Festival Sundiata comes to Lake Sammamish today

The first “Festival Sundiata ‘Unity in the Community’ Family Reunion” will be held today at Lake Sammamish State Park.

The free festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the Sunset Beach (formerly Old Beach) Picnic Area at Lake Sammamish State Park. The event is sponsored by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program and the Sundiata African American Cultural Association.

The festival will feature African-American culture and music including jazz, gospel, reggae and soul. In addition, southern barbecue-style food, children’s games and a variety of vendor booths will be available.

The Washington State Parks Inside Out Diversity Camping Program will present a display of camping skills and equipment, including a tent-pitching competition.

The park is located just off Interstate 90 (Exit 15) at Lake Sammamish Road and S.E. 65th Street.

The Sundiata organization is known in the Seattle area for presenting “Festival Sundiata” at the Seattle Center every February for the past 28 years in celebration of African American History Month. This is the first year the organization has hosted a summer program.

This festival is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures. The Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources. Additional funding support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information on the State Parks Inside Out Diversity Camping Program, e-mail Paul.Martin@parks.wa.gov or call 360-586-6609.

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