Experience The Sights, Sounds And Tastes Of Iranian Festival, Today

Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: Iranian Festival, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, at Seattle Center Armory. Iranian Festival engages the community in this artistically opulent and expressive culture as it enriches and entertains with live music and dance, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, Persian tea, pastries and food available for purchase, art and jewelry displays and Persian calligraphy.

In its 12th year, Iranian Festival celebrates the theme of Persian Poetry, an integral aspect of Iranian culture spanning from ancient Persia to contemporary Iran. Poetry will be woven into the activities, dance and musical performances.

An all-star guest line-up features top performers and artists from across the United States. Award-winning, Iranian-American chef and cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij will participate in a cooking demonstration and book signing. Live Stage Entertainment includes: comedian K-von, best known for his time on the TV show "Last Comic Standing," fusion vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Hamed Nikpay and New York Times bestselling author, Jasmin Darznik.

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 program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on Iranian Festival, visit www.iaca-seattle.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.

About Seattle Center Festál

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, Wells Fargo, The Boeing Company, NW Folklife, 4Culture and ArtsWA. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.