Northwest Folklife

Every Memorial Day weekend, Seattle Center is transformed into a vibrant hub of culture and tradition as the Northwest Folklife Festival takes over. Over 250,000 visitors gather other visitors for this extraordinary event to indulge in an abundance of ethnic art, folk crafts, and music performances from 6,000 entertainers - not forgetting the 800 volunteers who work tirelessly to make everything possible!

For the past five decades, Northwest Folklife has dedicated itself to the protection of cultural artistry and expressions, connecting individuals with their ancestral roots and customs. In 2023 they will commemorate an incredible milestone: 52 years of service!

Thanks to generous donations from community members and attendees, admission is free. There are friendly greeters at all entrances encouraging visitors to make a contribution. In exchange for their donation, they will receive one of the distinctive yearly buttons as a token of appreciation.