Brilliantly stunning native attire, artwork, music and dance performances, plus food from all over the world, were featured at the 8th annual Kent International Festival on June 4, at the Showare Center.
Nancy Skipton, festival director, said about 4,000 people attended the one-day event.
With Kent being the 17th most diverse city in the nation, people experienced traditional dances, songs and cultural traditions, ranging from ballroom dancing to Afrobeat musicians. It was impossible to see it all because the performances and presentations were ongoing at the same time on three separate stages.
From left: Akami Murakami, Chiaki Mitsushima, and Kanna Yamagishi. International students from Highline College demonstrated Japanese hospitality and culture through traditional clothing (kimonos), games, and origami. (Photo by Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun/NWAW)
From left: Catherine Rasgaitis, Caroline Kao, Xinl Arnhold, and Nicole Tan of the South Puget Sound Chinese Language School wearing traditional folk dance costume. (Photo by Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun/NWAW)
Marcella Hank Huang (left) warming up while Jaemie Lum watches. (Photo by Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun/NWAW)
Jacob Boehme and Alex Huang, from the South Puget Sound Chinese Language School, performed a lion dance in the audience. (Photo by Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun/NWAW)