Marking the culmination of Seattle Center Festál’s yearlong showcase of cultural diversity, the Seattle Hmong New Year festival is gearing up to bring a vibrant celebration to the Emerald City. This annual festivity, rich in custom and community spirit, will unfold at the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall on Saturday, promising a full day of cultural immersion from 10 a.m. through the evening concert that wraps up at 10 p.m.
As a capstone to the harvest season, this festival, which is free and open to the public, stands out as the only Southeast Asian minority represented in the Festál lineup. While brimming with excitement, as Asia P Lor, VP of the Hmong Association of Washington & Event Co-Producer, told the City of Seattle, “Our festival is special and unique, in the sense that we are the only Southeast Asian minority that is a part of Seattle Center and Festál. We celebrate our festival with much anticipation and enthusiasm since we host the festival for only one day in the entire year; this is the one day where everyone in the community gets to wear their choice of a unique and traditional Hmong outfit, gather together, and celebrate.”
Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to take part in various cultural expressions, including traditional dance performances by local talent like Stella Luna and Blue Iris, and a traditional Pov Pob, a ball-tossing courtship ritual—all designed to give thanks to ancestors and ring in the New Year. Adding to the cultural fabric, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture has partnered up to present an extensive Hmong heritage exhibit, showcasing a rich tapestry of artifacts and embroidery designs deeply rooted in Hmong tradition.
Indeed, food stands like K&P Lao Food and I Heart Hmong Sausage will serve up authentic flavors, while activities for children and a vendor marketplace featuring arts, crafts, and clothing will allow for a day of festive family fun. “The Seattle Hmong New Year Festival is a celebration that shines a light on one of the many rich cultures that make Seattle vibrant,” Heidi Jackson, Managing Artistic Director, Cultural Programs, said as part of the festival announcement, as per the City of Seattle.
For attendees eager to delve deeper into the Hmong community’s traditions, the festival is more than an event; it’s a momentous holiday that encapsulates the spirit of thanksgiving and renewal, albeit condensed into a one-day affair in the United States compared to its traditional 10-day observance worldwide. Full details on the festival schedule and more can be found at the City of Seattle official website, Seattle Center Spotlight, as well as the Hmong Association of Washington’s site at hmongofwa.org.
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