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SEATTLE, WA— Celebrate the joy of Francophile heritage and culture at Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures, coming to Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, as part of Seattle Center Festál. Presented in partnership with France Education Northwest, this free annual festival celebrates the incredible diversity of French-speaking cultures from around the world, bringing people together to share stories, creativity, and traditions across generations and communities here in Seattle.
This year, attendees can look forward to an immersive experience inspired by the theme “Rêverie” — a celebration of dreams, imagination, and creativity. Guests can enjoy interactive programming throughout the day, including breathtaking Tahitian dances by Te Fare O Tamatoa and global Francophone music by Bonnie Birch, Whozyamama Cajun & Zydeco Band, La Chorale Francophone, the French American School of Puget Sound Rock Band, the Kwetu Band, and local French school choirs.
In addition to performances, the festival will feature hands-on and engaging experiences such as the défi robotique (robotics challenge) led by the French American School of Puget Sound, a lively dictée (French spelling challenge) in partnership with Alliance Française de Seattle, panel discussions hosted by the French American Chamber of Commerce PNW, and the Portraits de Femmes art exhibit highlighting women’s stories from across the Francophone world.
Festival goers can also enjoy cooking demonstrations from Seattle-based French chefs, Francophone wine tastings, art exhibits, and interactive activities designed for families and youth. Throughout the Armory, visitors will find a lively marketplace featuring bakeries, artists, cultural organizations, and educational programs, including booths from Apple Cox Design, Canoe Island French Camp, Dubroca Studio, The French Guys, Les Lilas French Bilingual Community School L’Experience Paris, Maison de France®, Petit Pierre Bakery, Seattle Nantes Sister City Association, and more.
“Seattle’s French Fest is special because it goes far beyond France — it celebrates the incredible diversity of French-speaking cultures from around the world, all coming together in one joyful, welcoming space,” said Sofia-Cristina Visan, Seattle’s French Fest festival producer. "I participate in this festival because I deeply believe in the power of culture to connect people. French is spoken on every continent, and this event allows us to share stories, creativity, and traditions across generations and communities here in Seattle.”
Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures is part of Seattle Center Festál, a year-round series of 25 free cultural festivals which embrace the region’s diversity and cultivate a deeper understanding of the cultures which contribute to the vibrancy of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
About France Education Northwest
France Education Northwest (FEN), founded in 2008, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization was started by leading members of Seattle’s French American community, including many members of the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, to focus on education and promotion of French culture. FEN’s founders were particularly driven by a desire to reach out to and inspire youth. While FEN serves these goals in a variety of ways, from cooking classes to visiting local schools, the festival is by far FEN’s biggest and most accessible event.
Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures draws inspiration from the “International Day of Francophonie,” a celebration organized in over 100 countries every March 20th to honor and showcase the diversity of Francophone cultures and traditions. Francophone means “French-speaking,” and can be used to describe people, cultures, and regions. The term “francophonie,” however, describes more than just a linguistic or geographic connection to France. “Francophonie” describes a unifying sense of belonging to and appreciation for Francophone values and culture.
The festival is an important part of FEN’s founding mission, acting as a catalyst for our local public, no matter their background, to learn about and share in celebrating French and French-speaking cultures. The festival first opened in 2013 and has since taken place every year during the spring. Even though the festival is just one-day long, it is one of the West Coast’s largest Francophone-themed festivals. For its deep-rooted belief in the importance of appreciating and learning about diverse cultures, Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French Speaking Cultures, is and will continue to be a celebration of French-speaking cultures around the world.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál is a unique public program series of 25 free cultural festivals, each offering its own celebration of heritage and identity. These community-produced events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of our region’s diversity through immersive performances, food, arts, and educational programming. Collectively, the festivals welcome approximately 400,000 visits annually, generate an estimated $30 million in economic activity, support more than 250 jobs, and engage thousands of volunteers, artists, and small business vendors.
Seattle Center Festál is presented in partnership between Seattle Center and 25 community-based organizations, with support from the City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture's Sustained Support and Free/Reduced Access programs. Additional support for Festál 2026 is provided by 2025 charitable donations from the Snoqualmie Tribe, and ArtsFund's Community Accelerator Grant funded by Allen Family Philanthropies.
About Seattle Center — The Cultural Heart of the Pacific Northwest
Seattle Center is a 74-acre civic, arts, and cultural gathering place in the heart of Seattle and home to more than 30 partner organizations, including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, MOPOP, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, SIFF, and many others. Anchored by world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events centered around the iconic International Fountain, Seattle Center serves residents and visitors of all ages year-round.
As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts and Cultural District, Seattle Center is an inclusive destination where community comes together through arts, culture, and public life, serving residents from across Seattle and the Puget Sound region alongside visitors from around the world. In partnership with Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Center also manages the City’s new Waterfront Park, providing cultural programming, operations, and civic care along Seattle’s downtown waterfront.
Over the past three years, Seattle Center has welcomed 11 to 12 million visits annually, with the majority of visits coming from the Seattle and Puget Sound region and is projected to reach 12.5 to 13.5 million visits in 2026. This activity generates more than $1 billion in visitor spending, contributes more than $2 billion in regional economic impact, and supports more than 18,600 jobs.
With the support of our Official Partners — Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank — Seattle Center is the #1 most-visited arts and cultural destination in the Pacific Northwest.
Contact
Madison Miller | madison@whyforgood.com 425-246-5468
