One of the largest folklife celebrations in North America fills Seattle Center over Memorial Day weekend with 7,000 participants and in more than a 1,000 performances on 27 indoor and outdoor stages, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., May 22 -25.

Northwest Folklife Festival, part of Safeco Insurance Festál, highlights the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest. Folklore exhibits, diverse performances, cooking demonstrations, workshops and crafts explore the folk, ethnic and traditional arts of the region.

Folklife invites the public to the kick-off of the Centennial Celebration of the 1909 AlaskaYukon-Pacific Exposition. A special re-creation of the opening of the A-Y-P is planned for the afternoon of May 23 at the Mural Stage. In addition, Folklife Festival will present special performances, exhibits, and demonstrations by ethnic groups that made Seattle their home in the early 1900s. For more information, visit www.nwfolklife.org.

Did you know? The National Heritage Fellowship, presented each year by the National Endowment for the Arts, is the federal government's highest honor awarded to folk and traditional artists. Vi Hilbert, a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe, received the National Heritage Fellowship in 1994 for her life's work of preserving the Lushootseed language and culture. Vi Hilbert learned the traditions and the language spoken by Chief Seattle from her parents. She is widely honored as a respected elder, tribal historian, linguist and storyteller. There are hundreds of artists at Northwest Folklife each year who want to share their cultures - and some may just be future National Heritage Fellows.

Join us at Safeco Insurance Festal and become a culture carrier (someone who contributes to cultural understanding through the sharing of stories, songs, music, food and family traditions). This festival is produced by Seattle Center in partnership with Northwest Folklife. For more information on the Festival, visit www.nwfolklife.org, and for information on Safeco Insurance Festál and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com.

About Safeco Insurance Festál

Safeco Insurance Festál, presented by Seattle Center in partnership with community organizations, is a year-long series of FREE events that honors the cultural richness and diversity of the Pacific Northwest. Safeco Insurance Festál plays a vital part in Seattle Center efforts to connect our dynamic and varied communities.

This collection of 22 events is presented with the generous support of Safeco Insurance, Wells Fargo, Verizon Wireless and KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Additional support is provided by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The Boeing Company, Seattle Center Fund and the City of Seattle.