Engage In Rich Croatian Heritage At CroatiaFest

Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: CroatiaFest, noon - 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7, at Seattle Center Armory. CroatiaFest calls attention to the rich heritage of Croatia and its cultural presence in our region through live entertainment, traditional dance, historical displays, authentic cooking demonstrations and food, and sourvenirs of Croatia.

In its 15th year, the festival seeks to underscore the presence and influence of 40,000 people with Croatian ancestry living in our region with a day of exceptional programming, thoughtful exhibits and illuminating activities. Popular bands such as Sinovi Orchestra of Chicago and the festival new-comer, Tamburaški Sastav Pono?, as well as ensembles hailing from across Canada and the United States perform live traditional Croatian song and dance on the main Armory Stage.

Special guest at the festival is Ambassador of Croatia to the United States, Pjer Šimunovi?. Most recently, Šimunovi? served as the director of Croatia's National Security Council and now serves as the ambassador to Washington D.C.

Cooking demonstrations kick-off with "Peka," an ancient method of roasting meats and vegetables "under the bell" and the art of barbecuing with a whole lamb on a spit. Traditional food for sale includes: Sarma (meat filled cabbage rolls), Palacinke (made to order Croatian style crepes), Povitica (sweet walnut bread), Cevapcici (grilled meat sausage served on pita bread), Kobasica (Croatian style sausage and roll), Pecena Janjetina (BBQ lamb on the spit) and Burek (meat or cheese filled savory pastry). Complementing the variety of food offerings, wine tastings for guests 21 and over feature Croatian-American vintners including Sunce Winery of Santa Rosa, CA.

For more information, visit: http://www.croatiafest.org/

Seattle Center Festál brings to light the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, its origins stretch back to when ethnic communities were planting their roots here. For many of them, Seattle Center served as a central place, where they could invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. Some festivals were formed in response to wars or ethnic displacement and others to unite their communities, educate the public and dispel stereotypes. Now at 21 years, Festál producers are seeking to sustain their festivals with compelling programming that appeals to multiple generations.

Seattle Center Festál is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with CroatiaFest. Admission is free of charge. For more information on this festival, visit croatiafest.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

This illuminating series of 23 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, 4Culture. the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.