Come experience a slice of Arab culture at Olympia’s first ever Arab Festival on October 6, 2012. You will meet Arabs and Arab-Americans living in our community and have a day to experience music, dancing, food, and stories from the diverse countries and cultures of the Middle East.
For years, Palestinian-American and Olympian Farihan Bushnaq attended and enjoyed the biennial Arab Festival at Seattle Center. She loved the entertainment, information, and food from the various Middle Eastern countries and, also, the chance to socialize with others who shared her Arab background. After retiring from her nursing job, Farihan asked herself, “Why not bring this experience to my community in Olympia?” She approached us at the Rachel Corrie Foundation for help, knowing our history of working for peace and human rights in the Middle East. We were enthusiastic and decided to make our 2012 annual Peace Works event a launch of Olympia’s first Arab Festival.