CroatiaFest brought Croatian music, dance, food and heritage to the heart of Seattle, gathering the Croatian community and local visitors for one of the largest Croatian cultural events in the Pacific Northwest.
The 22nd edition of the festival took place on Sunday, October 4, at the Seattle Center Armory. Over six hours, visitors experienced Croatian culture through traditional music, folk dancing, exhibitions, food and programs for different generations.
CroatiaFest is part of the Seattle Center Festál series, which celebrates the diverse ethnic and cultural communities of the city. The festival is free and open to the public, giving the wider Seattle community an opportunity to experience Croatian traditions.
CroatiaFest Brings Croatian Music and Dance to Seattle
The program opened with a ceremony featuring the U.S., Canadian and Croatian national anthems. Croatian Ambassador to the United States Pjer Šimunović was among those attending the event.
Throughout the day, Croatian folklore and musical groups took over the main stage. Performers included American Zagreb Junior Tamburitzans from Cleveland, Rakija Bend and Tamburaški Orkestar Kardinal Stepinac.
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, Seattle Junior Tamburitzans, Ruže Dalmatinke, Bonaca and Gorani also performed.
Traditional circle dances, tamburica music and folk costumes showcased the cultural diversity of different Croatian regions. The performances also highlighted how Croatian communities in the United States and Canada continue passing their traditions to younger generations.
Croatian-American History Takes Center Stage
CroatiaFest also explored the history of Croatian immigration and the longstanding connections between Croatia and the United States.
Author and photographer Brendan Weston presented “The Time Traveler’s Guide to Dalmatia.” Through historical photographs, maps and records, the project explores life in Dalmatia during the late 19th century.
Visitors could also see the exhibition “Croatian Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces: History, Service, and Partnership.” It documents Croatian Americans who served in the U.S. military from the Spanish-American War to the present day.
The exhibition forms part of programs marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. It came to Seattle with support from the Croatian Embassy in Washington.
Croatian maritime heritage also featured prominently at the festival. Visitors could see “Brač,” a traditional batana fishing boat built at the Gig Harbor BoatShop under the direction of boatbuilder Michael Vlahovich.
Demonstrations of traditional fishing-net repair accompanied the exhibit, highlighting a maritime tradition familiar to many Croatian immigrant families on the U.S. Pacific Coast.
The festival also offered visitors opportunities to explore Croatian genealogy, language and dialects. Other activities provided information about traveling to Croatia and ACAP’s Domovina program for young people of Croatian heritage from around the world.
Through its combination of music, history, food and community activities, the 22nd CroatiaFest offered Seattle audiences a broad look at Croatian heritage and its continuing presence in the Pacific Northwest.
