Take a trip around the world without leaving Olympia at the annual Ethnic Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7. Two main stages include international dancers and music from far-off lands. Stroll through the International Marketplace to catch a glimpse of the world’s cultures before hitting the face painting, balloons, hands-on activities and tasty ethnic food. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Free. Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. S.E., Olympia. 360-753-8585.
New Year’s came and went, but you can celebrate it again the Chinese way at Bainbridge Island’s Chinese New Year Festival on Sunday, Feb. 8. The celebration will mark the first day of the first moon of the lunar calendar with a parade down Winslow Way at 11 a.m. Look for the lion dancers! 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Winslow Way, downtown Bainbridge Island. 206-780-2328.
Don’t just hum along to the music, become part of it at the annual Wintergrass Bluegrass Music Festival, Feb. 19–22. Enjoy more than 30 live bluegrass bands on multiple stages throughout downtown Tacoma. Or, take up a new hobby and learn the ins and outs of bluegrass at one of numerous workshops. And Toddlergrass is back, allowing little ones to discover bluegrass for themselves. Thursday 5:30–10 p.m., Friday 5:30 p.m.–midnight, Saturday 12:30 p.m.–midnight, Sunday 10:15 a.m.–4 p.m. Weekend pass: kids $25, adults $125, senior/student $115, family of four $310; day passes also available for $5–$65. 253-428-8056, www.acousticsound.org
A series of events to celebrate reading — Lacey Loves to Read — takes place throughout the month of February. The whole town is in on it! You’ll get a chance to meet this year’s keynote author Sy Montgomery, who wrote The Good Good Pig, at the Meet the Author Community Reception on Thursday, Feb. 26. Visit the website often to view schedule updates.
—Karla Slate
Originally published in the February, 2009 print edition of ParentMap.
