Welcome to Seattle Center
Seattle Iranian Festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series and produced in partnership with Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA).
In 2022, Seattle Center Festál is celebrating 25 years of stories and traditions. The theme, "Where the World Gathers" links together the series of 24 free festivals presented throughout the year, each with a unique cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities.
COVID-19 Protocols:
In terms of COVID requirements, Seattle Center is a City of Seattle department. Thus, we are following the guidance from the City of Seattle as well as King County Public Health. Learn about Seattle Center's health and safety protocols at our events. To protect the public, City staff and contractors are asked to be fully vaccinated.
The festival will take place in-person on Saturday, June 25 at 11am-6pm in the Armory Food & Event Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
This year's theme is the "Celebration of Iranian Women". It is an important moment in time to celebrate Iranian Women, especially their activities, contributions to the community they live in, and representation of Iran & Iranian.
The 16th Annual Seattle Iranian Festival is a one-day celebration of the Iranian Culture, inviting Iranian and Non-Iranians to come together under the roof of the Seattle Center Armory as part of the Festál family. All day, during the event, there are performances whether it is dance, music, or a quick speech from stage. The parameter of the Armory, there is Bazaar setting where there are vendors present selling their goods, usually handmade; while there are business owners promoting their line of business such as real-estate or insurance. Every year, there is Persian food available for purchase along with tea & pastries. There are free children's activities all day, typically in the line of the theme of the festival. IACA, who organizes the Annual Seattle Iranian Festival, holds a table for information as well as tables alongside it selling IACA and festival merchandise and other goods.
ARMORY STAGE
ARMORY FLOOR (Book Signings)
ARMORY LOFTS (Workshops & Lectures)
OVERVIEW
Seattle Center Festál presents Seattle Iranian Festival in partnership with Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA). The festival brings together Iranians, Iranian-Americans, non-Iranians in celebration of the culture with poetry, music, food, tea, comedy, and more.
HISTORY
2007 was the first year the active members of the Iranian community joined hand-in-hand with the board members of the Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA) to organize an event that has now become the annual Seattle Iranian Festival. IACA, as an organization, came from a vision the founder, Ali Ghambari had for the future of the Iranian generation here in the greater Seattle area. As parents, they already knew their roots and maintained their heritage through their household and upbringing of their children, but what about the generation of their grandchildren? That is when Ali and a selected group of Iranians formed the IACA organization to not only bridge the gap between the Iranian and the American communities, but to create an established organization for the existing community and the next generations. IACA has remained a well-established grassroots organization dedicated to organizing its largest event of the year, Seattle Iranian Festival, while supporting other organizations and events.
The Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA) is a Seattle-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit, community organization focused on cultural and educational programs, like Seattle Iranian Festival, and youth and leadership development through mentorship and service. It was founded in 2005.
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