Seattle Center Festál Black Arts Fest 2011 presented by Festival Sundiata, June 11-12.
Festival Sundiata Black Arts Fest showcases the culture of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest with art displays, exhibits, entertainment and activities for all ages Saturday and Sunday at Seattle Center.
Presented by the Sundiata African American Cultural Association, named for the legendary African King Sundiata, the festival features reggae, jazz, blues, hip hop, spoken word and more by artists including Soyoya African Music, Dub Lounge International, Michael Powers, Wheedle’s Groove and Wale and Northwest Tap Connection. Drill teams and drum corps groups are featured Saturday and the Northwest Gospel Music Explosion, always a crowd favorite, is 2-6 p.m. Sunday.
All-weekend events at the Center House include:
• “Unspoken Truths”: American History Traveling Museum display of African-American history and artifacts;
Most Read Life Stories
• Genealogy sessions with the Northwest African American Museum.
There will also be an art exhibit and sale, children’s activities and a Literary Café. Soul Food Court food vendors will offer Caribbean food, gumbo and treats of all kinds.
Festival Sundiata, part of Seattle Center’s Festál series of festivals of world cultures, is free and welcomes all.
African-American culture and history is also celebrated this weekend at the Central Area Chamber of Commerce’s Juneteenth Celebration, the traditional commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, with events Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Seattle’s Pratt Park and a walk supporting youth and education, at 10 a.m. Saturday from Washington Middle School to Pratt Park.
The details
Time: Festival Sundiata from noon-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Free.
Location: Center House, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center Pavilion, all at Seattle Center.
Getting there: Seattle Center directions and information, 206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com. Seattle Center hotline for traffic and parking info, 206-233-3989; information on Metro bus service, 206-553-3000 or tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/.
More information: 206-684-7200, 206-329-8086 or www.festivalsundiata.org.
Juneteenth Celebration: 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-dusk Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Pratt Park, 18th Avenue South and South Main Street, Seattle; 206-325-2864.
Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com