The Cape Fox Dancers, 1979 Festival Photo: Steve Meltzer

Northwest Folklife Festival

One of the largest organizations in the country focusing on folk, ethnic, and traditional arts, Northwest Folklife joins together cultures and communities in a vibrant annual celebration of music, dance, exhibits, symposia, food, crafts, and children's activities. As a regional signature event since 1971, the Northwest Folklife Festival attracts an annual average attendance of 200,000 visitors to Seattle over four days every Memorial Day weekend. Northwest Folklife has promoted the culture and traditions of the region's Sephardic Jewish, Native American, African-American, Polynesian, Filipino-American, Chicano and Mexican communities.

The project is extensively documented through photographs, a written report, a promotional video, CDs with music from several festivals, a record sampler of music from the 1983 Festival, three music audio cassettes, local press coverage, a book entitled Spirit of the First People, Native American Musical Traditions, posters, promotional materials, a cap, tee-shirt, buttons and bumper stickers from many of the annual events.

Originally submitted by: Jim McDermott, Representative (7th District).

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