Rich Heritage of a Small European Country Highlighted at CroatiaFest

Seattle Center Festál: CroatiaFest, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 1, in Seattle Center Armory, presents the rich heritage of a small European country. This larger-than-life celebration seeks to underscore the presence and influence of 40,000 people with Croatian ancestry living in our region with a day of absorbing programming, thoughtful exhibits and illuminating activities.

Festivities begin with opening ceremonies at 12 noon in Seattle Center Armory. Following, throughout the afternoon, some of the finest Croatian music and dance ensembles from the United States and Canada will perform traditional music and dance, articulated with exquisite costumes, on the Armory main stage.

Families with children should stop by the Kids Activity Booth on the Armory main floor to join in one of the many available craft projects. Two cooking demonstrations are offered in the new John Sarich Memorial Cooking Stage on the 3rd floor of the Armory, and seven festival food booths feature traditional BBQ lamb on the spit, grilled ?evap?i?i with ajvar (minced meats and roasted eggplant), Croatian style sausages, cheese and meat filled burek, cabbage rolls, povitica (walnut roll) and palacinke (crepes).

Festival-goers 21 years and older may learn about and taste Croatian wines. Tickets may be purchased at the CroatiaFest Information Booth, which also offers a souvenir program, a schedule of the day's activities and volunteers ready to answer questions. An exquisite travelling photography exhibit, "Hrvatski Svjetionici" (Croatian Lighthouses), features restored lighthouses built between 1818 and 1899 that continue to protect the Dalmatian coastline. There will also be a variety of Croatian goods and souvenirs for purchase.

In 2017, Seattle Center Festál celebrates 20 years of global music, dance, art, crafts, history, food and insight presented through a unique partnership among community organizations and Seattle Center. Festál provides a stage and platform for them to share their traditions, accomplishments and artistic expression. Festál events captivate and enlighten festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that shape the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on CroatiaFest, visit www.croatiafest.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

This illuminating series of 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, The Boeing Company, NW Folklife, 4Culture and ArtsWA. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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