Seattle Center Festal to Host Polish Festival Seattle this Saturday

Seattle Center Festal: Polish Festival Seattle brings the colorful cultural traditions of Poland to Seattle Center Armory and Mural Amphitheatre, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, July 12. Live music and dance, authentic Polish food and beer, historical exhibits, workshops, children's activities, demonstrations and a merchandise market place of finely crafted wares serve to highlight the extraordinary contributions of this northern European nation.

The festival focus for the year is on northern Poland's region known as Pomorze and Kaszuby, and the festival theme, "Traditional Passions of Poland," makes use of interactive activity, literature, photographs, food tasting, and demonstrations to explore the traditions of honey-making, mushroom picking and sausage making and the use in traditional Polish dishes.

Polish Festival Entertainment

Festival Opening Ceremonies
Choir Vivat Musica!
Agnieszka Laska Dancers in The Chopin Project and Rite of Spring (music by Igor Stravinsky)
Knife in the Water Jazz Quartet
Agnieszka Laska Dancers
Polonez Polish Canadian Dance Society performing the Góralski Suite
PARNO DROM performing Eastern European Romani Music
Accordion Music by Andy Mirkovich
Folk Fashion Show
Polka Dance Contest to Oregon Polka Beats

Exhibits
Images from Gdynia and Remembrances of Solidarity
"Izba Kaszubska" presentation
Polish Wings in WWII - Polish Aviation
"Sybiracy" - Polish Exiles to Siberia
Polish Army historic uniforms and memorabilia.
"The Best of Poland," sponsored by Polish Festival Committee and Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association, showcasing tourism, business, arts and culture.

Short Films and Videos
Seattle Polish Film Festival presents "Poland? YES!" Produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland, the short film share the impressions of Hollywood stars and their often surprising connections with Poland.

Dance Party
Polish Festival Seattle concludes with a Dance Party to live music by Oregon Polka Beats.

The Polish-American community of the Pacific Northwest, with a century long presence, has organized events at their cultural center on Capitol Hill. Beginning in 2012, the community reached beyond its traditional neighborhood to invite all to explore and enjoy Polish traditions and learn about the contemporary Polish-American culture at Seattle Center.

For more information on the Polish Festival, click on www.polishfestivalseattle.org. For more information on public programs at Seattle Center, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call (206) 684-7200.