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SEATTLE (April 18, 2022) – Seattle Center Festál continues with the Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration on May 1, the first day of National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Following last year’s virtual festival, this year features five hours full of programming in the Seattle Center Armory. The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, dance groups, martial arts, music and more are in store at the API Heritage Month Celebration this year.
Working to promote AAPI culture, heritage and contributions for current and future generations along with the general public, the festival aims to give space to Asian and Pacific Islanders to share the traditions they have preserved.
The program begins at noon with the International Lion Dance Team and opening remarks, and wraps up with Kaze Daiko Taiko and closing remarks. In between, MiYoung Margolis Dance Collective, Huayin Performing Arts Group, Halau Hula Ka Lei Mokihana | Ka Ua Noe, UWFASA Sayaw, Nihkil Bagga Band, Wu Shu Martial Arts, UW Vietnamese Student Association Dance Troupe, Live2Dance Seattle and The Kompany will perform on stage.
“The Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration is an event dedicated to celebrating the unique and distinct AAPI cultures and communities that help make Seattle special,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “As the first day of National Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, there could not be a better way to uplift Seattle's AAPI communities and stand together as a united One Seattle.”
The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, named for the late longtime chair of the festival and community activist, will begin at 2 p.m., featuring chefs from nine local restaurants and bakeries. Cultural performance videos will also be shown, and local author Cindy Wong-Li, will do a children’s book reading of her book, Starhug.
“Festál is all about celebrating cultures that make up the city of Seattle,” said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. “Seattle Center is proud to host a day that encompasses so many Seattleites and their cultures under the roof of the Armory.”
More information is available on the API Heritage Month Celebration website.
About Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration and the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition
The Asian Pacific Directors Coalition (APDC) has been a strong advocate for the community and has provided the leadership and support to this event for over 25 years at the Seattle Center and in the community. The group has a deep commitment and ties to the numerous AAPI groups represented at the festival and is interested in preserving and showcasing the rich culture of the community. APDC members and organizations are the primary sponsors, supporters and organizers of the event. Information on the festival is available at apiheritage.com and www.seattlecenter.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál cultivates a deeper understanding of the cultures and ethnic diversity that contribute to the rich vibrancy of the Pacific Northwest. This unique series links together 24 free festivals presented on weekends from February to November, each with its own cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. 2022 commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Festál, ushering in a new era of hybrid programs during this anticipated return to in-person events. Seattle Center Festál is where the world will gather to celebrate the people, the places, the stories, the traditions, and the next 25 years of innovation. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with 24 different community groups and supported by 4Culture, City of Seattle, and Seattle Center Foundation. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center
Seattle Center is celebrating 60 years with all that is “New, Now, and Next” as Seattle’s hub for arts, sports, community events, and cultural festivals. Originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the dynamic 74-acre campus has transformed over the years to respond to, reflect, and represent the region’s ever-broadening community. Seattle Center and its iconic International Fountain are often referred to as the “Heart of Seattle,” serving as a treasured community gathering place where the local, regional, national, and international visitors come together every day. Today more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations reside on the grounds, along with a diverse variety of public programs and thousands of events attracting more than 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.864 billion in business activity and $631 million in labor income.
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Note:
Photos, b-roll, and pre-event/event-day interviews with festival producers, performers, and special guests are available upon request.
Contact:
Meghan McLaughlin, meghan.mclaughlin-c@seattle.gov
