Often recognized by the brightly colored powders tossed into the air, the Hindu festival Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, celebrates love, the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
At Northwest Share’s annual color festival in Redmond, the vibrant, signature colors usher in the new season and celebrate “unity in diversity,” said artistic director Latha Sambamurti. The community gathering welcomes people of all backgrounds and, as festivalgoers become doused in color, Sambamurti said, “you won’t know who’s who.”
Northwest Share’s Redmond event is dubbed as the Pacific Northwest’s largest Festival of Colors, attracting more than 10,000 participants from the Eastside, Seattle and beyond, according to its website. Between its high-energy festivities and other Festival of Colors events, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Holi, which falls on March 25 this year, around the Puget Sound area.
In Redmond: Festival of Color — March 23
On Saturday, March 23, what is perhaps the area’s grandest color festival will fill Redmond’s Marymoor Park with all sorts of festivities, including Portland’s DJ Prashant spinning tunes, two groups of dancers, “color countdowns” every 30 minutes (in which the brightly colored powder gets thrown into the air), food available for purchase from the Vedic Cultural Center, flash mobs and more.
Participants are encouraged to wear clothes they don’t mind getting colors on and be ready for “a lot of energy and happiness — joy just to be together,” Sambamurti said. The gathering is free to attend, but you must register in advance at festivalofcolor.us, choosing a time slot: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 3-6 p.m. 17525 N.E. 65th St., Redmond
In Renton: Festival of Color — March 23
The city of Renton is teaming up with the community organization Voice of Planet this year to co-host its first Festival of Color, with a disc jockey, food trucks and vendors taking over Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. The free event runs 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Register online at st.news/renton-festival. 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton
In Seattle: Spring Festival of Colors from South Asia at Burke Museum — March 24
Co-hosted by Hindi Time Kids, a language and cultural enrichment program, this kids-focused museum event will include creating handmade cards, a puppet show and singing songs in Hindi about Holi. The event runs 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and is free with admission ($22 for adults, $20 for seniors, $14 for youth 4-17 and free for children 3 and under, students and museum members). Register at burkemuseum.org/calendar. 4303 Memorial Way N.E., Seattle
In Seattle: Color Festival — March 30
This celebration at Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheater will feature DJ Prashant, color throwing, raffles, a photo booth and more activities. Entry is free with the option to buy color packets for $5 and raffle tickets for $3-$5. Wearing white is recommended to show off the brightly colored pigments being thrown. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Register online at seattlecolorfestival.com. 305 Harrison St., Seattle
In Bellevue: Holi: The Colors Festival — March 30
The cultural heritage nonprofit Beats of Redmond’s festival at Crossroads Park is set to feature continuous DJ music, live singing and dancing, a flash mob dance performance with more than 150 dancers, a shopping bazaar and more. Running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the event is free with colors and food available for purchase. Register at beatsofredmond.org/holi-2024. 999 164th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
In Issaquah: Rang Barse Holi — March 30
Organized by the community group Redmond Desi Crew, this celebration at Lake Sammamish State Park will include live and DJ music, food stalls and, of course, lots of colors. Buy tickets online at redmonddesicrew.com for $12, which includes a color packet. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2010 N.W. Sammamish Road, Issaquah
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