The annual Folklife Festival is coming this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, May 27 – 30. As the whole event is “family friendly” it takes something special to set itself apart. The Discovery Zone is just the thing.
In addition to specific kid-centric performances and workshops there is, pardon the expression, more to discover. Think of this as a great way to stay involved in the happenings of the festival while taking a break.
There is so much information it is easier to simply read the whole of the press release:
Run, skip, and dance to the Discovery Zone at the Northwest Folklife Festival. Become a captain and build your own boat, learn about music with Light in the Attic, dance at the Bollywood Dance Party, and more. Although all of the Festival is geared towards the whole family, this family-friendly area offers workshops, hands-on artistic activities, and interactive musical experiences for ages 4-12. The Discovery Zone is located in the Next 50 Plaza and will be programmed from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 27 – Monday, May 30.
There are several new activities featured in the Discovery Zone this year and plenty of opportunities to learn something new. Discover nature through art and learn how to make art with upcycled materials at the Nature Consortium activity station. Visit the Northwest African American Museum activity booth to explore notions of inner beauty through art and make a collage to share. There will be a variety of additional family activities to dig into as well.
In addition to the Discovery Zone, the Festival offers other family-friendly showcases specially curated for children. The Kindiependent showcase will feature much loved kindie bands like The Whizpops, Recess Monkey, The Not-its, Harmonica Pocket, and more. Festival goers can catch interactive dance performances or join in a sing-a-long at the Fisher Green Stage. At the Armory Lofts, learn how to sing your ays, eees, and ooos in a yodeling workshop or participate in family dances. Families can also view the musical drama Open Earth presented by Seattle Opera at the Cornish Playhouse, which is part of the organization’s 2016 Cultural Focus program, “The Power of the Human Voice Through Song.” A multitude of live music and cultural performances awaits at this year’s Northwest Folklife Festival.
For a full list of family-friendly programming in the Discovery Zone, visit
NWFolklife.org/Festival2016.
Here are a few of the hands-on activities, workshops, and performances to look forward to:
ACTIVITIES – Unless otherwise noted, All below activity booths will be available all four days of the Festival
Gage Academy of Art
“Gage Pop-Up Drawing Jam”
Come unleash your inner artist! Whether you are a young Rembrandt, a comic book artist, a stick figure sketcher, or just like to express yourself, Gage presents a chance to drop in and draw at the Festival. Gage provides free professional art supplies, costumed models from bunny rabbits to comic heroes, easels, still life set ups, and lots of encouragement.
The Center for Wooden Boats
“Toy Boat Building”
Grab a hull, a mast, and some traditional tools and build your own boat! Decorate it, give it a name, and sail it wherever your imagination takes you.
“Toy Boat Building”
Grab a hull, a mast, and some traditional tools and build your own boat! Decorate it, give it a name, and sail it wherever your imagination takes you.
Seattle Children’s Museum
“Exploring Rhythm”
Hungry for a bite-sized sample of the Seattle Children’s Museum? Visit our booth to explore marbles, motion, and music, all in the same fun-filled package! Kids can explore independently or collaboratively as they make music with their bodies, marbles, and other everyday materials.
“Exploring Rhythm”
Hungry for a bite-sized sample of the Seattle Children’s Museum? Visit our booth to explore marbles, motion, and music, all in the same fun-filled package! Kids can explore independently or collaboratively as they make music with their bodies, marbles, and other everyday materials.
Northwest African American Museum
“Posing Beauty: Finding the Beauty Within”
Inspired by the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, families are invited to explore notions of inner beauty through art. Make art cards using word tiles and images to create miniature collages to share or trade with friends and families about what makes someone beautiful on the inside.
“Posing Beauty: Finding the Beauty Within”
Inspired by the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, families are invited to explore notions of inner beauty through art. Make art cards using word tiles and images to create miniature collages to share or trade with friends and families about what makes someone beautiful on the inside.
Nature Consortium
“Discover Nature through Art”
Make your own jewelry, hats, or bird feeders that explore elements of the natural environment and learn the how and why of making art with upcycled materials. In the process visitors can learn how common packaging can impact the world, explore alternative options, and work with ‘trash’ to create art.
Light in the Attic “This Record Belongs To _______: An Introduction to the Magic of Vinyl Records” – Friday and Saturday only
Light in the Attic Records loves music and so do you! We hope to share our passion by teaching the little ones the interactive experience of holding an album in your hands, putting needle to groove, and immersing yourself in the pages of a record’s sleeve as the music plays.
WORKSHOPS – this is only a selection of workshops happening in the Discovery Zone
Bollywood Dance Party
Friday, May 27, 3:00 p.m.
Learn to dance a Bollywood Choreography with Katrina Ji, using classic Bollywood facial and hand gestures with a fusion of detailed dance steps.
STG Presents: The Jungle Book Workshop
Sunday, May 29, 2:00 p.m.
During Seattle Theatre Group’s musical theatre workshop, participants will actively learn song and dance from the popular Disney show, The Jungle Book.
PERFORMANCES – this is only a selection of performances happening in the Discovery Zone
North City Rockers
Friday, May 27, 5:00 p.m.
Jump into a B-Boying Hip-Hop dance for everyone! The North City Rockers are a multi-generational hip-hop production crew.
Jamtown Howdy Band
Saturday, May 28, 2:00 p.m.
Come sing and move with the Howdy Band!
Melody Institute
Monday, May 30, 2:00 p.m.
Melody Institute has performed Chinese folk, traditional, modern, and ethnic dances around the Pacific Northwest for more than a decade. Stop by to watch an intriguing Chinese Dance performance.
Greater Seattle Choral Consortium Play Songs
Monday, May 30, 3:00 p.m.
Join in for a family sing-a-long to folk music.
Other family-friendly programming at the 45th annual Northwest Folklife Festival includes:
“Kindiependent Show!”
Monday, 30, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
Featuring: The Whizpops, Recess Monkey, The Not-its!, Harmonica Pocket, Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies, and John Bregar.
The Discovery Zone programming is sponsored by ParentMap.
The 45th annual Northwest Folklife Festival is produced in partnership with Seattle Center and is presented by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. It is sponsored in part by Lyft, Caffe Ladro, The MarQueen Hotel, Mediterranean Inn, Ben & Jerry’s of Greenlake, Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association, The Frankfurter, EMP Museum, Hostelling International at The American Hotel, and Pepsi.