Seattle Center Festál: Bastille Day Set for Today, 7/14

Seattle Center Festál: Bastille Day - A French Celebration!, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., today, July 14, in Seattle Center Armory, Fisher Pavilion and Fisher Lawn explores the cultural roots and contemporary influences of France through live musical performances, cultural displays, hands-on activities, food, wine, cars, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and more.

Highlights of the 2012 festival include:

• Live musical performances by Pearl Django, Out On The Streets, Folichon, Bonnie Birch, Podorythmie, and WHOZYAMAMA
• Informative travel talks about Normandy, the Loire Valley and Provence by Steve Smith of Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
• Photography exhibition by local artist David Barnes
• Fencing demonstrations by Fleur de Lys Fencing Club
• French costume parade for dogs

The Bastille Day festival is also contributing to The Next Fifty celebration with a retrospective of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair French Pavilion and current views of the relationship between France and the Pacific Northwest through photography, essays and video. These works will be on display at the festival and online. The community is welcome to make submissions atwww.seattle-bastille.org/activities.

The 20 Seattle Center Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Each event offers moving entertainment and fascinating insight into a different culture of the world.

Bastille Day - A French Celebration! is part of The Next Fifty at Seattle Center in 2012. The Festival is produced by France Education Northwest under the auspices of the Consular Agency of France in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit seattle-bastille.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com.