Cultures converge at Folklife

From Ukrainian to Irish, Brazilian to Hawaiian, the Northwest Folklife Festival is a chance to celebrate cultures.

Representatives from these cultural communities, whether they are musicians, storytellers or artists, have come together for three days every Memorial Day weekend for 38 years to share what makes them special.

This 39th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival held at the Seattle Center will be no different, and visitors will enjoy a melting pot of music along with all the other festival fixings, including family-friendly activities.

Some of those musical offerings include:

Raisin’ a Ruckus: New Old-Time Bands, from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. This musical style has roots in the Appalachia Mountains. Featured bands include Nettle Honey, Molasses, Atlas Stringband and Water Tower Bucket Boys.

International Folkdance Party, from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. An outgrowth of square dancing and features Allspice, Folkvoice Band and Ashfodaba.

Big Jewish Show, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Traditional, avant-garde, hip-hop and Ladino — the music of Sephardic Jews — have all blossomed from Folklife. Performers are Seattle Jewish Chorale, Kesselgarden, Jewbilee, The Klez Katz, Yeshivas Goldenshteyn.

For family activities, the Living Green Courtyard will be part of Folklife for the second year. Visitors can take their children into the “EcoActive Zone” in the Alki Room to build jewelry from retired computer parts, create art with the Nature Consortium or make butter in glass jars.

Visitors to the courtyard can also learn more about sustainable living, see performers on a solar-powered stage and buy eco-friendly items such as purses made from film strips and messenger bags made from advertising banners.

Other family-friendly options can also be found at the Center Square where The Children’s Museum Seattle Outdoor Exhibit is offering a “dig in the dirt” experience in container gardening and urban farming.

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.