Seattle Center Festal to Present 'A GLIMPSE OF CHINA', 5/16

Seattle Center Festál: A Glimpse of China -- Chinese Culture and Arts Festival, where Beijing meets Seattle, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, May 16, in Seattle Center Armory. The festival highlights 5,000 years of Chinese history and showcases China's distinct culture through arts and crafts, music, children's activities and gift booths.

The 2015 festival celebrates increased partnership between Seattle and Guangdong province, following the April Seattle visit by a large delegation led by Xu Qin, mayor of Shenzhen. An exhibition of work by Guangzhou-based artist Zhijun Chen emphasizes the artistic achievements of the province.

Sample Chinese crepes, bento, cake rolls and unique items created just for the festival at Yumbit, Seattle's first authentic Chinese food truck, or tour booths offering Chinese artwork, crafts and tea tastings. Workshops on wushu (Chinese martial arts), and traditional Chinese dance, painting and calligraphy allow visitors of all ages to engage directly with this ancient culture. Performances by local Chinese dance, singing and martial arts groups complete the festival's program.

In 2015, Seattle Center Festál explores the "art of culture" in 23 celebrations on weekends throughout the year. The events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, make use of indoor and outdoor spaces on the grounds and offer wide-ranging entertainment, food, visual displays and exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. The annual series forms the bedrock of public programming at Seattle Center, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on A Glimpse of China -- Chinese Culture and Arts Festival and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.

Seattle Center Festál 2015 explores the art of culture on weekends throughout the year. The festivals highlight the diverse cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region with traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops, marketplaces and more. This collection of 23 cultural events is produced with the generous support of Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Boeing, RealNetworks and 4Culture. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.