Seattle Parks and Recreation's Arts in Parks program will feature community events, public art, and children's activities this summer across Seattle and in our local neighborhoods.
The Arts in Parks program supports new and established community festivals, art happenings and music concerts that enliven Seattle parks by promoting arts and culture, celebrating diversity, building community connections and energizing parks while connecting with underserved communities.
The full brochure for the program is available here but here's where you can enjoy the arts and entertainment in our areas.
West Seattle/White Center
HAMLET July 22, Sunday at 2 p.m. Roxhill Park
Spoiler alert! In this play, nearly everyone who isn’t already dead at the start dies by the end! And yet, there is no funnier or wiser play about death than this, perhaps Shakespeare’s best. Performed by the vibrant young cast of nationally awarded Young Shakespeare Workshop’s Revolving Company. Bring a picnic and dine in Denmark! Also taking place on August 4 and 5. youngshakespeare.org Contact: Darren Lay, youngshakespeareworkshop@yahoo.com
WATER FESTIVAL II FEATURING LUCHA LIBRE July 28, Saturday, 1–8:30 p.m. Duwamish Waterway Park
The Water Festival will be an arts and cultural festival located in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. This family-friendly celebration will showcase the vibrant diversity of the neighborhood’s residents and businesses. Expect a lucha libre exhibition, Vietnamese and Cambodian cooking demonstrations, a traditional lantern ceremony and much more. ecoss.org Contact: Judith Panlasigui, judith@ecoss.org
SABAR IN THE PARK August 4, Saturday 11:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Westcrest Park
Join a beginner/intermediate Sabar dance class to Senegal’s beloved Mbalax music from noon to 2 p.m. Then Mapate Diop, Seattle’s master Sabar drummer, will close the day with a Sabar drum class from 2:30- 4:30 p.m. This is a day not to miss! Contact: Franchesska Y. Berry, franchesskaberry@gmail.com
ANiMA August 10, Friday, 8:30–10 p.m. Duwamish Waterway Park
ANiMA is a cultural event celebrating ancestry and heritage through interactive, multimedia performances and storytelling. Artists perform original music with live projected animation, shadow dancing and puppetry with an invocation led by Korean drumming group Olleam, community activist group Sahngnoksoo and LQ Lion Dance. This event will occur during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, a time of paying homage to ancestors that are believed to visit the living during this time. Also taking place on August 11. misstangq.com/interactive/#/anima louischinn.com/jyun-jyun-show Contact: Huameng Yu, misstangq@gmail.com
14/48 PRESENTS: WHEN YOU WISH UPON A PIZZA Roxhill Park August 4, Saturday at 5 p.m. & Highland Park Playground August 5, Sunday at 5 p.m.
Join us for free theatre in the parks! Pat is sick of chores and runs away from home, seeking solace with a personal pizza and the family’s garden gnome yard decorations. The Fairy Goudamother hears Pat’s plea and sends Pat and the garden gnomes tumbling into the Magic Kingdough, where they recount classic storybook tales with a cheesy twist. the1448projects.org facebook.com/1448fest Contact: megan@the1448projects.org
LATINO CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS Roxhill Park July 21, Saturday at 6 p.m. - Duwamish Waterway Park July 27, Friday at 6 p.m. - Westcrest Park August 10, Friday at 6 p.m. - Myrtle Reservoir Park August 17, Friday at 6 p.m.
Each celebration will be headlined by Paraguayan singer and dancer Deseo Carmin bringing her unique blend of Latin rhythms, modern Latin jazz and flamenco-influenced music and dance, accompanied by the amazing guitarist Stoma Andrei. Also featuring a performance piece Aqua, written and performed by Venezuelan Milivia Pacheco and directed by Fernando Luna, exploring the Afro-Latina experience and their connection to water. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy these evenings of music, dance and poetry. latinotheatreprojects.org facebook.com/Latino-TheatreProjects-346266545430336 Contact: robert@latinotheatreprojects.org
Ballard Area
BODY IS HOME: AIR UNITES US September 22, Saturday, 3–9:30 p.m. Green Lake Park
Explore connections between our bodies and the planet we all inhabit together through dance, art and community activities. Highlights include dance by DAIPANbutoh Collective and special guests, Trina Cooper’s large-scale lung art with video projections and opportunities to attend a free creative movement workshop or participate in a community movement choir. Body Is Home: Air Unites Us is interested in all bodies: we are featuring artists with disabilities and welcome audience members with varied needs. Please contact us to talk about how best to support your participation. daipanbutoh.com Contact: Erica Akiko Howard, earthbodyhomeproject@gmail.com
14/48 PRESENTS: WHEN YOU WISH UPON A PIZZA Salmon Bay Park July 21, Saturday at 5 p.m - Ballard Commons Park July 22, Sunday at 5 p.m
Join us for free theatre in the parks! Pat is sick of chores and runs away from home, seeking solace with a personal pizza and the family’s garden gnome yard decorations. The Fairy Goudamother hears Pat’s plea and sends Pat and the garden gnomes tumbling into the Magic Kingdough, where they recount classic storybook tales with a cheesy twist. the1448projects.org facebook.com/1448fest Contact: megan@the1448projects.org
THEATER FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: STORIES FROM LATIN AMERICA Salmon Bay Park July 14, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. - July 20, Friday at 5:30 p.m. - July 21, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Theater for Young Children is back with tales from Latin America. Bring a blanket and snack and help Armadillo find the music inside herself in The Armadillo’s Song. Also learn how The Half Chicken’s selfishness put him on top of the world. Written for ages 3–9, fun for all. sweetpeacottage.org facebook.com/sweetpeacottage Contact: Cara Anderson-Ahrens, cara@sweetpeacottage.org
PIANOS IN THE PARKS Dates and Locations TBA
Pianos in the Parks is an all-ages, all-access arts program that uses the power of art and music to invite neighbors near and far to discover parks, connect with people in the community and have fun along the way. Check our website for full the schedule. pianosintheparks.org facebook.com/pianosintheparks Contact: Gaylynn Kiser, info@onereel.org
