State Parks announces Folk and Traditional Arts concerts, festivals for summer and fall

Olympia – May 14, 2024 – The Washington State Parks (Parks) Folk and Traditional Arts Program (FTAP) has announced their summer lineup of concerts and festivals, including a new concert series in Central Washington and a new cultural festival at Lake Sammamish.

In addition to the three popular outdoor summer concert series, at Deception Pass, Cape Disappointment and Lake Wenatchee state parks, the program will launch a four-concert series at Lincoln Rock State Park in July. The concerts feature local artists performing a wide variety of music, including Bluegrass, folk, Americana, Klezmer, Mariachi, Latino fusion, Brazilian and French-Canadian traditions. With the beach or the mountains in sight, these family-friendly evenings may include storytelling and dance.

A host of summer and fall festivals will honor Coast Salish, Black American, Southeast Asian, Latino and European traditions. This year, FTAP also welcomes the first Ubuntu Nerudo Cultural Festival, celebrating the traditions of Southern Africa, to Lake Sammamish in September.

The summer concert schedule is as follows:

Cape Disappointment Waikiki Beach Concerts (Second and fourth Saturdays at 7 p.m.)

• June 8 –  Lindsay Clark
• June 22 – Chibia
• July 13 -   Ezza Rose
• July 27 –  Duende Libre
• Aug. 10 – Olivia Awbrey
• Aug. 24 – Jenny Don’t and the Spurs

Lake Wenatchee Mountain Melodies Concerts (First and third Saturdays at 8 p.m.)

• July 6 – La Familie Leger
• July 20 – Pretty Little Feet
• Aug. 3 - Eduardo Mendonça & Show Brazil
• Aug. 10 – Eclectic Cloggers
• Aug. 31 – Chumlilies

Lincoln Rock Rhythm on the River Concerts (Select Fridays at 7 p.m. and last Saturday in August.)

• July 5 – La Familie Leger
• July 19 – Pretty Little Feet
• Aug. 9 – Humbletown Band
• Aug. 24 – Mount Vernon Mariachi & Folklorico

Deception Pass American Roots Concerts (Saturdays in July and August at 7 p.m.)*

• July 13 – Dunava
• July 20 – Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms
• July 27 – Eduardo Mendonça & Show Brazil
• Aug. 3 – Tzepl
• Aug. 10 – Ranger & the Re-Arrangers
• Aug. 17 – Chumlilies
• Aug. 24 – Whisky Deaf Quartet

*Parking will be limited at Deception Pass this summer due to damage from winter storms.

The schedule of summer cultural events is as follows:

• June 8, noon to 4 p.m. – Salish Sea Day – Deception Pass State Park
  • Join the Samish and Swinomish Canoe Families for an afternoon of Coast Salish culture, weaving, salmon and other food preparation and more.
• June 9, 1 – 5 p.m. – Sundaes Outside – Bridle Trails State Park
  • Join Golden Bricks Events for a celebration of Black folks, including Buffalo Soldier history and live music by The Rhapsody Songsters in this popular equestrian park.
• June 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Skandia Midsommar Fest – Saint Edward State Park
  • Raise the maypole, dance and enjoy music and food of northern Europe with Skandia Folk Dance Society.
• July 27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – United Communities of Laos Summer Festival – Lake Sammamish State Park
  • Put on by several Lao, Hmong and Khmu community groups, this day features traditional food, fashion, dance, art, music and more!
• Aug. 10, noon to 5 p.m. – 15^th Annual Cambodian Cultural Celebration – Saltwater State Park
  • Enjoy Khmer music, food, dance, games and regalia, hosted by Cambodian Folk and Classical Dance Northwest.
• Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Washington Iu Mien Festival – Lake Sammamish State Park
  • United Mien Youth invite you to learn about and celebrate their culture through dance, food, games and outreach organizations.
• Sept. 1, noon to 7 p.m. – Ubuntu Nerudo African Heritage Festival – Lake Sammamish State Park. 
  • Experience Southern African music, food and dance at this new community festival!
• ​​​​​​​Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration – Millersylvania State Park
  • Join the State’s Latino Leadership Network for Latine music, dance, food, outreach and guided nature walks.

All FTAP events are family-friendly, free and open to the public with a Discover Pass for parking.

The Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program is a 20-year-old program that began as an evening of fisher poetry at Fort Columbia. Funded by Parks, the Washington State Parks Foundation and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, it has blossomed into a far-reaching, popular program with more than 24 concerts at four state parks in summer and more than 10 cultural festivals in summer and fall. This expansion has allowed increasing numbers of people to access folk and world music; and the stories, history and cultural traditions that represent Washington’s diverse population.