Seattle Center's Iranian Culture Festival Kicks Off Today, 6/16

Seattle Center Festál: Iranian Festival, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., today, June 16, in Seattle Center  Armory/Center House, explores the roots and contemporary influences of Persian cultures. Live entertainment, Rumi poetry, visual arts, hands-on activities, face painting, and a marketplace provide a glimpse into this culturally opulent culture.

The Iranian Festival aims to bring together Iranian and American communities in the greater Seattle area to celebrate Persian culture. The festival, now in its 6th year, showcases a whole host of professional dancers and music performers featuring:
• Anita Amirrezvani, an Iranian-American historical fiction author, in a stage reading from her latest novel about 16th and 17th century Iranexquisite 
• Ali Rouhfar, Persian calligraphy art demonstrations. 
• A Teahouse experience where visitors learn about traditional Iranian foods and sweets
• An Iranian bazaar that holds insights into Iranian food, history, jewelry, visual art, musical instruments, and prominent contemporary and historical figures

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.

Iranian Festival is part of The Next Fifty at Seattle Center in 2012. The Festival is produced by Iranaian American Community Alliance in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit www.iaca-seattle.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com.