Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE, WA – Explore Iranian culture through music, dance, and art at the Seattle Iranian Festival. The event, originally scheduled in June, has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 20, from 12 noon–5:30 p.m. at the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall.
“The community has shown us overwhelming support since we made the difficult decision to postpone the Seattle Iranian Festival this past June,” said Omid Bagheri Garakani, Iranian American Community Alliance board member.
This free, all-ages event, with this year’s theme, Arezoo: The Power of Wish, features an exciting lineup of Iranian artists, makers, performers, and small businesses.
In Persian culture, “arezoo” (wish) is more than a fleeting thought. It’s a bridge to possibility, a spark of imagination, and a reminder that hope is always within reach. This year’s festival will highlight the wishes that unite us, the dreams that drive us, and the endless possibilities that await.
Guests will enjoy a full schedule of music and dance performances in addition to art, including a performance from this year’s headliner, Michael Artuni. The festival will also feature Seattle’s own Chef Omid Roustaei, otherwise known as The Caspian Chef, who will be demonstrating recipes from his new cookbook, “Bitter & Sweet.”
“I participate in the festival each year because it is important to me for my Iranian culture to be publicly celebrated. For Iranian American people to be proud of their culture and provide an opportunity for our friends and neighbors to learn and enjoy Iranian culture alongside us, it is incredibly special,” said Omid Bagheri Garakani, an Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA) board member. “I’m excited for our community of family, friends, and neighbors to attend our festival this year and join us in this year’s theme, the Power of Wish. What do we want for our future and our communities? Let’s wish and remind ourselves we can put it into action together.”
This festival is part of the Festál series of 25 cultural festivals presented by community groups and hosted by Seattle Center throughout the year.
About Iranian American Community Alliance
The Iranian American Community Alliance (IACA) is a Seattle-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-religious and non-political organization, working to unite, strengthen and mobilize the Iranian American community and serve the greater Seattle area. The IACA is led by a passionate group of volunteers including the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board and individual volunteers. Every individual plays a key role in fostering a vibrant Iranian American community. The IACA seeks to not only bring the current Iranian American community together, but also to promote the future prosperity of ones to come.
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 events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of the diversity of our region. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with community groups, presented on weekends from January to November and supported by City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture.
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 the city. It is 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—alongside world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events for all ages, centered around the iconic International Fountain.
As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District, Seattle Center serves as a hub for creative expression, cultural diversity, and civic life. It also manages the City’s new Waterfront Park in partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle, delivering cultural programming, operations, and civic care on Seattle’s revitalized downtown waterfront.
In 2025, Seattle Center is projected to generate over $900 million in visitor spending, contribute more than $2 billion in total regional economic impact, and support 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, Why for Good
madison@whyforgood.com 425-246-5468
