In 2025, head to Seattle Center for these 25 FREE Festál cultural festivals. Each event highlights the distinct ethnic communities of people living in the Puget Sound region. The festivals showcase the traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops and more.
The origins of the Festál program date back to the 1962 World’s Fair exhibits showcasing international cultures. In 1988, then Seattle Mayor Charles Royer and Seattle Center Director Virginia Anderson encouraged development of a series of cultural festivals. In its inaugural year, 11 festivals were presented. At last count there were 24. It’s a free, fun way to spend a weekend in the city, whether you are celebrating your roots or exploring a culture new to you.
2025 Festal events at Seattle Center
The Festal series of free cultural festivals is presented throughout the year. Share in age-old cultural and contemporary tradition through food, music, dance, art, film, and more. Each event presets a unique cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. All Festál events are in the Armory. Listed below are the dates for this years Festal events. More info: Seattle Center Festál
- January 25-26, 2025: Tet in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year
- March 15-16, 2025. Irish Festival Seattle
- March 23, 2025: Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures
- April 11-13, 2025: Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival
- May 3, 2025: Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
- May 10, 2025: Spirit of Africa
- May 17, 2025: A Glimpse of China – Seattle Chinese Culture & Arts Festival
- May 23-26, 2025, Memorial Day Weekend: Northwest Folklife Festival
- May 31-June 1, 2025: Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival
- June 7, 2025: Indigenous People Festival
- June 28, 2025: Seattle Iranian Festival
- July 12, 2025: Polish Festival Seattle
- July 19-20, 2025: Seattle Arab Festival
- August 2, 2025: A Day in Punjab celebrating the Sikh/Punjabi culture
- August 9-10, 2025: Tibet Fest
- August 17, 2025: BrasilFest
- August 23-24, 2025: Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest
- September 7, 2025: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival
- September 13-14, 2025: Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias
- September 27-28, 2025: The Italian Festival
- October 5, 2025: CroatiaFest
- October 11-12, 2025: Turkfest
- October 18, 2025: Diwali: Lights of India
- November 1-2, 2025: Día de Muertos Festival Seattle
- November 8, 2025: Seattle Hmong New Year
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Upcoming cultural heritage events
Listed below are upcoming cultural heritage events in the next 60 days.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
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