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Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest is August 23-24: 1pm - 8pm, at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Mural Amphitheatre. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.

Seattle Center Festál is a year-round series of 25 free cultural festivals, produced in partnership with community organizations. In 2022, Festál celebrated 25 years of stories and traditions, ushering in a new era of hybrid programming. Learn more about Festál and subscribe to the newsletter for updates.

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EVENT Schedule – Saturday, August 23: 1pm-8pm

ARMORY STAGE SATURDAY

Time

Activity/Performers

1:05pm-1:25pm

Toni Bailey & Friends

1:35pm-1:45pm

Liberated Village Dance Troupe

2:00pm-2:45pm

Omega Band 300 (Arzelia Jones)

3:00pm-3:45pm

Gustavo “El General” Clark

4:00pm-4:45pm

The Band (Jason Williams)

5:00pm-5:40pm

Lady Mercedes

6:00pm-6:50pm

King Dre Trio (Andre Hobson)

 MURAL STAGE SATURDAY

Time

Activity/Performers

1:15pm-2:05pm

Sounds of SEA-Town

2:55pm-3:45pm

Andy Stokes

4:45pm-5:50pm

Dazz Band

6:50pm-8:00pm

The Bar-Kays

 ARMORY BALCONY (ALL-DAY)

  • Ultimate Art Experience Exhibit
    • Alan Graham
    • Charles Tatum Jr.
    • Devonna Roy
    • Kay Burnett 
    • LeShawn Gamble
    • Robert H. King (Kings Pen) – Contest Winner

EVENT Schedule – Sunday, August 24: 1pm-8pm

ARMORY STAGE SUNDAY

Time

Activity/Performers

1:05pm-1:20pm

Baby Dre 206 (Andre Smith Jr.)

1:20pm-1:45pm

Celestine Berrysmith

2:00pm-2:40pm

Dionna Notes

3:00pm-3:40pm

CT Thompson

4:00pm-4:45pm

Selassie I Soldier & Special Force

5:00pm-5:45pm

Copastetic

6:00pm-6:50pm

Michael Powers

 MURAL STAGE SUNDAY

Time

Activity/Performers

1:05 - 1:50

KG and The Star 5

1:50 - 2:00

Double Dutch Divas

2:00 - 2:45

Baldy

2:45 - 3:00

Double Dutch Divas

3:00 - 3:45

Greater Seattle Area Fellowship Choir

3:55 - 4:15

Electronettes

4:45 - 5:50

Josephine Howell

6:50 - 8:00

Kalimba

 ARMORY BALCONY (ALL-DAY)

  • Ultimate Art Experience Exhibit
    • Alan Graham
    • Charles Tatum Jr.
    • Devonna Roy
    • Kay Burnett 
    • LeShawn Gamble
    • Robert H. King (Kings Pen) – Contest Winner

FOOD VENDORS

  • Al’s Gourmet Sausages
  • Comfort Food Cafe & Snack Bar
  • Dowd's BBQ & Catering
  • Lil Red’s Takeout and Catering
  • MGM
  • Mama’s Caramel Corn
  • Monster Dogs
  • Original Philly's
  • Po’Boy & Tings
  • Simply Soulful Café
  • Swagg-n-Wagon Wings & Things
  • Sweet Krazy Corn
  • The Shortcake Bar
  • Una’s Kettle Corn
  • Village Life Project

COMMUNITY & CRAFT VENDORS

  • Adeshe Brand
  • Africa Mama
  • Al Maktoum Goods
  • Bling Jewelz 4 U
  • Center For Multicultural Health
  • Expressions by CC
  • Global Unspokentruths LLC
  • Healthy Smart Homes
  • Human Services Department
  • Kenya Direct Fashion & Décor
  • King County Public Health
  • Leyera
  • Lil's Dis, Little That Craft Production
  • Mahaba Moss
  • Mama’s Caramel Corn
  • Manifested Glory
  • Native Creations
  • Nikky's Niche Design
  • No BS Custom Jewelry
  • Northington's Tees
  • Perky’s Aprons
  • PrettyCuteGirl
  • Ruby Lavern’s Boutique
  • SAACA
  • Soul Expressions
  • Sow n’ Seeds of Love
  • State Farm-Infinity
  • Stets & Styx Mobile Cigar Lounge
  • Stunnawear
  • TG4Creations
  • The Ring Room
  • Vitality Threads, LLC
  • Washington State Office of Equity

View the 2024 highlights below

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OVERVIEW

Seattle Center Festál presents Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest in partnership with Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA). The festival focuses on intergenerational activities and promotion of traditional and contemporary African American heritage, showcasing local entertainment, photography, food merchants, historical exhibits, and more!

HISTORY 

Information provided by Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA)

Festival Sundiata (pronounced: Soon-jah-tah), is the longest running African American festival celebrated in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, holding its first festival in 1980. The festival is named in honor of the Sundiata Keita, the historic and legendary Mansa (King of Kings) of the Mali Empire in West Africa. King Sundiata rescued his people’s griot and created one of the most significant cultural and economic kingdoms in Africa.

Learn more about Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA).
Visit Festival Sundiata Website

Festal Sponsor

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