Inspired by Seattle’s Arab Festival, Olympia’s first Arab Festival was in October 2012. The effort was successful beyond our dreams and encouraged us to maintain the project as a biennial event and year-long effort to explore and celebrate Arab culture. Leadership has emerged from our own Arab community. The festival is a cultural weekend authentically celebrating food, culture, traditions, lifestyles, and peoples of the Arab world. The planning process is an opportunity to alter misconceptions, connect diverse members of our community, create cross-cultural friendships, and strengthen each planner, participant and volunteer. We engage students, teachers, service clubs, public officials, social justice organizations, faith groups, businesses, and individuals as we generate appreciation for the Arab-American community and its many dimensions.
