, storytelling, musical instruments and listening stations .
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10.
More at www.nwfolklife.org.
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