Presented by Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center, the Seattle Children’s Festival returns for its 6th year, from September 21 – 22, 2019 from 10 AM – 4 PM at Seattle Center, now expanded to a full weekend of family fun! Sing, dance, play, and discover with 2 stages, 4 interactive workshop spaces, 2 Discovery Zones full of hands-on activities, and a STEAM Lab dedicated to science and arts-based activities! For those seeking a low sensory space, there is room to explore self-guided activities to help create calm bodies and minds. Plus, special guests, the Seattle Seahawks, will be presenting a special meet & greet with Seahawks Legends and mascot Boom. With so much to see, do, and discover, this is the place to celebrate Our Big Neighborhood!
To help you navigate this year’s festivities, we’ve put together a list of 5 highlights that you must not miss!
Seattle Seahawks Legends and Parade
Calling all 12’s! Stop by the Seahawks tent in front of the Fisher Pavilion on Saturday, September 21, for more information on being active and having a healthy lifestyle! Enjoy special meet & greets with Seahawks Legends and mascot Boom and participate in activities on the lawn including throwing and field goal tutorials.
Seahawks Partner, Campbell’s, will also be on hand for a special sample tasting. Learn more about special activities for the NFL’s 100 year celebration this season, and don’t forget to sign up for the Junior 12s Kids Club, presented by Delta Dental. Also, keep an eye out for mascot Blitz and Seahawks Dancers in the parade! You too can join in the parade along with the dancers and the Blue Thunder Drumline at 12:15 on Saturday!
Learn Something New at the Discovery Zones!
Are you ready to try something new? Stop by one of our 2 Discovery Zones or the STEAM (science, technology, art, and math) Lab located in the Armory and Fisher Pavilion for a variety of hands-on activities! You can experience everything from digging into a worm bin to creating your own mini robot!
Some highlights include:
FIRST Robotics with Ginger Gears: Join local FIRST Robotics teams to learn hands-on about robotics and STEAM education! Kiddos will get the opportunity to interact with robots and participate in creative activities designed to get students thinking about engineering and sustainability in terms of urban infrastructure.
Mask or Hat Making with Local Artist Jose Orantes: Color in different animals designs just the way you like them. Then cut it out, and fold them to create a unique hat or mask just for you! This program is bilingual (Spanish-English) and you’re invited to learn animal names and animal’s important facts in both languages.
Instrument Petting Zoo with Music Center of the Northwest: How does a violin make sound? Or a French horn? You will be able to learn how! We will have several instruments available – come try them all!
Dig into a Worm Bin with Tilth Alliance: Come learn about vermicompost (composting with worms) and play worm bin bingo with the Master Composter Sustainability Stewards and our mobile worm bin! Composting at home can be fun and easy. Learn about how to best care for red wiggler worms, what they can/can’t eat and what their habitat is like!
Enjoy Lively Performances by Local Artists
This year’s festival features over 42 performances by local musicians, dancers, and creatives! Enjoy balkan dance and jazz on our two main stages, or join in on one of the workshops in the Armory Lofts.
Some highlights include:
Drag Queen Story Time with Aleksa Manila
Saturday 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Armory Loft 1B
STG Presents: Global Dance Party featuring Northwest Tap Connection
Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Fisher Pavilion
Sikh Youth Association Presents: A Day in Punjab
Sunday, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Fisher Pavilion
Scratching Turntables with Northwest Portabliasts
Sunday, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Fisher Pavilion
Use Your Passport to Navigate the Festival!
Once you arrive, stop by one of our Welcome Stations and pick up your very own passport! You can use it as a guide for all of the performances and activities happening throughout the weekend and even get your “passport photo” taken at the Armory Welcome Station. There are also 6 passport stamp locations each day where you can collect your stamp throughout the two days!
Plus, if you fill out your “About Me” section of the passport and turn it into one of the Welcome Stations, you’ll be entered to win one of two exciting gift baskets full of museum passes, toys, and art supplies!
Low Sensory Space
If you need to take a break or ground yourself, be sure to visit Loft 1A for our Low Sensory Space. Lights will be dimmed and noise will be minimal in this space. Use it to take a moment to relax, regroup, and ground yourself with self-paced calm body activities and exercises.
Don’t miss the Low Sensory Workshop with KidsQuest Museum on Saturday from 12:30 – 1:30 PM!
We hope to see you at the 6th Annual Seattle Children’s Festival from Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, September 22 at Seattle Center Armory & Fisher Pavilion from 10 AM – 4 PM.
To help us continue to make programs like this accessible for all, we ask for a daily donation of $10 per person or $20 per family.
See the full schedule here: https://www.nwfolklife.org/seattlechildrensfestival/
